Courses for Fall 2025

	Title	Instructor	Time	Description	Cross Listings	Fulfills	Registration Notes	Syllabus URL
BCS 0100-680	Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian I	Neda Scepanovic-Uliano	TR 7:00 PM-8:29 PM	This course is the first in the series of first-year courses, intended for students with no previous background in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian languages. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary BCS. At the end of the course students will be comfortable using both Latin and Cyrillic versions of the alphabet and will be able to read simple texts, including signs, menus, short news articles, and short stories. Class work emphasizes development of communicative and cultural competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in BCS. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in BSC on topics concerning your daily life. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in BCS.
BCS 0300-680	Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian III	Neda Scepanovic-Uliano		This course is the first in the series of second-year courses, continuation of Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary BCS and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. Class work emphasizes development of communicative and cultural competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in BCS. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in BCS on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.			Penn Lang Center Perm needed
HUNG 0100-680	Hungarian I	Adrienn V. Mizsei	MW 7:00 PM-8:59 PM	This course is the first in a series of first-year courses, intended for students with no previous background in Hungarian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Hungarian. It will also introduce you to Hungarian culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, and short stories. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Hungarian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Hungarian on topics concerning your daily life, likes and dislikes, school, work and family, Hungarian holidays and holiday traditions. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Hungarian.
HUNG 0300-680	Hungarian III	Adrienn V. Mizsei	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is the first in a series of second-year courses, continuation of Hungarian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Hungarian and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Hungarian culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, and short stories. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Hungarian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Hungarian on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, your interests and life on campus, travel and cultural experiences, Hungarian seasonal traditions and cultural events. You will also be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.
HUNG 0300-681	Hungarian III	Adrienn V. Mizsei	TR 7:15 PM-8:45 PM	This course is the first in a series of second-year courses, continuation of Hungarian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Hungarian and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Hungarian culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, and short stories. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Hungarian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Hungarian on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, your interests and life on campus, travel and cultural experiences, Hungarian seasonal traditions and cultural events. You will also be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.
PLSH 0100-680	Polish I	Agnieszka Dziedzic	MW 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is the first in a series of first-year courses, intended for students with no previous background in Polish. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Polish. It will also introduce you to Polish culture through exciting authentic materials, Polish films, history and contemporary affairs. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Polish. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Polish on topics concerning your daily life. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Polish.
PLSH 0300-680	Polish III	Agnieszka Dziedzic	MW 7:00 PM-8:29 PM	This course is the first in a series of second-year courses, continuation of Polish II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Polish and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Polish culture through exciting authentic materials, including Polish films, history and contemporary affairs. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Polish. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Polish on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.			Penn Lang Center Perm needed
