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Students in beautiful St. Petersburg
during the January interim trip to Russia.
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Bridging CulturesEvents in Russia and Eastern Europe exercised an immense influence
on twentieth-century history. Recent changes in this region have opened
up many careers for college graduates who can speak Russian or another
East European language, and who are familiar with the culture of one
or more countries in the area. |
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| Eastern Europe’s cultural achievements richly
repay study. Russian literature is one of the world’s greatest and
most universal in its appeal. The art and architecture of the Orthodox
culture area, of which Russia forms a part, ranks among humanity’s
major artistic traditions. An in-depth knowledge of a foreign culture is one of the most valuable possessions a student can acquire through a liberal arts education. No one really appreciates his or her own culture who has not made the effort to understand another. No college graduate is equipped to meet the challenges of today’s global economy unless he or she has learned to visualize what the world looks like to people whose ways of thinking and historical experience differ from his or her own. |
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Course of StudyThe core of the major is the study of the Russian language. Majors
are expected to reach an advanced level of proficiency. The program
is responsive to the particular needs of each student. It includes students
who begin the study of Russian at Lafayette, as well as those who acquired
at least the rudiments of the language in high school. Students who
come from a Russian-speaking family background are assisted in perfecting
their grammar and their ability to read and write Russian. Special FeaturesA foreign study experience in Russia or Eastern Europe is highly recommended
for majors, as is the writing of an honors thesis under the direction
of one of the professors affiliated with the REES program. Students
who choose neither of these options undertake an independent study project
as a capstone experience, or enroll in History 354: Seminar in Russo-Soviet
History and Culture. After GraduationA wide range of interesting and well-paying jobs have become available
to graduates with a knowledge of Russian and of Russia since Western
companies began to penetrate the East European market. Graduates are
currently working in international business and banking as specialists
in Russian investment, with economic development firms that focus on
East European countries, and as lawyers, teachers, and financial analysts.
Some have also gone into advertising and public relations. Courses
FacultyKatalin Fabian, Assistant Professor of Government and Law. Ph.D., Syracuse University. Special interests: comparative politics, public policy and administration, women and politics. Has written numerous articles on women and politics. Proficient in Hungarian, German, and Spanish, working knowledge of Russian. Jerome F. Heavey, Professor of Economics and Business. Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University. Special interests: economics of Eastern Europe, public finance. Recently served for a year and a half as an adviser on fiscal reform to regional and local governments in Russia. Rado Pribic, Edwin Oliver Williams Professor of Languages and Chair of International Affairs. Ph.D., Vanderbilt University. Special interests: Russian literature, international affairs, various East European topics, Germano-Slavic cultural, literary, and linguistic relations. Author/ editor of four books and more than 80 articles and reviews. Recipient of Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award and Jones Lecture Award. Valerie Sajez, Instructor in Foriegn Languages and Literatures. M.S., Brown University. Special interests: Russian language and literature. Joshua A. Sanborn, Assistant Professor of History. Ph.D., University of Chicago. Special interests: Russian and East European history, war and society, peace studies, imperialism, nationalism, and gender studies. Author of several articles on the impact of war on Russian nationalism. Currently working on a book on the social and political impact of military conscription on 20th-century Russia. Ida Sinkevic, Associate Professor of Art. Ph.D., Princeton University. Special interests: art of Byzantium and the cultures it influenced (the Balkans, Russia); Ancient, Medieval, Byzantine, and Russian art and architecture. Has written on various aspects of Byzantine art, architecture, and art patronage. Rado Pribic For general information: |
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