Major & Minor Requirements

Program of Study

The Slavic Department at the University of Chicago has a long-standing reputation as one of the major research programs in the field. The Slavic Department’s Russian and East European Studies (REES) BA program provides students with language mastery, cultural competence, and critical thinking —skills essential for responding to the complexities of today’s global world. Our program prepares students for graduate work as well as for careers in government, NGOs, human rights, law, international business, translation, teaching, and research. 

Language study

We teach Bosnian/ Croatian/ Serbian, Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian, as well as a wide variety of cultural and literary studies of the region. We offer multiple levels in our languages so that students with no experience can reach advanced proficiency before they graduate, as well as courses tailored to the needs of heritage speakers—those who learned the language informally with family members. If you have previous experience with any of our languages as a heritage speaker, formal learner, or through self-study, please take the online placement test for that language so we find the class that best fits your level. Our experienced instructors are also specialists in Heritage Language Learning. The University of Chicago’s Language Center offers assessments for official certification of advanced proficiency in many of our languages. Finally, Chicago is home to vibrant East European diaspora communities and is a rich resource for experiential learning, language practice, cultural enrichment, and culinary adventures. 

Students interested in the program are encouraged to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The contact information for the current Director of Undergraduate Studies may be obtained by consulting the departmental website at slavic.uchicago.edu.

Why Russian and East European Studies 

In the present world, Russian and East European languages and literatures are uniquely positioned to offer profound insight into the anatomy of power and resistance. We are guided by the intellectual urgency with which writers and artists from the region have searched for meaning and freedom while experiencing dramatic societal changes, devastating loss, exile, authoritarian rule. Our task as a department is not simply to impart knowledge but to share tools for interrogating systems of knowledge and for building creative responses to these systems. These encounters with embodied history inspire our students toward richer intellectual global citizenship.

 Through REES you will acquire:

• Language Proficiency
  Students will develop proficiency in a Slavic language, acquiring advanced listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation skills that enable independent functioning in the relevant cultural contexts.
• Cultural Competency
  Students will gain an understanding of the cultures, histories, and literatures of the region, situating these within global and cross-cultural frameworks.
• Critical Thinking and Analysis
  Students will learn to critically evaluate historical and contemporary issues in the region, using comparative and multidisciplinary approaches.
• Research Skills
  Students will engage with primary and secondary material, developing experience with search processes, evaluating sources for relevance and reliability.
• Global Citizenship
  Students gain the linguistic and cultural skills essential for success in a global context.

Learning Goals

Students will

• recognize key differences between internal and external perspectives on the region
• demonstrate generative knowledge/perspective on the cultures of the region
• question accepted precepts for understanding the region

Double majors with REES (Russian and East European Studies) and other fields of study are supported. Students who are majoring in other fields of study may also complete a minor in REES.

General Education

Depending on the language(s) of concentration, it is recommended that students majoring in REES satisfy the general education requirement in civilization studies with HIST 13900-14000-14100. Russia and Eurasia: Empires, Societies, Cultures I-II-III or HIST 13001-13002-13003. History of European Civilization I-II-III.

Gateway Courses

Students who are considering majoring or minoring in REES can explore the field through a Gateway Course. Each quarter, one of the Slavic Department’s courses is designated a “Gateway” to Russian and East European Studies. Gateway Courses introduce cultural studies of the region in comparative and/or diachronic form. They are taught in translation. They include the Russian Novel, Re-Branding the Balkan City, Returning the Gaze, States of Surveillance, and others marked [GATEWAY] in the course catalog. These courses fulfill the Department’s learning objectives for undergraduate education in the field: understanding key differences between internal and external perspectives on the region; demonstrating generative knowledge/perspective on cultures of the region; questioning accepted precepts for understanding the region.

Program Requirements

Major Program in Russian and East European Studies (REES)

The BA in REES requires twelve (12) courses, which fall into four categories: courses in the major language of study, a Gateway course, a REES Proseminar and elective courses. In this way students have the flexibility to construct a course of study that accords with their interests.