REES 0100-401	Portraits of Old Rus: Myth, Icon, Chronicle	Julia Verkholantsev	TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM	Three modern-day nation-states – Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus – share and dispute the cultural heritage of Old Rus, and their political relationships revolve around interpretations of the past. Has the medieval Rus state been established by the Vikings or by the local Slavs? Is early Rus a mother state of Russia or of Ukraine, and, therefore, should it be spelled ‘Kyivan Rus,’ or ‘Kievan Rus’ in English? Has the culture of Russian political despotism been inherited from the Mongols, or is it an autochthonous ideology? The constructed past has a continuing importance in modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, and it is keenly referenced, often manipulatively, in contemporary social and political discourse. For example, President Putin invaded Ukraine under a pretense that its territory has “always” been an integral part of Russia and its history. The course covers eight centuries of cultural, political, and social history of the lands that are now within the borders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, from early historical records through the 18th century, a period that laid the foundation for the Russian Empire and the formation of modern nations. Students gain knowledge about formative events and prominent figures, as well as social and cultural developments during this period. The course takes multidisciplinary approach by combining the study of textual sources, objects of art and architecture, music, ritual, and film in their social and historical contexts. Students learn to analyze and interpret primary sources (historical documents and literary texts), identify their intellectual issues, and understand the historical, cultural, and social contexts in which these sources emerged. While working with these primary sources students learn to pose questions about their value and reliability as historical evidence. By exposing students to the critical examination of “the uses of the past,” the course aims to teach them to appreciate the authoritative nature of historical interpretation and its practical application in contemporary social and political rhetoric. The study of pre-modern cultural and political history through the prism of nationalism theories explains many aspects of modern Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian societies, as well as political aspirations of their leaders. At the end of the course, students should develop understanding of the continuity and change in the history of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, their belief systems, and nationalistic ideologies, and will be able to speak and write about these issues with competence and confidence.	HIST0724401, REES6100401	History & Tradition Sector (all classes)
REES 0275-401	Montage and Revolution: Conceptual Cinema of Sergei Eisenstein	Siarhei Biareishyk	TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM	The 1917 Russian Revolution was to inaugurate a new epoch in human history. Working with and within this time of political and cultural upheaval, Sergei Eisenstein inaugurated a revolution in montage technique that would usher a new age of cinema, a new practice of art, and a new way of thinking in images. Eisenstein’s cinematic techniques aimed at producing concepts in the language of film. It also sought modes of expression inaccessible to discursive thought. Navigating a tenuous line between art and politics, Eisenstein's works explore the social and political power of affectivity and expressivity, and the cinematic potential for both representing and eliciting emotion in individual viewers and masses alike. In conversation with the tumultuous political and cultural shifts of the Soviet society from the revolutionary 1920s to the age of Stalinism and the World War II, this course will follow Eisenstein’s filmography, from his monumental reconstruction of the revolutionary Petersburg in October to the engagement with representations of history during the Stalinist era in Ivan the Terrible. We will engage with Eisenstein’s theoretical writings, his cartoons and sketches, public speeches, and his lost and unrealized projects, such as his collaboration with Hollywood and a plan to film Marx’s Capital. In this process, we will learn basic tenets of film and aesthetic theory, while practicing the analysis of film with attention to form and content. Following the lead of Eisenstein's artistic and theoretical production, we will engage with questions his work raises: How can cinematography elicit and manipulate the emotions of its viewer? What is expressivity? Can film represent philosophical concepts? What is cinema's relation to propaganda and politics? What is revolutionary about the medium of film, and what is film’s role in the revolution? No prior knowledge of Russian history, culture or society is required, nor is specialized knowledge of film history or film analysis. All readings will be in English, and all films will be subtitled in English.	CIMS0275401, COML0275401
REES 0311-401	The Soviet Century, 1917-1991	Benjamin Nathans	TR 10:15 AM-11:14 AM	Out of an obscure, backward empire, the Soviet Union emerged to become the great political laboratory of the twentieth century. This course will trace the roots of the world's first socialist society and its attempts to recast human relations and human nature itself. Topics include the origins of the Revolution of 1917, the role of ideology in state policy and everyday life, the Soviet Union as the center of world communism, the challenge of ethnic diversity, and the reasons for the USSR's sudden implosion at the end of the century.Focusing on politics, society, culture, and their interaction, we will examine the rulers (from Lenin to Gorbachev) as well as the ruled (peasants, workers, and intellectuals; Russians and non-Russians). The course will feature discussions of selected texts, including primary sources in translation.	HIST0290401	History & Tradition Sector (all classes)
