The Certificate in Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies provides students with knowledge of the societies and cultures of the peoples of Eastern Europe and Eurasia, drawing on the disciplines of anthropology, communication arts, economics, folklore, geography, history, language and literature, law, political science, and sociology. The certificate can be a valuable addition to a major in business, economics, education, geography, history, international studies, political science, Slavic languages and literature, and others.
At least two years of a Slavic, East European, or Central Asian language are strongly recommended for the certificate, but are not formally required. Read about the languages taught at UW–Madison.
Students may also be interested in the Russian major, the Polish major, and the Certificate in East Central European Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.
The Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia, a regional center within the Institute for Regional and International Studies, supports and enhances international and global awareness for our students and inspires informed thinking about the complexities of our world. Students connect to international networks and our regional communities through lecture series, film screenings, outreach events, and activities. Students are encouraged to study abroad or do international internships, learn languages, and gain an interdisciplinary grounding in global and regional affairs. We also provide resources and expertise on our world area to other students and educators from kindergarten to graduate school, businesses, the media, the military, the community, and others.
How to Get in
Students interested in declaring the undergraduate certificate should contact the advisor.
Requirements
Seven courses are required, at least one from each of the following three groups. 1
Interdisciplinary Courses (group 1)
Complete at least one course:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Russia: An Interdisciplinary Survey | ||
| Eastern Europe: An Interdisciplinary Survey | ||
| An Introduction to Central Asia: From the Silk Route to Afghanistan |
History and the Social Sciences (group 2):
Complete at least one course from any of these areas:
Agricultural and Applied Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Environment and the Global Economy | ||
| Globalization, Poverty and Development | ||
| The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | ||
| Economic Problems of Developing Areas |
Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| International Trade |
Geography
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Geopolitics | ||
| World Regions in Global Context (Check with instructor to verify 25% or more regional content ) |
History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Europe and the Modern World 1815 to the Present | ||
| Eastern Europe since 1900 | ||
| The First World War and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century Europe | ||
| The Second World War | ||
| History of Europe Since 1945 | ||
| The Cold War - From World War II to End of Soviet Empire | ||
| History of Russia | ||
| History of Russia | ||
| History of Soviet Russia | ||
| Russian Social and Intellectual History | ||
| The Soviet Union and the World, 1917-1991 | ||
| American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present | ||
| Holocaust: History, Memory and Education |
Political Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics (Honors) | ||
| Islam and World Politics | ||
| Russian Politics | ||
| The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | ||
| The Russian War on Ukraine: Causes and Consequences | ||
| Nuclear Weapons and World Politics | ||
| The Politics of Human Rights | ||
| The Comparative Study of Genocide | ||
POLI SCI 538 | ||
POLI SCI 659 |
Literature and the Arts (group 3)
Complete at least one course from any of these areas:
Asian Language & Culture
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Enchanted: Ghosts, Gods, and Monsters | ||
| Islam: Religion and Culture |
Communication Arts
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Avant-Garde Film | ||
| Rhetoric of the Cold War |
Comparative Literature
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Literature | ||
| Problems in Comparative Literatures and Cultures |
English
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Vladimir Nabokov: Russian and American Writings |
Folklore
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| In Translation: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore | ||
| Shamanism | ||
| Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today | ||
FOLKLORE 444 | ||
| Folk Epics |
German, Nordic and Slavic
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Folklore of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe | ||
| Cultures of Sustainability: Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe | ||
| Introductory Topics in GNS | ||
| Literatures of Central Asia | ||
| Readings in Turkish: Contemporary Turkey through Literature and Media | ||
