Russian (RUSSA)

RUSSA 1103 - Conversation Practice (2 Credits)  
Reinforces the speaking skills learned in RUSSA 1121. Homework includes assignments that must be done in the language lab or on the students' own computer. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Corequisites: RUSSA 1121.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
RUSSA 1104 - Conversation Practice (2 Credits)  
Reinforces the speaking skills learned in RUSSA 1122. Homework includes assignments that must be done in the language lab or on the students' own computer. Class meeting times will be chosen at the organizational meeting (usually the second or third day of the semester) so as to accommodate as many students as possible. The time and place of the organizational meeting will be announced at russian.cornell.edu
Corequisites: RUSSA 1122.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Spring 2021  
RUSSA 1121 - Elementary Russian through Film (4-5 Credits)  
Gives a thorough grounding in all the language skills; listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Course materials include clips from original Russian films and televisions programs. Homework includes assignments that must be done in the language lab or on the students' own computers. Note the RUSSA 1103 option. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
RUSSA 1122 - Elementary Russian Through Film (4-5 Credits)  
Gives a thorough grounding in all the language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Course materials include clips from original Russian films and television programs. Homework includes assignments that must be done in the language lab or on the students' own computers. Note the RUSSA 1104 option. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 1121.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
RUSSA 1126 - Reading Russian Press (2 Credits)  
The emphasis is on reading unabridged articles on a variety of topics from current Russian web pages and translating them into English; a certain amount of discussion (in Russian) may also be undertaken. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: for seminar 101 (non-native speakers of Russian), RUSSA 1122 or placement by department; for seminar 102 (native speakers of Russian), placement by department.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EUAREA)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
RUSSA 1131 - Self-Paced Elementary Russian I (2-3 Credits)  
RUSSA 1131 and RUSSA 1132 cover the standard Cornell first-year Russian language curriculum at a slower pace than RUSSA 1103 -RUSSA 1104 and RUSSA 1121 -RUSSA 1122, the pace to be chosen by each individual student in consultation with the instructor. Somewhat larger homework reading, writing, and online assignments with fewer and shorter meetings with the instructors in very small groups. Detailed description at Russian.cornell.edu.
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
RUSSA 1132 - Self-Paced Elementary Russian II (2-3 Credits)  
RUSSA 1131 and RUSSA 1132 cover the standard Cornell first-year Russian language curriculum at a slower pace than RUSSA 1103 -RUSSA 1104 and RUSSA 1121 -RUSSA 1122, the pace to be chosen by each individual student in consultation with the instructor. Somewhat larger homework reading, writing, and online assignments with fewer and shorter meetings with the instructors in very small groups. Detailed description on the Russian Language Program website.
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
RUSSA 2203 - Intermediate Composition and Conversation (4 Credits)  
Guided conversation, translation, reading, pronunciation, and grammar review, emphasizing the development of accurate and idiomatic expression in the language. Course materials include video clips from an original Russian feature film and work with Russian web sites, in addition to the textbook. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 1122 and RUSSA 1104, or RUSSA 1122 with grade higher than B, or placement by department after completing RUSSA 1132 or studying Russian elsewhere.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
RUSSA 2204 - Intermediate Composition and Conversation (4 Credits)  
Guided conversation, translation, reading, pronunciation, and grammar review, emphasizing the development of accurate and idiomatic expression in the language. Course materials include video clips from an original Russian feature film and work with Russian web sites, in addition to the textbook. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 2203 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
RUSSA 3300 - Directed Studies (1-4 Credits)  
Taught on a specialized basis for students with special projects (e.g., to supplement a non-language course or thesis work).