REES 0478-401	Banned Books: Writing Against Censorship	Aleksey Berg	TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM	This course offers a broad survey of banned, censored, suppressed, and silenced literature in Eastern Europe and the USSR during the 20th century. While the totalitarian political regimes of the 20th century sought to control the public sphere and regulate artistic production, their efforts were never entirely successful. Inevitably, works appeared that either sought to directly challenge and confront ideology, “slipped through the cracks” and were banned or censored retroactively, or seemed palatable enough to censors but proved provocative to perceptive readers skilled in reading “between the lines.” We will read and discuss banned, problematic, and controversial works written during the 20th century in contexts of political unfreedom, as we seek answers to a number of questions about the interconnection between the political and the aesthetic, such as: Do works banned for political reasons also pose aesthetic challenges to tyranny? Does suspect politics entail suspect aesthetics, or vice versa? Can radical aesthetics arise from ostensibly conformist politics? How does Sir Isaiah Berlin’s distinction between positive and negative liberty help us navigate the murky waters of art under despotism? Readings will include works by Hrabal, Kiš, Kross, Kundera, Shalamov, Voznesenskaia, Yohansen, and others.	COML0478401
REES 1172-401	Marx, Marxism, and the Culture of Revolution	Siarhei Biareishyk	TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	Capitalist society is the object of Karl Marx's analysis and critique—a society that is the product of history and may one day vanish. This course will trace Marx's critique by moving between the fields of philosophy, economics, and politics. We will locate key interventions of Marx's thought that transform modern conceptions of history, the relation between economics and politics, and the limits of struggle and emancipation in capitalist society. We will consider the historical conditions of Marx's writing and the development of his thought to discover many sides of Marx and many divergent Marxisms (humanist, post-structuralist, feminist, and others) that follow, often at odds with each other. Further, we will ask about what kind of horizons Marx's and Marxist interventions open up for critique and analysis of capitalist society with respect to gender, race, class, and nation. "Theory becomes a material force when it has seized the masses," argues the young Marx; indeed, his theories have fueled emancipatory movements and propped up tyrannical regimes, substantiated scientific theories and transformed philosophical debates. In examining Marx's legacy, we will focus on the elaborations and historical limitations of his ideas by examining the challenges of fascism, the communist experiment in the Soviet Union and its collapse, as well as the climate and other crises currently taking place. In conclusion, we will turn to the question of whether and to what extent Marx's ideas remain relevant today, and whether it is possible to be a Marxist in the contemporary world dominated by global capital.	COML1020401, GRMN1020401, PHIL1439401	Hum & Soc Sci Sector (new curriculum only)
REES 1173-401	Russian Modernism: Art, Life, and Culture	Djamilia Nazyrova	MW 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	This course examines the history and core ideas behind major Russian modernist movements—including Symbolism, Futurism, Cubism, Cosmism, and abstract/non-figurative art—and explores how these movements differed from similar art styles and trends in other parts of the world. We will focus on understanding the Russian modernists’ relentless emphasis on the inner world, defiance of social and moral conventions, and drive to experiment in art and life. In Russian modernism, art held spiritual power more profoundly than in comparable Western movements and was tasked with engineering social change. Russian Symbolists and avant-gardists engaged with abstract themes—such as eternal beauty and immortality—as well as urgent societal issues tied to modernization, including gender, sexuality, family structure, feminism, and socialist communities. While the ideas developed by modernist movements often prioritized intellectual ideals over practical solutions, they remain essential for interpreting modernist art and connecting with its enduring emotional resonance. The readings include short literary works, philosophical fragments, and artistic manifestos. All materials and discussions are in English.	ARTH3841401
REES 1370-601	Cold War: Global History		T 5:15 PM-8:14 PM	The Cold War was more than simply a military confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union; it was the frame within which the entire world developed (for better or worse) for nearly five decades. This course will examine the cold War as a global phenomenon, covering not only the military and diplomatic history of the period, but also examining the social and cultural impact of the superpower confrontation. We will cover the origins of the conflict, the interplay between periods of tension and detente, the relative significance of disagreements within the opposing blocs, and the relationship between the "center" of the conflict in the North Atlantic/European area and the global "periphery".	HIST1735601	Hum & Soc Sci Sector (new curriculum only)
