East European: Polish / Russian Language and Culture Minor

Minor Credit Hours: 18

East European (Polish and Russian) Americans are the largest European-American ethnic group in the Chicago metropolitan area with as many as 1.5 million people claiming this ancestry. This minor is uniquely innovative and interdisciplinary in nature, emphasizing both language and culture.

Russian and Polish are both considered critical languages important for the economic well-being and national security of the United States. Studying critical languages will provide students with a competitive edge in their career search. Heritage speakers must consult with the Director of the Foreign Language Program when selecting language courses for this minor. East European Language and Culture minors are encouraged to pursue a second minor in Ethnic and Cultural Studies.

Students must complete 9 credits in EITHER Polish OR Russian language.

Degree Requirements

I. Required Language Courses (9)

POLISH

21-117First-Year Polish 1

3

-OR

21-191First-Year Language in Location 1

3

21-118First-Year Polish 2

3

-OR

21-192First-Year Language in Location 2

3

21-233Second-Year Polish 1

3

-OR

21-291Second-Year Language in Location 1

3

-OR

06-314Linguistics

3

RUSSIAN

21-121First-Year Russian 1

3

-OR

21-191First-Year Language in Location 1

3

21-122First-Year Russian 2

3

-OR

21-192First-Year Language in Location 2

3

21-243Second-Year Russian 1

3

-OR

21-291Second-Year Language in Location 1

3

-OR

06-314Linguistics

3

II. Elective Culture Courses (9)

Choose three courses from at least two different departments. Topics courses and seminars must be related to East European (Polish or Russian) studies.

06-220Topics in Literature

3

06-339Topics in World Authors

3

06-376World/Ethnic Film

3

09-372Modern Europe (1815-Present)

3

09-385Russia: Ancient Times to the Present

3

09-386Eastern Europe: From the Baltic to the Black Sea

3

10-350Intercultural Communication

3

14-226Topics in Music

3

18-321Comparative Government

3

18-331International Relations

3

18-337International Topics

3

21-120International Experience Seminar

1

21-234Second-Year Polish 2

3

-OR

21-244Second-Year Russian 2

3

21-292Second-Year Language in Location 2

3

26-285Cross-Cultural Psychology

3

III. At least two courses in the minor must be at the 300- or 400-level.

IV. East European Language and Culture minors are encouraged to minor in Ethnic and Cultural Studies.

Consult the program Director of the Ethnic and Cultural Studies minor.  Two upper-division courses and three additional credit hours in an Ethnic and Cultural Studies minor may not be applied to another minor or any major offered at Lewis University.