Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Program in
Russian and East European Studies
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Website: https://coss.fsu.edu/rees/
Director: Lee Metcalf (Social Sciences); Director of Internships and Professional Development: Na'ama Nagar (Political Science)
The interdisciplinary program in Russian and East European studies is an international area studies program that is designed to develop a student's competence in the language, history, culture, and contemporary political and economic setting of a particular country or cultural region. This area studies program is focused on Russia and Eastern Europe. A major or minor in this program serves the needs of: (1) general liberal arts students who wish to learn more about this important area of the world; (2) students who wish to pursue graduate work in this or related fields; and (3) students who seek employment in or related to Russia or Eastern Europe. The program combines area- or country- specific courses with more general comparative courses that provide students with the necessary intellectual tools, concepts, and theories to make sense out of their particular disciplinary concentrations. Students are to select language and thematic specializations in line with their intellectual interests and career goals and design their program of study around them.
Computer Skills Competency
All undergraduates at Florida State University must demonstrate basic computer skills competency prior to graduation. As necessary computer competency skills vary from discipline to discipline, each major determines the courses needed to satisfy this requirement. Undergraduate majors in Russian and East European studies satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of "C–" or higher in any course at FSU which meets the liberal studies computer competency designation, though it is strongly recommended that students take either CGS 2060 or CGS 2100 in order to satisfy this requirement.
Requirements for a Major in Russian and East European Studies
Students majoring in the program are to construct their study program around four components: (1) two required courses, (2) a language requirement, (3) area-specific course work, and (4) a concepts and theories coursework requirement. Required courses for all students in the major are EUS 2931 Professional Development for Russian Eastern European Majors (one credit hour) and EUS 4951 Russian and East European Studies Capstone Course (three credit hours). The total hour requirements for a major are 37 semester hours beyond the 36 hours of General Education requirements with a grade of "C–" or better in all major coursework. As an interdisciplinary program, no minor is required.
In addition to a 2.0 overall major GPA, all students must meet "mapping" requirements. See https://www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/ for more information.
Language Requirement
All students are required to complete relevant area language coursework to the intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency to the intermediate college level in Russian, German, Czech, Serbo-Croatian, or some other East European language (at 2200 level or equivalent course). Students will be encouraged to bring their chosen language up to an effective level of proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking by either taking additional course work on Florida State University's campus or by participating in a semester or summer abroad program in their relevant cultural area that is administered by, affiliated with, or approved by Florida State University, as such programs become available. To encourage the achievement of language proficiency, language coursework hours taken beyond the 12 semester hour minimum or demonstrated intermediate college-level proficiency will be counted toward the required 37 semester hours for the major.
Area Specific Course Requirement
Students are to select at least twenty-four semester hours of coursework from the approved area specific course list. Other special topic area-specific courses may be approved from time to time. Students are encouraged to view the term specific course lists posted on the International Studies Canvas site and available on the College's Office of Academic Affairs website, from a college academic advisor and the program office in 211 Bellamy.
Concepts and Theories Tool Requirement
Students are to take at least nine semester hours of coursework from among the concepts and theories courses listed below. Students should select these courses with some care and in consultation with their academic advisor to meet the required prerequisites for some of the approved courses. Up to six hours of EUS 4945 Russian and Eastern European Studies Internship may count towards the Concept and Theory Course requirements.
Study Abroad
While it is not required, students majoring in Russian and East European Studies are strongly encouraged to study abroad. The Summer programs in Croatia, Prague, and Russia offer relevant course work. See https://international.fsu.edu/ for more information on the various options available through Florida State International Programs.
Students should consult with the Russian and East European Studies Director about any other study abroad programs they wish to pursue. Coursework taken in overseas locations must be approved in advance for credit toward the major.
Internship
The Russian and East European Studies program encourages students to take advantage of internships with an area focus. Students approved for academic credit in a Russian and Eastern European Studies internship will be enrolled in and must satisfactorily complete EUS 4945 Russian and Eastern European Studies Internship. Information on possible placements can be found on the International Studies Canvas site. All internships must be approved the semester before the internship takes place. See the Russian and East European Studies program specialist in 211 Bellamy for further information.
Honors in the Major
The Program in Russian and East European Studies offers honors in the major to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original work as part of the undergraduate experience. For requirements and other information, see the "University Honors Office and Honor Societies" chapter of this General Bulletin.
Second Majors
Majors in Russian and East European Studies may pursue a second major. When students pursue a second major, they may count six semester hours of overlapping coursework toward both of their majors.
Minor in Russian and East European Studies
Students pursuing a minor in the program must complete eighteen semester hours of Russian and East European course work beyond the 36 hours of General Education requirements. In this case none of the broader concepts and theories courses will count toward the eighteen semester hour minimum. Students may select freely from all area specific courses. Modern language courses numbered above 2999 may count toward the minor. Nine of the eighteen hours must be numbered above 2999. A maximum combined total of six semester hours in Russian and East European Studies internship or directed individual study may apply to the minor.