REES 1570-401	Russia and Eastern Europe in International Affairs	Mitchell Orenstein	TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM	Russia and the European Union (EU) are engaged in a battle for influence in Eastern Europe. EU foreign policy towards its Eastern neighbors is based on economic integration and the carrot of membership. With the application of this powerful incentive, Central and Southeastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Croatia have progressed rapidly towards integration with the EU (and NATO). Yet, given Russia's opposition to the further enlargement, membership is off the table for the large semi-Western powers such as Russia itself and Turkey and the smaller countries inhabiting an emerging buffer zone between Russia and the EU, such as Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Belarus. These in-between countries find themselves subject to intense competition for influence between Eastern and Western powers. In this context, EU countries must balance their energy dependence on Russia and need for new markets and geopolitical stability with concern for human rights, democratic governance, and self-determination. What are the trade-offs implicit in the foreign policies of Russia, EU member states, and Eastern Europe? What are the best policy approaches? What are the main opportunities and obstacles?	PSCI0401401	Society sector (all classes)
REES 1670-401	Population and Public Health in Eastern Europe	Adriana Alexandra Scanteianu	MW 10:15 AM-11:44 AM	Since the collapse of communism in 1989 in Eastern Europe (and 1991 in the Soviet Union), many of the countries in the region have experienced public health crises and demographic catastrophe. Below replacement fertility rates and massive out migration have decimated the populations of these countries even as populations age and place unsustainable strains on pension systems and medical services. The demographic collapse has also been accompanied by falling male life expectancy and the rise of alcoholism, depression, domestic violence, and suicide. The economic exigencies of the transition from communism to capitalism dismantled welfare states at the exact moment when health services were most needed, leaving charities and nongovernmental organization to try to fill in the gaps. Through a combination of readings from the fields of epidemiology, demography, and medical anthropology, this course examines the public health implications of poverty and social dislocation in post-communist states. All readings and assignments are in English.	ANTH1670401, SOCI2950401
REES 1680-401	Sex and Socialism	Angelina E Eimannsberger	CANCELED	This seminar examines classic and current scholarship and literature on gender and sexuality in contemporary Eastern Europe, and examines the dialogue and interchange of ideas between East and West. Although the scholarly and creative works will primarily investigate the changing status of women during the last three decades, the course will also look at changing constructions of masculinity and LGBT movements and communities in the former communist bloc. Topics will include: the woman question before 1989; gender and emerging nationalisms; visual representations in television and film; social movements; work; romance and intimacy; spirituality; and investigations into the constructed concepts of "freedom" and "human rights."	ANTH1688401, GSWS1680401, SOCI2972401			https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202530&c=REES1680401
REES 2180-401	Behind the Headlines: Navigating Russian-Language Media	Maria Alley	TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	This course explores a wide range of Russian-language media, looking at the diverse ways in which news outlets cover current political, economic, and sociocultural events and issues. The coursework emphasizes close reading and analysis of written, spoken, and visual texts and discussion of the topics and issues they raise. A special focus will be placed on the role that language plays in expressing underlying ideologies, power dynamics, and nuance, and in shaping public opinion. In addition to developing more advanced, professional-level proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in Russian, you will expand your active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics and improve your translation skills. Within the course structure, students are encouraged to explore topics of particular personal and academic interest.	REES5180401
REES 2271-401	Post-Soviet Russia in Film	Maria Bourlatskaya	TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	This course is intended for students who have spoken Russian at home and seek to improve their capabilities in formal and professional uses of the Russian language. Film is arguably the most powerful medium for reflecting changes in modern society. This course will examine Russia's transition to democracy and market economy through the eyes of its most creative and controversial cinematographers. The course will focus on the often agonizing process of changing values and attitudes as the country moves from Soviet to Post-Soviet society. Russian films with English subtitles will be supplemented by readings from contemporary Russian media sources. The course provides an excellent visual introduction to the problems of contemporary Russia society.	CIMS2271401, REES5271401
REES 5180-401	Behind the Headlines: Navigating Russian-Language Media	Maria Alley	TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	This course explores a wide range of Russian-language media, looking at the diverse ways in which news outlets cover current political, economic, and sociocultural events and issues. The coursework emphasizes close reading and analysis of written, spoken, and visual texts and discussion of the topics and issues they raise. A special focus will be placed on the role that language plays in expressing underlying ideologies, power dynamics, and nuance, and in shaping public opinion. In addition to developing more advanced, professional-level proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in Russian, you will expand your active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics and improve your translation skills. Within the course structure, students are encouraged to explore topics of particular personal and academic interest.	REES2180401
