R U S S I A N   A N D   E A S T   E U R O P E A N   S T U D I E S
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia and Eastern Europe have undergone dramatic political, economic and social upheavals. The changes created by the fall of Communism have opened up closer links with the Western world and have intensified the expansion of diplomatic relations, international business initiatives, tourism, student exchanges and other academic experiences.

The Interdisciplinary Option and Diploma in Russian and East European Studies offer the student new perspectives in the understanding of a rapidly evolving region of the world. By integrating a wide variety of courses in politics, economics, history and geography, combined with the study of the languages, literatures, and cultural histories of Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Croatia, these interdisciplinary academic plans can provide the university graduate with valuable knowledge and necessary skills for employment in government service, internships, co-op placements and exchange opportunities, as well as careers in the commercial, financial, and educational sectors.

In order to further enhance the learning experience in a total immersion environment, several participating departments in the Russian and East European Studies Option and Diploma academic plans offer fully accredited study abroad courses in a number of foreign countries.
 

OPTION

The Option in Russian and East European Studies may be taken in combination
with any General or Honours Academic Plan.

Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of ten courses selected from at
least three of the following subject areas: (i) History, (ii) Political
Science, (iii) Economics and Geography, (iv) Culture, and (v) Language
and Literature Studies. Furthermore,
o no more than five courses counting toward the Option may be from
one subject area or have the same course designator, e.g. RUSS,
HIST;
o at least eight of these courses must be above the First Year
level;
o the course selection should reflect a reasonable balance between
the study of Russia and Eastern Europe.
2. No more than three courses which are used to fulfill a student's
major may count toward the Option requirement.
3. To meet graduation requirements a student must maintain a minimum
overall average of 65% in the courses selected to fulfill the Option.
4. Although students normally enrol in this Option in Year Two, it is
highly recommended that a language course in Russian, Ukrainian,
Polish, or Croatian be taken in Year One.

DIPLOMA

The Diploma in Russian and East European Studies allows students who are
registered in degree plans at other universities or who already hold a
degree to receive official recognition for the completion of the prescribed
plan of studies.

Requirements

The requirements for the Diploma are identical to those of the Option with
the proviso that at least seven of the ten courses counting toward the
Diploma must be taken at the University of Waterloo. However, up to three
approved courses offered through the Guelph-Waterloo Video Link and taken
through registration at the University of Guelph may count as University of
Waterloo equivalents.

APPROVED COURSES

History (HIST)

130 The Modern World in Historical Perspective
208 American-Russian Relations Since November, 1917
219 20th-Century Russian History
222 History of Modern Revolutions
245 War, Ethnicity and Religion in East Central Europe, 1453-1739
264 Europe Since 1945

Political Science (PSCI)

355A Politics in the Soviet Successor States 1
355B Politics in the Soviet Successor States 2
451 Comparative Political Systems: Eastern Europe
457 Ethnic Conflict and Conflict Resolution II

Economics and Geography

ECON 365 Economic Development of Modern Europe
ECON 461 Comparative Economic Systems
ECON 463B The Political Economy of Socialism
GEOG 204 Geography of Russia and Post-Soviet States

Culture

CROAT 371 Croatian Culture and Literature
FINE 351 Central and East European Film
RS 321 The History and Culture of the Orthodox Church
RUSS 271 Russian Thought and Culture (From the Beginnings to 1861)
RUSS 272 Russian Thought and Culture (From 1861 to the Present)
RUSS 371 Masterpieces of Russian Literature and Opera
UKRAN 271 Ukrainian Civilization (to 1800)
UKRAN 272 Ukrainian Civilization (1800 to the Present)

Language and Literature Studies

a) Language Courses

RUSS 101/102 First Year Russian
RUSS 251/252 Russian Composition and Conversation
RUSS 313/314 Russian for Business
RUSS 351/352 Intermediate Russian
RUSS 451/452 Advanced Russian
UKRAN 101/102 Beginners' Ukrainian
UKRAN 201/202 Intermediate Ukrainian
POLSH 101/102 First Year Polish
POLSH 201/202 Intermediate Polish
CROAT 101/102 Introductory Croatian
CROAT 201/202 Intermediate Croatian
CROAT 301/302 Advanced Croatian

b) Literature Courses:
RUSS 261/262 Introduction to Russian Literary Movements
RUSS 341/342 Russian Drama
RUSS 361/362 Russian Short Story
RUSS 391/392 Great Russian Novels
UKRAN 301 Introduction to Ukrainian Literature
UKRAN 302 20th Century Ukrainian Literature

For further information contact:

Professor Robert Karpiak
Director, Russian and East European Studies
Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures
Modern Languages Bldg., Room 215
Ext. 3118