Minor in Russian and Eurasian Studies

The Minor in Russian and Eurasian Studies is intended for students seeking an interdisciplinary program of study centered on Russia and Eurasia. The program is regional in spirit, meaning that students can take subjects about a wide range of countries of Eastern/Central Europe, the Slavic states, and Central Asia.

The minor consists of six subjects (at least three of which must be MIT subjects or subjects taken at Harvard University or Wellesley College through cross-registration), arranged in four areas of study:

  • Area I: Language
  • Area II: Humanities and the Arts
  • Area III: Social Sciences
  • Area IV: Historical Studies

Students must receive permission from the minor advisor prior to registering for a class at another institution.

Five of the six subjects taken for the minor may be counted toward the eight-subject HASS Requirement. Of these five, at most one may count toward the distribution component of the HASS Requirement. Of the six subjects required for the minor, at least four cannot be counted toward a major or another minor.

Area I: Language 1
Select from among the following:24
Russian III (Regular)
Russian IV (Regular)
Russian V: Russian for STEM
Advanced Russian: Explorations in Russian Culture, Society, and Media
Select four subjects from at least two of the following areas: 248
Area II: Humanities and the Arts
Introduction to the Classics of Russian Literature 3
Introduction to the Classics of Russian Literature - Russian Language Option
Introduction to Russian Studies
Appropriate subjects offered at Harvard or Wellesley
Area III: Social Sciences
Russia's Foreign Policy: Toward the Post-Soviet States and Beyond
Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society: 1917 to the Present
Appropriate subjects offered at Harvard or Wellesley
Area IV: Historical Studies
Imperial and Revolutionary Russia: Culture and Politics, 1700-1917
Appropriate subjects offered at Harvard or Wellesley
Total Units72
1

Two intermediate (Levels III and IV) subjects in the Russian language are required to satisfy Area I. Students with the equivalent proficiency, but who are not native speakers, can either take two advanced language subjects beyond Level IV (highly recommended) or two additional subjects from Areas II, III, or IV. Native speakers may substitute other subjects, with the permission of the minor advisor.

2

Students who are not required to take Area I subjects must take all six subjects for the minor from Areas II, III, and IV, with at least one subject from each area.

3

Students may choose either subject but it is preferred that they take 21G.618 Introduction to the Classics of Russian Literature - Russian Language Option.

The subject list above is not exhaustive. Additional information can be obtained from one the minor advisors, Professor Elizabeth Wood, Room E51-282, 617-253-3255, Lecturer Maria Khotimsky, Room 14N-311, 617-715-5385 or from the SHASS Dean's Office 4-240, 617-253-3450.