REES 5271-401	Post-Soviet Russia in Film	Maria Bourlatskaya	TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	This course is intended for students who have spoken Russian at home and seek to improve their capabilities in formal and professional uses of the Russian language. Film is arguably the most powerful medium for reflecting changes in modern society. This course will examine Russia's transition to democracy and market economy through the eyes of its most creative and controversial cinematographers. The course will focus on the often agonizing process of changing values and attitudes as the country moves from Soviet to Post-Soviet society. Russian films with English subtitles will be supplemented by readings from contemporary Russian media sources. The course provides an excellent visual introduction to the problems of contemporary Russia society.	CIMS2271401, REES2271401
REES 6100-401	Portraits of Old Rus: Myth, Icon, Chronicle	Julia Verkholantsev	TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM	Three modern-day nation-states – Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus – share and dispute the cultural heritage of Old Rus, and their political relationships revolve around interpretations of the past. Has the medieval Rus state been established by the Vikings or by the local Slavs? Is early Rus a mother state of Russia or of Ukraine, and, therefore, should it be spelled ‘Kyivan Rus,’ or ‘Kievan Rus’ in English? Has the culture of Russian political despotism been inherited from the Mongols, or is it an autochthonous ideology? The constructed past has a continuing importance in modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, and it is keenly referenced, often manipulatively, in contemporary social and political discourse. For example, President Putin invaded Ukraine under a pretense that its territory has “always” been an integral part of Russia and its history. The course covers eight centuries of cultural, political, and social history of the lands that are now within the borders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, from early historical records through the 18th century, a period that laid the foundation for the Russian Empire and the formation of modern nations. Students gain knowledge about formative events and prominent figures, as well as social and cultural developments during this period. The course takes multidisciplinary approach by combining the study of textual sources, objects of art and architecture, music, ritual, and film in their social and historical contexts. Students learn to analyze and interpret primary sources (historical documents and literary texts), identify their intellectual issues, and understand the historical, cultural, and social contexts in which these sources emerged. While working with these primary sources students learn to pose questions about their value and reliability as historical evidence. By exposing students to the critical examination of “the uses of the past,” the course aims to teach them to appreciate the authoritative nature of historical interpretation and its practical application in contemporary social and political rhetoric. The study of pre-modern cultural and political history through the prism of nationalism theories explains many aspects of modern Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian societies, as well as political aspirations of their leaders. At the end of the course, students should develop understanding of the continuity and change in the history of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, their belief systems, and nationalistic ideologies, and will be able to speak and write about these issues with competence and confidence.	HIST0724401, REES0100401
REES 6175-401	History and Memory in/of Socialism	Kevin M.F. Platt	W 1:45 PM-4:44 PM	State socialist societies shaped the history of the twentieth century. They also intently reshaped the history of past eras. Now, decades after the collapse of the USSR and the capitalist remake of the People’s Republic of China, those histories are often little more than memories, sometimes haunting the present, and sometimes weaponized for present purposes. This course will begin with consideration of state socialist societies’ representations of their own pasts and of global histories, from the historicization of the October Revolution, to the mid-century retellings of deeper histories of empire and nation, to non-conformist histories of state socialist mass violence. In the latter portion of the course, we will turn to investigate the history and memory of state socialism, covering post-socialist melancholy and nostalgia, the deployment of socialist history in memory wars and real wars in formerly state socialist lands, and recent revisions of socialist history in terms of empire, nation, and post- and de-coloniality. Primary materials will range from literature and film to public discourse, monumental art, and historiography (from Maxim Gorky’s “History of Factories and Plants” project [1930s] to Jasmina Wojcik’s _Symphony of the Ursus Factory_ [2018]). Our work will be ramified by readings in theory and method, covering social memory, invented traditions, lieux de mémoire, trauma studies, entangled and multidirectional memory, and other topics. All course materials will be available in English translation. Undergraduates may enroll with instructor’s permission.	COML6175401, ENGL5912401
