Coursework is one component of the Russian Flagship’s rigorous, flexible curriculum. The program is designed to enable students of any major, even those entering UW-Madison with no prior experience studying Russian, to reach a professional level of language proficiency by graduation. For a typical student, this means condensing four years of Russian language coursework into two academic years and two summers, which includes a summer study abroad program to a Russian-speaking country. Students then spend an additional 1-2 academic years completing advanced Russian language coursework at UW-Madison before embarking on a capstone year abroad, the Russian Overseas Flagship (ROF), located in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
It is possible for students to complete the program, including the ROF capstone year abroad, in four years, but the majority of students who begin their study of Russian at UW-Madison need five years to complete the program. Factors that influence this timeline include the student’s prior experience studying Russian, other fields of study, number of majors or certificates, credit load per semester, extracurricular activities, work commitments, etc.
Students work with Russian Flagship advisors to build individualized study plans for meeting coursework and other requirements. Plans can be adjusted, on a case-by-case basis, to accommodate a student’s major, course schedule during a given semester, or other individual needs. Early planning is an important factor in ensuring that students are able to progress through the program in a timely manner.
Required Courses
Prerequisite Coursework
| wdt_ID | Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slavic 101: First-Semester Russian | 4 | Fall |
| 6 | Slavic 102: Second-Semester Russian | 4 | Spring |
| 7 | Slavic 203: Third-Semester Russian | 4 | Fall (or Slavic 117-118 during Summer) |
| 8 | Slavic 204: Fourth-Semester Russian | 4 | Spring (or Slavic 117-118 during Summer) |
| 9 | Slavic 275: Third-Year Russian I | 3 | Fall |
| 10 | Slavic 276: Third-Year Russian II | 3 | Spring |
| 11 | Slavic 315: Russian Language and Culture I | 3 | Fall |
| 12 | Slavic 316: Russian Language and Culture II | 3 | Spring |
| 13 | Slavic 321: Fourth-Year Russian I | 3 | Fall (or Study Abroad during Summer) |
| 14 | Slavic 465: Advanced Readings in Russian Literature & Culture | 3 | Spring (or Study Abroad during Summer) |
Advanced Coursework
| wdt_ID | Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slavic 433: History of Russian Culture | 3 | Fall |
| 2 | Slavic 434: Contemporary Russian Culture | 3 | Spring |
| 3 | Slavic 699: Russian Across the Curriculum Tutorial | 1 | Fall or Spring |
| 4 | GNS 471: Advanced Topics in East European and Central Asian Languages and Cultures (Intercultural Introduction to Kazakhstan) | 1 | Spring |
Students choose one of the following courses:
| wdt_ID | Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slavic 560: Capstone Seminar in Russian Literature & Culture | 3 | Fall |
| 2 | Slavic 555: Advanced Russian Listening & Speaking | 3 | Spring |
Kazakh Language Requirement
Russian Flagship students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of instruction in Kazakh prior to participation in the Russian Overseas Flagship capstone program at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The requirement can be met by successfully completing one of the following:
- A 30-hour, non-credit tutorial in Kazakh language and culture
- One or more Kazakh language courses offered through the Department of German, Nordic, & Slavic during the academic year (min. GNS 331: First Semester Kazakh; 4 credits)
- One or more intensive summer Kazakh programs (8 credits) through the Central Eurasian Studies Summer Institute (CESSI) at UW-Madison
Example Study Plans
Four-Year Plan
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Year 1
Academic Year
Courses: Slavic 101 (Fall) and Slavic 102 (Spring): First Year Russian, 8 credits
Summer Term
Courses: Slavic 117 and Slavic 117: Intensive Second Year Russian, 8 credits
Year 2
Academic Year
Courses: Slavic 275 (Fall) and Slavic 276 (Spring): Third Year Russian, 6 credits; Slavic 315 (Fall) and Slavic 316 (Spring), 6 credits
Summer Term
Study Abroad: Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) or another eligible program that provides the equivalent of Slavic 321 and Slavic 322: Fourth Year Russian, 6 credits
Year 3
Academic Year
Courses: Slavic 433 (Fall) and Slavic 434 (Spring): History of Russian Culture and Contemporary Russian Culture, 6 credits; Slavic 560 (Fall) or Slavic 555 (Spring), 3 credits each; Slavic 699 (Fall or Spring): Russian Across the Curriculum Tutorial, 1 credit; GNS 471: Intercultural Introduction to Kazakhstan (Spring), 1 credit
Year 4
Academic Year
Study Abroad: Russian Overseas Flagship (ROF), 18 credits per semester
The ROF is located in Almaty, Kazakhstan and includes intensive coursework, individual tutoring, direct enrollment in a course related to the student’s major at the host university, a professional internship, and a homestay with a Russian-speaking family.
Five-Year Plan
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Year 1
Academic Year
Courses: Slavic 101 (Fall) and Slavic 102 (Spring): First Year Russian, 8 credits
Summer Term
Courses: Slavic 117 and Slavic 117: Intensive Second Year Russian, 8 credits
Year 2
Academic Year
Courses: Slavic 275 (Fall) and Slavic 276 (Spring): Third Year Russian, 6 credits; Slavic 315 (Fall) and Slavic 316 (Spring), 6 credits
Summer Term
Study Abroad: Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) or another eligible program that provides the equivalent of Slavic 321 and Slavic 322: Fourth Year Russian, 6 credits
Year 3
Academic Year
Courses: Slavic 433 (Fall) and Slavic 434 (Spring): History of Russian Culture and Contemporary Russian Culture, 6 credits
Year 4
Academic Year
Courses: Slavic 560 (Fall) and Slavic 555 (Spring), 6 credits; Slavic 699 (Fall or Spring): Russian Across the Curriculum Tutorial, 1 credit; GNS 471: Intercultural Introduction to Kazakhstan (Spring), 1 credit
Year 5
Academic Year
Study Abroad: Russian Overseas Flagship (ROF), 18 credits per semester
The ROF is located in Almaty, Kazakhstan and includes intensive coursework, individual tutoring, direct enrollment in a course related to the student’s major at the host university, a professional internship, and a homestay with a Russian-speaking family.
"The support you receive is one of the most important aspects of the program for me. Every step of the way, there are advisors there to help you plan out classes and when to apply for study abroad programs, and there are tutors to help with any questions about grammar, language, culture, etc."
Megan Feeley, Current Student