Course
offerings (Three credit hour courses):
Morning Classes [10:00 am-12:30 pm]
Wednesday Field Trips;
St. Petersburg in War and Revolution
- Dr. Bill Risch (GC&SU)
This course will
examine the cultural, social, and political history of St.
Petersburg, a major center of both Russian and European
history. It will focus on how residents of this city
experienced war and revolution in the early modern and modern
ages. It begins by considering St. Petersburg as the
birthplace of Russia as a European empire and as a major
center of Enlightenment thought. It then examines how this
city in an age of revolution led to intellectual and cultural
trends that challenged the tsarist state and Russian society.
The course next turns to St. Petersburg as the epicenter of
Russia’s revolutions of 1905 and 1917 that brought the end of
the old order and the beginnings of the Soviet Union’s
experiment in socialism. It concludes by considering how this
city, as Leningrad, served as a defender of Russia’s
revolutionary heritage during the Russian Civil War, the
upheavals of the 1920s and 1930s, and lastly during World War
Two. Students will be expected to gain a greater appreciation
for Russia’s role in world history and European history, as
well as important skills in writing and historical analysis.
(Dr. Bill Risch, Georgia
College and State University) UD
Communication and Culture:
Dr. Karen Aubrey, Augusta State University
You will examine mass media and interpersonal communication,
including body language, use of space, gender, touch, media
and pop culture, the influence of mass media and
advertising, in connection with the culture of Russia. We
will compare what we find to norms in America. Then you
will convey your discoveries through effectively organized
talks and demonstrations to your class. Issues will be
illustrated through your exploration of Russian culture and
mass media. Field trips will be maximize your exposure to
Russian culture, both historic and contemporary, and will
include such topics as the music industry, advertising, pop
art, and propaganda. (Dr. Karen Aubrey, Augusta State
University). LD
International Economic Relations:
Dr. Elena Vdovina – SSPU
The course explores
issues of international economic relations including trade,
financial markets, lending and investment. Russia’s economy
will be looked at from the international perspective –
adapting to new realities as an emerging economy. Russia’s
multiple resources bothorr rrn business from various areas
(oil, gas, high tech, etc). Russia’s attempt to more actively
participate in international economic processes (WTO, EBRD)
will be explored. The controversies of Russia’s governmental
measures in economic spheres affecting companies’ policy are
also focused on. (Elena Vdovina, PhD, St. Petersburg State
Polytechnic University). UD
Women in Russian
Society:
Dr. Maria Chumovitskaya – SSPU
This course provides an
overview of the social role of women in Russian history from
the 18th century to present day. Topics include the
development of women’s education in the Tzar’s Russia, the
influence of women during the revolutionary movement including
both women-terrorists and women-ministers of first Soviet
Russia governments, and the social problems faced by women in
modern Russia. Women’s careers in the Soviet Union and the
changes in gender roles that were faced following the collapse
of the communist regime will be covered. Students will take
part in discussions relating to issues and problems faced by
women in modern Russia. Fieldtrips will include a visit to the
former Smolny Institute for Noble girls, and other prominent
locations including a local nunnery.
(Dr. Maria
Chumovitskaya, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University)
UD
Russian Literature:
Dr. Tatiana Shustrova – SSPU
Imagine
reading Russian literature on the banks of the Neva River or
visiting the former apartments of famous Russian Writers. This
course surveys Russian works in English translation. Students
study the works of Pushkin, Lemontov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky,
Chekhov, Gogol, Zamiatin, and Buldakov. Field trips include
visits to the Russian National Library, the Dostoevsky Museum,
and other important landmarks of Russian literature. (Dr.
Tatiana Shustrova, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical
University)
UD
Russian Language:
Ms. Irina Gladkikh – SSPU
Three
credit hours for one of the following Russian language
courses: 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002, 3001, or 3002. Placement test
are administered before classes begin. Field trips are
designed to allow students to practice language skills and
include visits to a supermarket, restaurants, walks around the
University neighborhood, and other opportunities to apply the
language skills acquired in class. (Ms. Svetlana Zaitseva, St.
