Bachelor of the Arts
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.
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Concentration
The Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REES) concentration offers students the opportunity to undertake the interdisciplinary study of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia, training the next generation of professionals, policymakers, and citizens to understand and engage this geopolitically vital and culturally diverse world region.
The REES concentration, offered in partnership with KU’s nationally-recognized Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, allows students to take a wide array of courses across traditional disciplinary boundaries to gain expertise in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. The concentration pairs the study of language and culture with courses on the region’s history and politics. Allowing students to choose from a range of offerings based on their interests and culminating in an intensive research capstone experience, the concentration offers a flexible course of study within the Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies and is easily paired with a double major in Global & International Studies, History, or Political Science.
If you are interested in declaring a major in REES, please contact Professor Ari Linden, Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies.
Admission Criteria
Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies has no special admissions procedures for undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to declare a major in REES.
Our minor program is open to any student in good standing in the College. To be successful in upper-level coursework, prospective majors should complete the first two years of language study with strong grades.
Degree Requirements
The student completes a minimum of 30 hours of study in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. Beyond the minimum required hours, students are strongly encouraged to take additional courses in the Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies department and appropriate background courses in the history, philosophy, and political science of the respective regions.
Prerequisite Language Skills
Students selecting this concentration must complete 4th semester proficiency in a Russian, East European, or Eurasian Language. This entails completion of one of the following courses, or its equivalent:
Courses
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Concentration Core Knowledge and Skills
Introductory course. Satisfied by one of the following (3 credits):
Courses
REES Area Studies Electives
21 hours of interdisciplinary area studies courses focusing on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. Most courses offered by the Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies count as electives. Other potential courses are listed below. Please note that is only a partial list. CREES posts a list of eligible courses on its website prior to enrollment each semester, and other courses may be approved in consultation with CREES.
Courses
Research Methods and Capstone Experience (6 credits)
Satisfied by one of the following option, typically completed in the senior year, culminating in a final capstone paper. Students are encouraged to select an option 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 Option:
Courses
History Option:
Courses
Literature, Linguistics, and Culture Option:
For this option, students may take SLAV 510 or SLAV 600 or SLAV710
Courses
Politics Option:
For this option students may take POLS 493 or POLS 498
Courses
Major Hours & Major 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 18 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.