Approved Courses
Note: Descriptions of specific courses can be found under the individual departments in which they are taught. In addition to the courses listed below, special topics courses may be approved by the program director in any particular term. These courses appear on the term course lists and are available at the International Studies Canvas Organization site, on the College's office of Academic Affairs website at coss.fsu.edu/academics, and the program office in 211 Bellamy.
Area Specific (24 Credit Hours)
Note: Approved area specific coursework is organized here by department for ease of reference, but students may take any combination of courses from approved the approved list to meet the area specific requirement.
Art History
ARH 4450 Modern European Art: Post-Impressionism through Surrealism (3)
Geography
GEA 1000 World Geography (3)
GEA 4500 Europe (3)
GEA 4554 Russia and Southern Eurasia (3)
GEO 1400 Human Geography (3)
GEO 3502 Economic Geography (3)
GEO 4421 Cultural Geography (3)
GEO 4471 Political Geography (3)
History
AMH 4511 Twentieth-Century United States Foreign Relations (3)
EUH 3205 19th-Century Europe: A Survey (3)
EUH 3206 20th-Century Europe: A Survey (3)
EUH 3293 20th Century Europe through Film (3)
EUH 3461 German History, 1740-1918 (3)
EUH 3551 Modern Poland (3)
EUH 3571 Russia to Nicholas I (3)
EUH 4241 The Holocaust in Historical Perspective (3)
EUH 4242 World War I: Europe 1900–1918 (3)
EUH 4282 Europe in the Cold War and Detente (3)
EUH 4331 East-Central Europe from 1815 to Present (3)
EUH 4332 Balkans Since 1700 (3)
EUH 4454 Napoleonic Europe, 1795–1815 (3)
EUH 4465 Weimar and Nazi Germany (3)
EUH 4574 19th-Century Russia (3)
EUH 4576 20th-Century Russia (3)
EUH 4603 European Intellectual History, 1800 to Present (3)
IDH 2133 Musical Theatre in the Weimar Republic: Identities and Creative Freedom (3)
WOH 2023 The Modern World to 1815 (3)
WOH 2030 World History Since 1815 (3)
WOH 2202 Mortal Combat Eurasian Worlds of War Since 1200 (3)
WOH 3440 History of Refugees, 0-2000 (3)
WOH 4244 World War II (3)
Modern Languages and Linguistics
Note: All courses with the following prefixes taught through the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics are on the list of courses approved for the Russian and Eastern European Studies major: German: GER, GET, GEW; Russian: RUS, RUT, RUW; Slavic: SLL. Those credit hours earned by taking courses through the intermediate (2200) level to fulfill the modern language requirement (which must be met by all Russian and Eastern European Studies majors) cannot be counted toward the 40 hours of Russian and Eastern European Studies major coursework. Students may, however, earn credit toward the major for additional courses in modern languages. All language and literature courses are taught primarily in the foreign language with the exception of courses in literature in translation (prefix ending in "T") and in film. Other courses may not necessarily require prerequisite language course background, though the student should verify any fluency prerequisites prior to enrolling in a language course. In addition, the following courses are approved:
IDS 2467 Interdisciplinary Explorations in German Culture (3)
IDS 3188 German Society Through Film: The Legacy of Nazi Crimes Against Humanity (3)
Philosophy
PHP 3510 Introduction to Marxist Philosophy (3)
Political Science
CPO 3101 European Union (1)
CPO 3055 Authoritarian Regimes (3)
CPO 3101 European Union (3)
CPO 3615 Post-Soviet Politics (3)
INR 4083 International Conflict (3)
Religion
IDS 2420 Heretics, Rebels and Militants in the Islamic World (3)
Note: See course descriptions for required prerequisites.
Comparative Concepts and Theories (Nine Credit Hours)
Recommended Social Science Prerequisites - Concepts and Theories
CPO 2002 Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics (3)
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
INR 2002 Introduction to International Relations (3)
Note: Prerequisites listed above are recommended prior to enrolling in upper-level coursework in the respective subject areas. The listed prerequisite coursework does itself count towards the Concepts and Theories requirement.