Exploratory Studies: (EUAREA)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023  
RUSSA 3303 - Advanced Composition and Conversation (1-3 Credits)  
Reading, writing, and conversation: current Russian films (feature and documentary), newspapers, television programs, Russian web sites, and other materials are used. If taken for 1 or 2 credit hours, students attend 1 or 2 classes per week, respectively. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 2204 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019  
RUSSA 3304 - Advanced Composition and Conversation (1-3 Credits)  
Reading, writing, and conversation: current Russian films (feature and documentary), newspapers, television programs, Russian web sites, and other materials are used. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 3303 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021  
RUSSA 3305 - Reading and Writing for Heritage Speakers of Russian (2-3 Credits)  
Intended for students who speak grammatically correct Russian but do not know Russian grammar and have not learned to read or write Russian well (or have not learned written Russian at all). May be taught slightly faster or slower in a given year, depending on the needs and interests of the students. Two classes a week teach writing and grammar and include related reading. These classes are required, and the students who take them receive 2 credit hours. The third (optional) class teaches reading and discussion, and grants an additional credit hour. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: placement by department.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
RUSSA 3306 - Creative Writing for Heritage Speakers (2-3 Credits)  
Creative writing for heritage speakers of Russian. Writing short (one page for each class) texts in Russian in a variety of genres: personal letters, blog entries, news articles, technical descriptions, official documents, short stories, and the like. Two meetings per week if taken for 2 credits hours. An optional third weekly meeting when taken for 3 credit hours has short reading assignments from contemporary literary and non-literary texts. The course is a continuation of RUSSA 3305 but may also be taken by qualified students who have not completed RUSSA 3305. Issues of style and grammar are discussed in every class. The course is primarily for students who learned to speak Russian at home, but students with other backgrounds may be eligible as well. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 3305 or placement by department.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018  
RUSSA 3309 - Advanced Reading (2 Credits)  
This course is designed for students who want to learn more about Russia and to further develop their reading and discussion skills. The texts, fiction or non-fiction, are selected to inform the students on themes in Russian literature as well as everyday culture and general history. Reading and classroom discussions in each seminar are held in Russian (seminar 101) or in English (seminar 102), depending on the students' background. Details can be found on the Russian Language Program website.
Prerequisites: For seminar 101 only, RUSSA 2204 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018  
RUSSA 3310 - Advanced Reading (2 Credits)  
Designed to teach advanced reading and discussion skills. Weekly reading assignments include 20-40 pages of unabridged Russian, fiction or non-fiction. This course may be taken as a continuation of RUSSA 3309, but it may also be taken by itself. Discussion of the reading is conducted entirely in Russian and centered on the content and analysis of the assigned selection. Detailed description on the Russian Language Program website.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 2204 or placement by department.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020  
RUSSA 3312 - Reading about the Cold War (1 Credit)  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2016, Spring 2015  
RUSSA 4413 - Modern Russia: Past and Present I (2 Credits)  
Involves discussion, in Russian, of authentic Russian texts and films (feature or documentary) in a variety of non-literary styles and genres. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 3304 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020  
RUSSA 4414 - Modern Russia: Past and Present II (2 Credits)  
Involves discussion, in Russian, of authentic Russian texts and films (feature or documentary) in a variety of non-literary styles and genres. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: RUSSA 4413 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2021  
RUSSA 4433 - Russian for Russian Specialists (1-3 Credits)  
The course is designed for advanced students of Russian who are interested in Russian studies requiring fine active control of the language. Students will have an opportunity to speak formally and informally on topics in their field of interest. Fine points of syntax, usage, and style will be discussed. The subject matter differs from year to year. Detailed description at Russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: four years of college Russian or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024  
RUSSA 4434 - Russian for Russian Specialists (1-3 Credits)  
The course is designed for advanced students of Russian who are interested in Russian studies requiring fine active control of the language. Students will have an opportunity to speak formally and informally on topics in their field of interest. Fine points of syntax, usage, and style will be discussed. The subject matter differs from year to year.
Prerequisites: four years of college Russian or equivalent.  
RUSSA 4491 - Reading Course: Russian Literature in the Original Language (1 Credit)  
To be taken in conjunction with any Russian literature course at the advanced level. Students receive 1 credit for reading and discussing works in Russian in addition to their normal course work. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2021  
RUSSA 6633 - Russian for Russian Specialists (1-3 Credits)  
The course is designed for advanced students of Russian who are interested in Russian studies requiring fine active control of the language. Students will have an opportunity to speak formally and informally on topics in their field of interest. Fine points of syntax, usage, and style will be discussed. The subject matter differs from year to year. Detailed description at Russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: four years of college Russian or equivalent.  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019  
RUSSA 6634 - Russian for Russian Specialists (1-3 Credits)  
Designed for students whose areas of study require advanced active control of the language. Fine points of translation, usage, and style are discussed and practiced. Syllabus varies from year to year. Maybe taken more than once. Detailed description at russian.cornell.edu.
Prerequisites: four years of college Russian or equivalent.  
Exploratory Studies: (EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021