MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS
Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996
Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Slavic studies
Objectives
In Slavic studies, teaching and learning occur in four closely related areas -
Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and Slavic. The first three involve language and the
study of literature and society, while the fourth, Slavic, is concerned with
linguistics and comparative literature. All rely on an integrated approach to
the culture(s) they represent.
Language learning
Since it is possible for students to take Russian or Ukrainian without any
previous knowledge of the language, an important objective is to narrow the gap
between these students and those who are post-VCE (or equivalent), many of whom
are native speakers. Therefore students beginning Russian or Ukrainian follow a
graded course that pays attention to the basic skills of speaking, listening,
reading and writing. The aim is to reach a stage of development by the end of
third year where they are able to converse on a wide range of topics,
comprehend both written texts and the spoken language and express themselves in
writing. In the case of advanced students a central objective is to progress
towards bilingual competence (with English as the second language), so that
they are able to translate complex texts and move freely from one language to
the other. A second aim is to acquire a theoretical understanding of the
structure of the language.
Literature and society
Language study is not divorced from the study of literature and society. This
is true both for beginners and also for advanced students so that an important
objective is to acquire an understanding of the cultural background of the
language being studied. In addition, students should gain a balanced
appreciation of the contribution of the relevant culture to civilisation and an
understanding of that culture's debt to other cultural traditions. Of
particular importance is the development of an informed approach to the
momentous political and historical events that have shaped the history of
Eastern Europe in the present century.
Linguistics
The study of linguistics covers both the linguistic characteristics of the
language being studied and also its relations with other Slavic languages.
Students are expected to gain an insight into the syntactic and lexical
structures of the language by examining the patterns of sentence formation and
the way in which the vocabulary is organised.
Another important objective is the acquisition of an understanding of the
uniqueness of the language as well as its place in the wider Slavic family.
Courses
Within Slavic studies students may take courses which develop competence in
Russian, Ukrainian and Polish, as well as a range of subjects in literary and
cultural studies and in Slavic linguistics. Majors in Slavic are available in
Russian and Ukrainian both to beginners and to students with VCE/HSC in the
corresponding languages. Students may also take a minor in Russian studies
independently of, or in combination with, language-based studies (see the
separate Russian studies entry in this handbook).
Sequences
Minor and major sequences are described under the following headings: Russian,
Russian studies (see special entry), Ukrainian and Polish. A minor sequence
consists of a first-year sequence (RUS1010 and RUS1020; or RUS1070 and RUS1080;
or RSS1010 and RSS1020; or UKR1010 and UKR1020; or UKR1070 and UKR1080 or
SLA1040 and SLA1050) followed by second-year subjects to the total value of
sixteen points. A major sequence consists of the minor sequence followed by
third-year subjects to the value of sixteen points plus an additional eight
points of work at either second or third-year level.
Assessment for different year levels in dual-listed subjects
Where literature and culture subjects are offered at both second and third-year
level, students enrolled at third-year level will be obliged to write essays
that presuppose more reading, and address questions requiring a more analytical
approach, than essays available to students at second-year level.
In the case of linguistics subjects offered at both second-year (four points)
and third-year (six points), the subjects at third-year level are distinguished
by an extra exercise that involves primary sources.
The section also offers literature and culture, as well as linguistics
subjects, at both third and fourth-year levels. Students enrolled in literature
and culture subjects at fourth-year level will be obliged to write essays that
require more theoretical reflection and presuppose more reading than essays
available to students at third-year level. Students enrolled in linguistics
subjects at fourth-year level will be obliged to undertake some research
exercises whose successful completion requires independent work with primary
sources.
Honours
The honours sequence consists of any Slavic major sequence and the fourth-year
course as described under the Slavic studies subheading below. Supervision is
provided in Slavic linguistics as well as in Russian, Ukrainian and Polish
literature, and in comparative literature and literary theory with reference to
Slavic literatures. For details students should consult the head of the
section.
Students intending to take honours are advised to take more than the minimum
number of subjects required for entry into the program. Students with an
interest in language and linguistics should consider taking subjects in another
Slavic language.
Students planning to take honours with a specialisation in literature or
culture are encouraged to consider taking subjects in critical theory and in
comparative literature and cultural studies.
Combined honours may be taken in Slavic studies and another discipline provided
that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to
the approval of the heads of both departments.
European studies
The study of both Russian and Ukrainian for a Slavic major may be incorporated
into the Bachelor of Arts (European Studies) specialised degree. A minor in
Russian, Ukrainian or Polish may be used to fulfil the requirement that a major
in European studies must be accompanied by at least a minor in a European
language.
Graduate work
Within Slavic studies students may undertake graduate work by thesis for the MA
and PhD degrees. Research areas include Russian, Ukrainian and Polish
literature, comparative literature and literary and cultural theory in relation
to Slavic literatures and cultures, and Slavic linguistics, especially
contrastive linguistics and the morphology of contemporary Slavic languages.
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