REES 6286-401	The Politics of Truth in the Global Documentary	Julia Alekseyeva	R 10:15 AM-1:14 PM	This course is a study of documentary film practices internationally, beginning from the invention of cinema and ending in the contemporary landscape. It analyzes how documentary worldwide serves a paradoxical function: both a testament to the power of the "real," and a critique of its representation. The class thus challenges preconceived notions of a medium often connected to "cinema-truth." This class will also pay special attention to the intersection of documentary and politics to think through how the art of documentary has been historically instrumental for revolutionary politics, while also deeply complicit in fascist regimes. The course will include short writing assignments as well as a critical-creative project. The course is suitable for both graduate students and advanced undergraduate students, and advanced undergraduate students are more than welcome to apply. For more information, please visit: https://www.english.upenn.edu/courses/graduate	CIMS5934401, COML5934401, ENGL5934401
RUSS 0100-401	Russian I	Maria Alley Asher Maria	MTWR 9:00 AM-9:59 AM	This course is the first in a series of first-year courses in the traditional track, intended for students with no previous background in Russian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian. It will also introduce you to Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Russian on topics concerning your daily life. You will know greetings and everyday expressions, talk about people and objects in your life, your hobbies, likes and dislikes, past activities and your residence. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Russian.	RUSS5100401
RUSS 0100-402	Russian I	Molly Peeney	MTWR 1:45 PM-2:44 PM	This course is the first in a series of first-year courses in the traditional track, intended for students with no previous background in Russian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian. It will also introduce you to Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Russian on topics concerning your daily life. You will know greetings and everyday expressions, talk about people and objects in your life, your hobbies, likes and dislikes, past activities and your residence. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Russian.	RUSS5100402
RUSS 0100-680	Russian I	Lada Vassilieva	TR 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	This course is the first in a series of first-year courses in the traditional track, intended for students with no previous background in Russian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian. It will also introduce you to Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Russian on topics concerning your daily life. You will know greetings and everyday expressions, talk about people and objects in your life, your hobbies, likes and dislikes, past activities and your residence. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Russian.	RUSS5100680
RUSS 0201-401	Russian for Heritage Speakers I	Djamilia Nazyrova	MW 3:30 PM-4:59 PM	This is the first in the series of literacy courses for students who have spoken Russian at home and seek to improve literacy skills and language competence. The course aims to enhance linguistic accuracy in spelling, grammar, word choice and pronunciation, as well as fluency, narrative structure and appropriate use of idiomatic expressions in both speaking and writing. We will also focus on developing effective reading and listening strategies. Course readings include works of Russian classics, contemporary literature and mass media on cultural issues and daily life of the Russian-speaking community around the world. Students who complete this course in combination with RUSS0401 satisfy Penn Language Requirement.	RUSS5201401
RUSS 0300-401	Russian III	Maria Alley	MTWR 12:00 PM-12:59 PM	This course is the first in a series of second-year courses in the traditional track, continuation of Russian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Russian on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.	RUSS5300401
RUSS 0300-402	Russian III	Molly Peeney	MTWR 3:30 PM-4:29 PM	This course is the first in a series of second-year courses in the traditional track, continuation of Russian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Russian on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.	RUSS5300402
RUSS 1100-401	Russian Society Today	Aleksey Berg Anna Linetskaya	TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	This course develops students' skills in speaking and writing about topics in Russian literature, contemporary society, politics, and everyday life. Topics include women, work and family; sexuality; the economic situation; environmental problems; and life values. Materials include selected short stories by 19th and 20th century Russian authors, video-clips of interviews, excerpts from films, and articles from the Russian media. Continued work on grammar and vocabulary building.	RUSS5500401
