Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

The Slavic Department teaches the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Slavic nations. The curriculum provides the language training prerequisite to specialization in a variety of careers (e.g., government, diplomacy, international trade, teaching), and offers an enriching cultural and linguistic background to non-majors, especially those interested in the ethnic heritage of the Slavic peoples.

Courses in English

• RUSSIAN 231, 241, 322, 346, 347, 348, 357, 358, 360, 361, 365, 382, 450, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 472, 476, 477, 478, 479, 485;
• SLAVIC 151, 210, 225, 240, 250, 270, 281, 290, 312, 313, 315, 316, 435, 470, 481, 487, 490;
• POLISH 214, 314, 325, 326, 432;
• CZECH 315, 480, 483, 484

Do you need to fulfill some requirements? Check out the courses in the Slavic Department!

The Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures can help you with your general requirements! We regularly offer courses that meet general requirements, and many of our courses fulfill multiple requirements. Our classes could help to round-out your schedule while broadening your horizons! Contact us at www.lsa.umich.edu/slavic or slavic@umich.edu.

Placement Information for Introductory Language Courses

Students with high school training in Russian are required to take both the reading and listening (CEEB) Russian tests to evaluate their language proficiency. The results of the placement test determine the proper placement. The Slavic Department has final authority to determine the most appropriate course level. Heritage students (students partially raised in a Slavic-speaking environment) are required to contact the Slavic Department prior to enrolling in any language classes.

Russian Language Program

The University of Michigan offers outstanding instruction in Russian, a language spoken by the one hundred fifty million people in Russia itself, and by another thirty million people in the surrounding countries. Learning Russian opens the door to exciting new opportunities, as the economies of Eastern Europe continue to transform (Russia is now one of the world’s major oil exporters). Having “Russian” on your résumé will make you stand out in applications for jobs or to professional schools. Learning Russian will give you the chance to travel, study, and complete internships in the world’s largest country. All the achievements of Russian culture will be open to you — from Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Bulgakov, and Nabokov, to Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and the Kirov Ballet.

Intensive Language Programs

The Slavic Department and the Residential College jointly sponsor a proficiency oriented program of intensive Russian, consisting of a sequence of two eight-credit courses (RUSSIAN 103 and 203) equivalent to the regular first- and second-year program, plus a four-credit Readings Course (RCLANG 323) enabling a student to reach advanced proficiency in all four language skills in three terms. The program also includes daily Russian Language Table and weekly Russian Tea. For more information contact the RC’s main office at (734) 647-4363.

Term III Intensive Russian Language Courses

The department offers a comprehensive, proficiency-oriented intensive spring/summer Russian language program for students at the first-, second-, or third-year levels. Guest students are highly encouraged to apply. Please see www.lsa.umich.edu/sli for more information.

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