Eastern Europe: Polish / Russian Language and Culture Minor

Minor Credit Hours: 18

Eastern European (Polish and Russian) Americans are the largest European-American ethnic group in the Chicago metropolitan area with as many as 1.5 million people claiming this ancestry. This minor is uniquely innovative and interdisciplinary in nature, emphasizing both language and culture.

Russian and Polish are both considered critical languages important for the economic well-being and national security of the United States. Studying critical languages will provide students with a competitive edge in their career search. Heritage speakers must consult with the Director of the Foreign Language Program when selecting language courses for this minor. Eastern European Language and Culture minors are encouraged to pursue a second minor in Ethnic and Cultural Studies.

Students must complete 9 credits in EITHER Polish OR Russian language.

Degree Requirements

I. Required Language Courses (9)

POLISH

21-117First Year Polish 1

3

-
OR

21-191First Year Language in Location 1

3

21-118First Year Polish 2

3

-
OR

21-192First Year Language in Location 2

3

21-233Second Year Polish 1

3

-
OR

21-291Second Year Language in Location 1

3

-
OR

06-314Linguistics

3

RUSSIAN

21-121First Year Russian 1

3

-
OR

21-191First Year Language in Location 1

3

21-122First Year Russian 2

3

-
OR

21-192First Year Language in Location 2

3

21-243Second Year Russian 1

3

-
OR

21-291Second Year Language in Location 1

3

-
OR

06-314Linguistics

3

II. Elective Culture Courses (9)

Choose three courses from at least two different departments. Topics courses and seminars must be related to Eastern European (Polish or Russian) studies.

06-220Topics in Literature

3

06-339Topics in World Authors

3

06-376World/Ethnic Film

3

09-372Modern Europe (1815-Present)

3

09-385Russia: Ancient Times to the Present

3

09-386Eastern Europe: From the Baltic to the Black Sea

3

10-350Intercultural Communication

3

14-226Topics in Music

3

18-321Comparative Government

3

18-331International Relations

3

18-337International Topics

3

21-120International Experience Seminar

1

21-234Second Year Polish 2

3

-
OR

21-244Second Year Russian 2

3

21-292Second Year Language in Location 2

3

26-285Cross-Cultural Psychology

3

III. At least 2 courses in the minor must be at the 300 or 400 level.

IV. Eastern European Language and Culture minors are encouraged to double minor in Ethnic and Cultural Studies.

Consult the Chair of Sociology. Double minors may complete the Ethnic and Cultural Studies minor by taking the following courses:

20-100Principles of Sociology

3

20-290Cultural Diversity and Intergroup Relations

3

-
Ethnic and Cultural Electives

15

Choose, with the advice and consent of the director of the Ethnic and Cultural Studies Program, 15 credit hours in significant ethnic and cultural electives, preferably in Eastern European related courses not duplicated among courses listed above. Two courses (6 credits) must be at the 300 or 400 level.