| Advanced Topics in East European and Central Asian Languages and Cultures |
Jewish Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Topics in Jewish Literature | ||
| Yiddish Literature and Culture in Europe |
Literature in Translation
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Survey of 19th and 20th Century Russian Literature in Translation I | ||
| Survey of 19th and 20th Century Russian Literature in Translation II | ||
| Survey of 19th and 20th Century Russian Literature in Translation I | ||
| Survey of 19th and 20th Century Russian Literature in Translation II | ||
| Women in Russian Literature in Translation | ||
| Slavic Science Fiction through Literature and Film | ||
| The Writings of Vaclav Havel: Crtitique of Modern Society | ||
| Love and Death: Introduction to Polish Literature & Culture | ||
LITTRANS 218 | ||
| Chekhov: The Drama of Modern Life | ||
| Russia's Greatest Enigma: Nikolai Gogol | ||
| Dostoevsky in Translation | ||
| Tolstoy in Translation | ||
| Representation of the Jew in Eastern European Cultures | ||
| Russian Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (to 1917) | ||
| Soviet Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (from 1917) | ||
LITTRANS 241 | ||
| Topics in Slavic Literatures in Translation | ||
| Elementary Special Topics in Russian Literature & Culture | ||
| Yiddish Literature and Culture in Europe | ||
| Vampires | ||
| In Translation: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore | ||
| Living at the End of Times: Contemporary Polish Literature and Culture | ||
| Intermediate Special Topics in Russian Literature & Culture | ||
LITTRANS 454 | ||
| Polish Literature (in Translation), Middle Ages to 1863 | ||
LITTRANS 473 |
Scandinavian Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today | ||
| Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore |
Slavic Languages and Literature
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History and Ethics on Film: Polish Cinema | ||
| Literature and Revolution | ||
| Performance and Power | ||
SLAVIC 242 | ||
| Contemporary Russia: History, Politics, and Culture | ||
| Topics in Slavic Literatures | ||
| Escaping Utopia: Cultures after Communism | ||
| Adventure in Literature and Film | ||
| Slavic Culture in Context: An Honors Course | ||
| Study Abroad in Poland | ||
| Polish Culture and Area Studies on Study Abroad | ||
| Russian Area Studies on Study Abroad | ||
| Topics in Russian: Study Abroad | ||
SLAVIC 342 | ||
| Intermediate Special Topics in Slavic Languages and Literatures | ||
| Women in Russian Literature | ||
| Chekhov | ||
| Gogol | ||
| Dostoevsky | ||
| Tolstoy | ||
| History of Russian Culture | ||
| Contemporary Russian Culture | ||
SLAVIC 449 | ||
| Advanced Readings in Russian Literature & Culture | ||
| Advanced Special Topics in Slavic Languages and Literatures | ||
| History of Polish Literature until 1863 | ||
SLAVIC 472 | ||
| Capstone Seminar in Russian Literature and Culture | ||
| Directed Study |
Theatre & Drama
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| In Translation: Slavic Drama in Context |
Residence and Quality of Work
- Minimum 2.500 GPA on all certificate courses
- At least 11 certificate credits must be completed in residence
Footnotes
- 1
A course that is listed in more than one group will only apply to one group. A course that is more than minimally required in one group may apply to a different group.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- (Regional Understanding) Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, political, economic, social, and historical factors that have shaped the development of societies in Eurasia, Russia, and East and Central Europe.
- (Multi-disciplinarity) Analyze the historical, political, economic, social, and cultural realities in the region from at least two disciplinary perspectives, including both humanities and social sciences approaches.
Advising and Careers
Advising for the certificate is administered by the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS). The IRIS Assistant Director for Students and Curriculum can assist you in developing your plan of study for the certificate, track progress toward your certificate, explore study abroad and international internship options, and begin the career-exploration process. We offer walk-in advising, advising workshops, and scheduled appointments. We strongly encourage students to begin career exploration early on and to make use of the many resources available on campus. creeca.wisc.edu/academics/undergraduates
- Language and International Directions Advising (Language Institute)
- International Internship Program
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students
Resources and Scholarships
Information about resources, scholarships, and other funding through the Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia website. We also encourage our students to explore funding options available through the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) Awards Office.