1. Six language courses at the 20000 level or beyond*. This requirement may be satisfied in whole or in part by examination credit based on a University placement exam. Students who fulfill the language requirement with fewer than three quarters of study must substitute elective courses offered in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. In exceptional circumstances students may petition to substitute three courses in a concentrated area of study for three quarters of study in the major language.

2. One Gateway Course. Each quarter, one of the Slavic Department’s courses is designated a “gateway” to Russian and East European Studies. Students matriculating in AY 2025-2026 should plan to take one such course before graduation. Gateway Courses introduce cultural studies of the region in comparative and/or diachronic form. They are taught in translation. They include the Russian Novel, Re-Branding the Balkan City, States of Surveillance, and other courses marked [GATEWAY] in the course catalog. These courses address the Department’s learning objectives: Understand key differences between internal and external perspectives on the region; Demonstrate generative knowledge /perspective on cultures of our region; Question accepted precepts for understanding the region.

3. One REES Proseminar. The proseminar, offered annually, is required of all REES Majors matriculating in AY 2025-2026, may be taken at any time, and is open by request to those who have not declared the major. Tailored to Majors’ interests, the REES Proseminar introduces students to major debates and problems in the field through a theme (e.g., Empire and Nation; or, The Short Story). It also hones their research, writing and presentation skills and exposes them to professional opportunities related to their college studies. The Proseminar addresses the following learning objectives: analyzing texts, events, and materials from our region in the original language with an understanding of their cultural and historical contexts; demonstrating generative knowledge /perspective on cultures of our region; questioning accepted precepts for understanding the region.

4. Four elective courses in REES or in languages offered by Slavic Languages and Literatures. This requirement is designed to allow students to tailor their program to their intended goals and career track. A maximum of one Reading and Research course (REES 29700 Reading/Research: Russian and Eastern European Studies) may be counted as an elective course. Students matriculating in AY 2025-2026 are required to take four (4) such courses. Students who matriculated before 2026 should take six (6) REES electives total because the Gateway or Proseminar course are optional for them.

Courses in the major may not be double-counted with general education requirements (except for foreign language requirements). A minimum of seven courses in the major must be completed for quality grades at the University of Chicago.

Summary of Requirements for the Major in Russian and East European Studies 

* Credit may be granted by examination. Up to three quarters worth of placement credit can be counted toward the major. When more than half of the language requirement (the equivalent of four to six quarters of study) is met by examination, electives in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures must be substituted for the additional quarters of language credit granted (i.e., if a student places out of four quarters of language study, one elective course must be substituted into the major. If five quarters of credit are granted, two electives must be substituted, etc.). Introductory courses in another Slavic or East European language can be used as electives.

Minor Program in Russian and East European Studies

The Minor in Russian and East European Studies requires seven courses, including at least three language courses at the 20000 level or beyond. The first-year level of the major language of study cannot be counted toward the minor. The minor also requires at least two REES subject courses, one of which must be a Gateway-Designated Course for students matriculating in AY 2025-2026.

Courses in the minor (1) may not be double counted with the student’s major(s) or with other minors and (2) may not be counted toward general education requirements (except foreign language requirements). Courses in the minor must be taken for quality grades, and more than half of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers. To declare a REES minor, please fill out this form and send to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Summary of Requirements for the Minor in Russian and East European Studies

* Credit may be granted by examination. Up to three quarters worth of placement credit can be counted toward the major. When more than half of the language requirement (the equivalent of four to six quarters of study) is met by examination, electives in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures must be substituted for the additional quarters of language credit granted (i.e., if a student places out of four quarters of language study, one elective course must be substituted into the major. If five quarters of credit are granted, two electives must be substituted, etc.). Introductory courses in another Slavic or East European language can be used as electives.

Grading

Students who are majoring or minoring in Russian and East European Studies must receive a quality grade in all courses taken to meet requirements in the major or minor. Nonmajors and nonminors have the option of taking courses on a P/F basis at the discretion of the instructor (except for language courses, which must be taken for quality grades). For the major a minimum of seven courses must bear University of Chicago course numbers and be completed for quality grades.

