Major in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Why study Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies?
The University of Kansas Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REES) program covers a broad geographic region, home to rich and diverse cultures that have had an enormous impact on today's world. Interdisciplinary study of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia creates informed citizens with in-depth understanding of this geopolitically and culturally critical world region, which plays a central role in today's political, economic, cultural, and environmental issues.
The KU REES program is collaborative and interdisciplinary in nature, and offers a unique opportunity to study contemporary politics and medieval history, environmental problems and great works of literature and art, as well as multiple other related subjects. It offers opportunities to study abroad in a variety of culturally rich, exciting places. Crucially, it prepares students for a wide range of careers in research, business, government, and the nonprofit sector, with the opportunity to make a profound impact on both national and international levels.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is no longer admitting students to this degree.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
Requirements for the Major
Bachelor of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Course Requirements
Students take intensive REES language and course work to enhance their traditional disciplinary study. The most common REES major combinations are with Global & International Studies, Slavic Languages & Literatures, Political Science, and History.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Language Skills | ||
| Students selecting this major must complete 4th semester proficiency in a Russian, East European, or Eurasian language. This entails completion of one of the following courses: | ||
| Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian: | ||
| BCRS 208 | Intermediate Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian II | 3 |
| Czech: | ||
| CZCH 208 | Intermediate Czech II | 3 |
| Polish: | ||
| PLSH 208 | Intermediate Polish II | 3 |
| Iranian/Dari/Tajik Persian: | ||
| PERS 210 | Intermediate Iranian/Dari/Tajik Persian I | 3 |
| Russian: | ||
| RUSS 208 | Intermediate Russian II | 5 |
| Turkish: | ||
| TURK 208 | Intermediate Turkish II | 3 |
| Uyghur: | ||
| UYGR 202 | Intermediate Uyghur II | 3 |
| Ukranian: | ||
| UKRA 208 | Intermediate Ukrainian II | 3 |
| Introductory Course | 3 | |
| Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| REES 110 | Understanding Russia and Eastern Europe | 3 |
| or REES 111 | Understanding Russia and Eastern Europe, Honors | |
| or REES 310 | Understanding Russia and Eastern Europe | |
| or REES 311 | Understanding Russia and Eastern Europe, Honors | |
| REES 220 | Societies and Cultures of Eurasia | 3 |
| or REES 221 | Societies and Cultures of Eurasia, Honors | |
| SLAV 140 | Understanding Russia | 3 |
| or SLAV 141 | Understanding Russia, Honors | |
| HIST 117 | Russia, An Introduction | 3 |
| REES Area Studies Electives | 21 | |
| 21 hours of interdisciplinary area studies courses focusing on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia, taken in consultation with the advisor. | ||
| Out of the 21 distribution hours, 12 should be upper-division area studies courses (300 level and higher). | ||
| Research Methods and Capstone Experience | 6 | |
| Satisfied by one of the following tracks, typically completed in the senior year, culminating in a final capstone paper. Students are encouraged to select a track based on their interests and the availability of courses. Students taking a methods/capstone sequence in another department may petition to substitute that sequence. | ||
| Global and International Studies Track: | ||
| GIST 610 & GIST 698 | Interdisciplinary Methods for Global Contexts and Capstone Seminar | 6 |
| History Track: | ||
| HIST 301 & HIST 696 | The Historian's Craft and Seminar in: _____ | 6 |
| Literature, Linguistics, and Culture Track: | ||
| Political Science Track: | ||
| POLS 206 & POLS 493 | Political Science Methods of Inquiry and Directed Readings | 4-6 |
Majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad. Please see your advisor about this opportunity.
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Major Hours & GPA
While completing all required courses (above), majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 30 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the major in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 1st Semester Language (BA Second Language)1 | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language)2 | 5 |
| REES 110 or 111 (Major Requirement), or | 3 | BA Quantitative Reasoning2 | 3 |
| Core 34: English (SGE) 010 | 3 | ||
| Core 34: English (SGE) 010 | 3 | Core 34: Communications (SGE) 020 | 3 |
| Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE) 030 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| LA&S 292 (Research Methods (recommended)) | 1 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language)1 | 3 | 4th Semester Language (BA Second Language)1 | 3 |
| REES Distribution Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | REES Distribution Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE) 050 | 3 | Lab Science (BA Lab Requirement) | 1-2 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE) 070 | 3 | Core 34: Natural and Phyiscal Science (SGE) 040 | 4-5 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15 | 14-16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| REES Advanced Level Language (5th semester, Major Requirement) | 3-5 | Slavic Languages and Literatures 500+ (Major Requirement)4 | 3 |
| REES Distribution Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | REES Distribution Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE) 070 | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE) 060 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15-17 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| REES 492 (Capstone Course, Major Requirement) | 3 | REES 496 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| REES Distribution Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | REES Distribution Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| REES Distribution Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120-124 | |||
- 1
The BA degree requires 4th-semester language proficiency. The REES major requires 4th-semester language proficiency specially in a Russian, Eastern European, or Eurasian language.
- 2
Visit this page for a list of courses that fulfill the BA Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
- 3
The REES major requires 18.0 hours of elective course work from each of the following geographic distribution categories: Russia & Eastern Europe, South & Central Europe, and Europe & Central Eurasia; and each of the following disciplinary distribution areas: Arts, Culture, & Religion, History, and Social Sciences.There is not a specific order these must be taken, but it is recommended to take Jr/Sr level courses when possible.
- 4
A list of courses that fulfills this requirement can be found under the degree requirements tab.
- 5
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours, of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
Honors
Departmental Honors
Honors in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies is open to REES majors who have earned, both at the time of entry into the program and at graduation, a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher in courses that satisfy requirements for the REES major.
Students must complete REES 492 Research Methods in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies and REES 499 (Honors) Capstone Seminar in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies with a grade of B or better. The research paper produced in REES 499 must demonstrate the student's proficiency in at least one of the REES languages through the use of foreign language sources. The paper is evaluated by an honors committee of at least three REES faculty members who have read and commented on the research paper and heard its oral defense. The committee its constituted by the student in consultation with either the director or associate director of CREES.
Study Abroad
Though not required, study abroad is strongly encouraged. Courses taken abroad may count toward the major if approved by the REES advisor.
Consult the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies or the Office of Study Abroad for information about programs.