Russian and East European StudiesMajor in Russian and East European Studies (REES)
The major in Russian and East European Studies (12 c.u.) provides a program of study that enables a broad, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural understanding of the languages, literatures, cultures, histories, and societies of Russia, Central and Eastern European, and the Balkan and Baltic regions. For the language requirement, students can choose any regional language offered at Penn (i.e. Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian) or in which they can demonstrate an equivalent proficiency. Students may satisfy the language requirement in a language not offered at Penn by completing language coursework through a study abroad or by demonstrating equivalent oral and literacy proficiency in a test.
In addition to linguistic flexibility, the REES major allows students to pursue their specific disciplinary interests through three concentrations: “Language, Literature, and Culture,” “History, Politics, and Society,” and “Cinema, Arts, and Letters.” Majors are encouraged to complete a summer or a semester study abroad to gain first-hand understanding of the communities they study and to advance their language competency. The major offers an honors option.
To discuss major and minor options and plans, please contact the Undergraduate Chair, Prof. Julia Verkholantsev, to schedule a Zoom meeting or a telephone call. Prof. Verkholantsev can be reached at juliaver at sas.upenn.edu
Major Requirements
1. Basic Language Requirement
Students complete the introductory through intermediate language program (equivalent to four semesters in traditional tracks, or equivalent in heritage program) in any regional language (such as Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, or Ukrainian), or demonstrate equivalent proficiency through a placement test. Students are strongly encouraged to explore several areas of the region by studying more than one regional language. Consult with the REES Undergraduate Chair on how to satisfy this requirement and with the Academic Director of the Penn Language Center (PLC) in the case of languages offered through PLC.
The major requires a total of twelve courses (12 c.u.), beyond the completion of the basic language requirement, or the demonstration of equivalent proficiency. These twelve courses must include:
2. Russian and East European Studies Core (1 c.u.)
Choose either:
REES0010 Central and Eastern Europe: Cultures, Histories, Societies
3. Concentrations (7 c.u.)
Students choose one of the three concentrations below or create their own in consultation with the REES Undergraduate Chair. Concentrations consist of seven REES courses (courses with REES attributes).
Language, Literature, and Culture
Students take seven REES courses (courses with REES attributes) with language, literature, and cultural studies content.
A. Advanced Language Requirement
Students must complete the advanced language program in any regional language approved by the Undergraduate Chair or demonstrate equivalent proficiency. In most cases, students fulfill this requirement by taking two advanced content-based language courses or their equivalent in any regional language approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
B. Chronological Distribution
Students must take at least one broad survey course that covers the period before 1800, one that covers the period before 1900 and one that covers the period after 1900.
History, Politics, and Society
Students take seven REES courses (courses with REES attributes) with history, political science, and other social sciences content. Content-based advanced language courses may be counted towards this requirement.
A. Disciplinary Distribution
Students must take at least one course with historical content, one with political science content, and one with other social sciences (such as economics or sociology) content.
B. Chronological Distribution
Students must take at least one broad survey course that covers the period before 1800, one that covers the period before 1900 and one that covers the period after 1900.
Cinema, Arts and Letters
Students take seven REES courses (courses with REES attributes) with cinema studies, art history, and literature content. Content-based advanced language courses may be counted towards this requirement.
A. Disciplinary Distribution
Students must take at least one course with cinema studies content, one course with art history content, and one with literature content.
B. Chronological Distribution
Because the language of cinema in this part of the world is deeply historical and cultural, students must take at least one broad survey course that covers the period before 1800, one that covers the period before 1900 and one that covers the period after 1900.
4. Free Electives (4 c.u.)
Students must complete four additional REES courses (courses with REES attributes) or other courses approved by the Undergraduate Chair that have appropriate content and match an individual student’s academic program. Language courses in any regional language – and students are encouraged to study another language beyond the one satisfying the basic language requirement – may be counted if they are not already counted towards a concentration or the basic language requirement.
5. General Distribution
All students must complete at least one course with historical content, one with social science content, one on literature or culture, one that focuses on Russia, and one that focuses on Central and Eastern Europe.
6. Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to consider study abroad options as a way to gain knowledge and understanding of local communities they study and advance language competency. Normally, students who study abroad or who attend summer programs in the USA will be eligible to count up to four credits from such programs towards the major, including language courses. Under rare circumstances (additional summer study, more than a semester of study abroad), students may upon request be allowed to apply as many as six credits from such programs to the major. Advance permission for such a course of study is required from the Undergraduate Chair. The Undergraduate Chair will also recommend study abroad and summer programs that fit the criteria of the department.
7. Honors Thesis (optional)
Students with a minimum 3.3 overall GPA and a minimum 3.6 in major coursework are eligible for honors in the REES major. Those who seek to receive honors must complete a thesis of 35-40 pages with bibliography and notes. Thesis students must enroll in REES 4998. The Department will not consider research projects completed for other programs’ or majors’ theses or projects as REES honors theses. The honors thesis may be written during either semester of the senior year, under the guidance of a REES faculty member whose area of expertise coincides with the subject of the project. Within the first week of the semester in which the project is to be completed, students should provide to the Undergraduate Chair a two-page research proposal endorsed by the faculty member who will supervise the project. One copy of the final paper must be submitted to the Undergraduate Chair before the major certification is approved for graduation. Only students who receive a final grade of “A” on their research project will be recognized with honors in the major in REES. All theses are kept on file by the Department. Students may meet the honors thesis requirement by enrolling in a relevant graduate seminar approved in advance by the Undergraduate Chair and attaining an A on a final research paper that answers the criteria of the honors thesis.
8. Minimum Grade
Students must receive a grade of C+ or above in a course for it to count towards a core requirement, concentration, or elective in the REES major.
Note that some REES language courses are offered through Penn Language Center (PLC) and some are cross-listed courses of the Departments of History and Political Science, and possibly in future also other units at Penn.