Other Concepts and Theories
ANT 2410 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)
ANT 2416 Childhood Around the World (3)
ANT 2470 The Anthropology of Globalization (3)
ANT 3212 Peoples of the World (3)
ANT 3610 Language and Culture (3)
ANT 4241 Anthropology of Religion (3)
ARH 2000 Art, Architecture, and Artistic Vision (3)
ARH 2050 History and Criticism of Art I (3)
ARH 2051 History and Criticism of Art II (3)
CPO 3034 Politics of Developing Areas (3)
CPO 3703 Comparative Democratic Institutions (3)
CPO 3743 States and Markets (3)
CPO 4057 Political Violence (3)
CPO 4504 Institutional Approaches to Democracies and Dictatorships (3)
ECO 3303 History of Economic Ideas (3)
ECO 4270 Economic Growth (3)
ECO 4704 International Trade (3)
ECO 4713 International Finance (3)
ECP 3113 Economics of Population (3)
ECS 3003 Comparative Economic Systems (3)
ECS 3022 Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (3)
ECS 4013 Economics of Development (3)
GEO 4210 Landforms and Landscapes (3)
GEO 4280 Geography and Water Resources (3)
GEO 4357 Environmental Conflict and Economic Development (3)
GEO 4403 Global Change, Local Places (3)
GEO 4412 Environment and Gender (3)
GEO 4450 Medical Geography (3)
GEO 4503 Globalization (3)
GEO 4505 Geographies of Oil (3)
HUM 3321 Multicultural Dimension of Film and 20th Century Culture (3)
IDH 2140 Freedom and Religion: Liberal, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives (3)
IDS 2431 Thinking Beyond Ourselves: Global Perspectives (3)
IDS 2461 Music and International Human Rights (3)
IDS 3197 Responses to the Holocaust (3)
IDS 3198 Terrorism in Historical Perspective (3)
IDS 3392 Just Torture (3)
INR 3004 Geography, History, and International Relations (3)
INR 3084 Terror and Politics (3)
INR 3502 International Organizations (3)
INR 3603 Theories of International Relations (3)
INR 4011 Political Responses to Economic Globalization (3)
INR 4075 International Human Rights (3)
INR 4078 Confronting Human Rights Violations (3)
INR 4083 International Conflict (3)
INR 4702 Political Economy of International Relations (3)
MUH 2012 Music in Western Culture, 19th and 20th Centuries (3)
MUH 2051 Music in World Cultures (3)
PAD 4301 Disaster Management Planning for Urban Poor Communities (3)
PAD 4374 Introduction to Terrorism: Preparedness and Response (3)
PAD 4375 Advanced Topics in Terrorism (3) [with PAD 4374 as a prerequisite]
PAD 4382 Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (3)
PAD 4433 Women, Disasters, and Conflict (3)
PAD 4831 International Conflicts and Terrorism (3)
PAD 4833 International and Comparative Disaster Management (3)
PAD 4842 U.S. Intelligence Policy (3)
PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
PHI 2630 Ethical Issues and Life Choices (3)
PHI 3670 Ethical Theory (3)
PHI 3700 Philosophy of Religion (3)
PHI 3800 Philosophy and the Arts (3)
PHI 3882 Philosophy in Literature (3)
PHM 2300 Introduction to Political Philosophy (3)
PHM 3331r Modern Political Thought (3)
PHM 3351 Philosophy of Human Rights (3)
PHM 3400 Philosophy of Law (3)
PHM 4340r Contemporary Political Thought (3)
REL 1300 Introduction to World Religions (3)
REL 3142 Religion: The Self and Society (3)
REL 3145 Gender and Religion (3)
REL 3152 Religion, Race and Ethnicity (3)
REL 3170 Religious Ethics and Moral Problems (3)
REL 3194 The Holocaust (3)
REL 3505 The Christian Tradition (3)
SYA 4010 Sociological Theory (3)
SYD 3020 Population and Society (3)
SYG 1000 Introductory Sociology (3)
SYG 2010 Social Problems (3)
SYO 3530 Social Classes and Inequality (3)
SYP 3000 Social Psychology of Groups (3)
SYP 3350 Collective Action and Social Movements (3)
SYP 3454 The Global Justice Movement (3)
SYP 3540 Sociology of Law (3)
URP 3000 Introduction to Planning and Urban Development (3)
URP 4618 Planning for Developing Regions (3)
URS 1006 World Cities: Quality of Life (3)
Note: See course descriptions for required prerequisites.
Definition of Prefix
EUS—European Studies
Undergraduate Courses
EUS 2931. Professional Development for Russian and Eastern European Studies Majors (1). (S/U grade only.) This course introduces Russian and Eastern European Studies (REES) major and the ways in which students can enhance their experience at Florida State University. This course allows students to reflect upon their goals and to explore opportunities available to them in order to tailor their academic experience and to help them attain their professional objectives.
EUS 4905r. Directed Individual Study (1–3). May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
EUS 4945r. Russian and Eastern European Studies Internship (3-6). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisites: 15 classroom hours beyond Liberal Studies, cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher, and instructor consent. This course is designed for students to gain real world experience through on-the-job practice. Interns can expect to gain valuable work experience, develop professional skills, cultivate valuable contacts, and investigate career options. The course allows students to receive academic credit for internship placement in approved agencies and organizations.
EUS 4951. Russian and East European Studies Capstone Course (3). This course is designed for students to reflect on the value of an interdisciplinary major, to explain succinctly their course of study, and to produce a piece of original interdisciplinary scholarship. Students are introduced to the basic methods and techniques of research writing in a workshop setting with faculty support. The course focuses on such issues as developing a thesis statement, writing a literature review, finding source material (books, articles, internet resources, etc.) generating an argument, writing and revising a rough draft, APA documentation of sources, and the presentation of the final product. Both the written and oral communication of student research is emphasized.
EUS 4970r. Honors Thesis (European Studies) (1–6). Six hours of credit must be taken in two successive semesters and must result in the production of a thesis. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) credit hours; repeatable within the same term.
For listings relating to graduate coursework, consult the Graduate Bulletin.