Petersburg State Polytechncial University) LD, UD
Afternoon Classes [2:00-4:30 pm]
Monday Field Trips;
Art Appreciation:
Dr. Maria Chumovitskaya – SSPU
The main purpose of the
course is to give a general overview and an idea of the
process of World Art from ancient Egyptian art to 20th century
in a historical context, to acquaint students with the
principal trends in art, the formation of the styles of
different monuments as examples and the creations of the most
remarkable artists. The monuments of ancient Egyptian art,
Greek art, medieval centuries, period of Renaissance, art of
the XVII-XIX centuries and modern art of the XIX-XX centuries
are given on the lectures which take place in the Hermitage
Museum. We discuss the following tendencies, traditions and
different influence in artistic schools: the religious
features of ancient epochs, the humanistic interest of
medieval art, the development of styles in the latest
periods. The history of Russian art from ancient periods to
modern time is taken in consideration as additional part. The
ancient Russian icons and the Avant-garde paintings are the
most contribution of Russia to the World art. The development
of Russian art and its connection with Eastern and European
traditions and the influence of Russian Avant-garde traditions
into European art of the 20th century are overviewed. (Dr.
Maria Chumovitskaya, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical
University)
LD
Western
Civilization: Russian
Perspective:
Dr. Bill Risch (GC&SU)
This course is a survey of the
history of the world from 1500 to the present, with an
emphasis on Russians' experience of world history. The
lectures concentrate on understanding global connections
between cultures, civilizations, and empires before European
hegemony. Comparisons will be made discussing the impact of
the Industrial Revolution and Western imperialism on different
parts of the world. Other topics of discussion include the
causes of total war in the twentieth century, historical
factors behind genocide in the modern world, the contrast the
impact of decolonization and the Cold War on different regions
of the postwar world, and the reasons for the fall of
Communism and the global impact of Communism's fall. (Dr. Bill
Risch, Georgia College and State University)
LD
Politics of Modern Russia: from Gorbachov to Putin:
Dr. Igor Kuzmin- SSPU
Although Russia’s capital
became Moscow during the Soviet period, Leningrad (St.
Petersburg) was always an important second city with strong
links to the Party Center. This course surveys Soviet politics
and institutions from 1917 to 1991 and their transition in
Modern Russia. Students learn about Lenin’s role in the
Revolution, the Civil War, Stalin’s Five Year Plan, Leningrad
during WWII, the reforms of Khrushchev and Gorbachev, the
collapse of the Soviet system, and Yeltsin’s and Putin’s rule.
Field trips may include the Smolny Cathedral and the Aurora, a
fully restored flag ship remembered for having fired the
opening shot of the Soviet Revolution in 1917. (Dr. Igor
Kuzmin, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University) UD
St. Petersburg and the History
Romanov Dynasty:
Dr. Elena Boitsova - SSPU
This
course covers the social, political, and cultural history of
the city from 1703-1917. Students learn about the founding of
the city, Peter the Great’s plan for its development, the
reforms of Catherine II and Alexander II and their reception
by Petersburg’s intelligentsia, as well as the revolutionary
events of 1917. Museums and city sites are used as a classroom
for some lectures. Field trips may include Pavlovsk, the
Russian Historical and Political Museum, and Alexander Nevsky
Monastery. (Dr. Igor Kuzmin, St. Petersburg State
Polytechnical University) UD
Travel Writing and Trip Reviews:
Dr. Karen Aubrey, Agusta State
Students will translate travel experiences into lively,
informative, and interesting travel writing accompanied by
photographs and technical information, such as pricing, maps,
and keys. Using the format of a travel guide, students will
learn to write restaurant reviews, excursion reviews, and a
city overview, all designed to inform the traveler. Emphasis
will be placed on the compelling anecdote, the colorful
character, the lively quote, the telling detail, demonstrated
in the journalistic and technical style of a travel
guidebook. Additionally, photographic images will visually
reinforce the tone of the text using photojournalistic
techniques. (Dr. Karen Aubrey, Augusta State University).
UD
All program participants are required to take a 2
hour credit
Russian culture class offered on
Monday evenings.
SSPU - Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University
*LD - lower division courses for
Freshman, Sophomores
*UD - upper division courses for Juniors, Seniors and
Graduate Students |
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