Honors

To be eligible for honors in Russian and East European Studies, students must maintain an overall College GPA of 3.25 or higher and of 3.5 or higher in the major and write a REES BA Paper. Students must indicate their intention to pursue honors to the director of undergraduate studies during the first quarter of their fourth year, and choose a BA Paper advisor from among members of the Slavic Department faculty. Students must then submit the BA paper to their advisor no later than Monday of sixth week in Spring Quarter of their fourth year. The REES Proseminar can facilitate honors students’ work on their theses.

If the completed BA Paper is judged by the supervisor and a second faculty member to be a distinguished example of original research or criticism, the student is recommended to the College for graduation with honors in Russian and East European Studies. The final decision regarding the granting of any degree with honors rests with the Collegiate divisional master.

Advising

Students wishing to declare the major or minor should meet with the director of undergraduate studies. Further information on the undergraduate program is available in the departmental office (Foster 406, 773.702.8033, slavic-department@uchicago.edu, slavic.uchicago.edu). Questions about placement, competency, and proficiency examinations in Slavic languages should be directed to the Slavic language coordinator, Erik Houle.

Study Abroad

Study abroad opportunities are offered in subjects and geographic areas of interest to students who are majoring in Russian and East European Studies, including those described below. For more information, students should consult with the study abroad advisers or visit study-abroad.uchicago.edu.

The Career Advancement office assists students in arranging internships and other professional opportunities. It also conducts a variety of career “treks” to cities such as Warsaw and Prague. Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with Career Advancement to find out what opportunities are available for their foreign language skills and cultural expertise.

Russia and Eurasia: Empires, Societies, Cultures Civilization in Paris

The Russia and Eurasia sequence offers a study abroad option at the Chicago Center in Paris each Spring Quarter. The program includes an extended excursion to East European cities. This program satisfies the College General Education requirement for a Civilization sequence.

Central European University in Vienna

Spend Autumn quarter or an academic year at the Central European University in Vienna. CEU as an institution represents East-Central European history: an innovative institution founded by Czech President Vaclav Havel in 1991 as an incubator for new ideas, it relocated to Vienna after being forced out of Budapest by Viktor Orbán’s government. The mission of the University is to promote open societies and democracy through advanced research, and research-based teaching, primarily in the social sciences and humanities. The language of instruction is English. 

Summer International Travel Grants
Тhe College Study Abroad Office offers generous Foreign Language Acquisition Grants (FLAG) and  Summer International Research Grants (SITG) for summer study abroad. FLAG provides support for a minimum of eight weeks of study at a recognized summer program abroad. To be eligible for FLAG, students must have completed the First-Year language sequence or its equivalent. Recognized summer programs include, but are not limited to the American Councils (Russian, Ukrainian, Heritage Russian) and SRAS (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish) programs. Please inquire with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for more information and help with identifying a study abroad program. 

The College Center for Research and Fellowships (CCRF) can assist REES students in applying to external scholarship programs for research and language study, including the Boren Awards (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian; Bulgarian; Czech; Polish; Ukrainian; Russian and others), and the Fulbright program.

Polish language and culture                                                                                                               Students interested in studying Polish language and culture are eligible for a range of academic programs in Poland. See the opportunities below. Please contact Izolda Wolski-Moskoff at  izolda@uchicago.edu for more information.  

Exchange Program to Poland (Kościuszko Foundation–Sponsored)
Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate in an exchange program in Poland sponsored by the Kościuszko Foundation. This program offers a unique chance to study at Polish partner institutions while gaining international academic experience and cultural immersion.

Fully Funded Summer Polish Language Program
Students who take Polish at the University of Chicago are eligible to apply for a fully funded summer Polish language program in Poland, sponsored by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). This intensive program combines language study with cultural enrichment and provides an exceptional opportunity to strengthen Polish proficiency while studying abroad. 

Czech language and culture
Students of Czech language are eligible for competitive, funded summer language and culture programs in Czechia through the Summer School of Slavonic Studies. Please contact Irena Čajková at icajkova@uchicago.edu for further details.

Funding for independent study in Czechia and other countries in the region is available via small grants administered by the department. Please inquire with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.