RUSS 5100-401	Russian I	Maria Alley Asher Maria	MTWR 9:00 AM-9:59 AM	This course is for graduate students. It is the first in a series of first-year courses in the traditional track, intended for students with no previous background in Russian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian. It will also introduce you to Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Russian on topics concerning your daily life. You will know greetings and everyday expressions, talk about people and objects in your life, your hobbies, likes and dislikes, past activities and your residence. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Russian.	RUSS0100401
RUSS 5100-402	Russian I	Molly Peeney	MTWR 1:45 PM-2:44 PM	This course is for graduate students. It is the first in a series of first-year courses in the traditional track, intended for students with no previous background in Russian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian. It will also introduce you to Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Russian on topics concerning your daily life. You will know greetings and everyday expressions, talk about people and objects in your life, your hobbies, likes and dislikes, past activities and your residence. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Russian.	RUSS0100402
RUSS 5100-680	Russian I	Lada Vassilieva	TR 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	This course is for graduate students. It is the first in a series of first-year courses in the traditional track, intended for students with no previous background in Russian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian. It will also introduce you to Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Russian on topics concerning your daily life. You will know greetings and everyday expressions, talk about people and objects in your life, your hobbies, likes and dislikes, past activities and your residence. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Russian.	RUSS0100680
RUSS 5201-401	Russian for Heritage Speakers I	Djamilia Nazyrova	MW 3:30 PM-4:59 PM	This course is intended for students who have spoken Russian at home and seek to achieve proficiency in the language. Topics will include an intensive introduction to the Russian writing system and grammar, focusing on exciting materials and examples drawn from classic and contemporary Russian culture and social life. Students who complete this course in combination with RUSS361 satisfy the Penn Language Requirement. Prerequisite: Previous language experience required.	RUSS0201401
RUSS 5300-401	Russian III	Maria Alley	MTWR 12:00 PM-12:59 PM	This course is for graduate students. It is the first in a series of second-year courses in the traditional track, continuation of Russian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Russian on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.	RUSS0300401
RUSS 5300-402	Russian III	Molly Peeney	MTWR 3:30 PM-4:29 PM	This course is for graduate students. It is the first in a series of second-year courses in the traditional track, continuation of Russian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Russian culture and Russian-speaking cultures around the world through exciting authentic materials, including internet sites and cultural artifacts, songs, videos, short stories, as well as conversations with native speakers. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Russian on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.	RUSS0300402
RUSS 5500-401	Russian Society Today	Aleksey Berg Anna Linetskaya	TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM	This course is for graduate students. It is the first in a series of third-year courses in the traditional track, continuation of Russian IV. In this course we will explore aspects of contemporary Russian society and every day life including typical vacation and traveling practices, religion and belief, and issues of migration through current mass media, polling data, TV, radio, and film. The course is designed to strengthen and expand students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Russian, as well as to increase students' active and passive vocabulary on a wide range of topics. The course also aims to solidify students' knowledge of the basic structure of Russian they learned in previous courses and focuses on more advanced grammatical concepts including verbal aspect. By the end of the course, you will be able to write short analytical essays in Russian on a variety of issues. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Russian.	RUSS1100401
UKRN 0100-680	Ukrainian I	Kseniia Power	MW 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is the first in a series of first-year courses, intended for students with no previous background in Ukrainian. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Ukrainian. It will also introduce you to Ukrainian culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, and short stories. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Ukrainian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Ukrainian on topics concerning your daily life. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Ukrainian.
UKRN 0300-680	Ukrainian III	Kseniia Power	MW 3:30 PM-4:59 PM	This course is the first in a series of second-year courses, continuation of Ukrainian II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Ukrainian and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Ukrainian culture through exciting authentic materials, including Ukrainian newspaper articles on current events in business, education, politics, science, sports, and other topics. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Ukrainian. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Ukrainian on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.

Courses for Fall 2025

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