Russian Studies

About Russian Studies at the University of Michigan

In the years since Russian language instruction was introduced in 1927, the University of Michigan has become renowned as a leading center for research and training in Russian studies. Study of the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and the current-day Russian Federation and other Soviet successor states remains central to CREES's mission. CREES organizes lectures, conferences, film series, and other programs to complement the extensive array of Russia-focused courses offered each year by over 30 U-M area specialists whose research interests range from witchcraft in pre-Petrine Russia to Stalin's gulags to contemporary Russian culture, politics, and energy issues. Recent major CREES programs focusing on Russia include Celebrating St. Petersburg: 300 Years of Cultural Brilliance, a yearlong series including lectures, films, symposia, performances, and a Theme Semester commemorating the city's tercentenary in 2003. To facilitate on-site activities of students and faculty, CREES collaborates with the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow and the European University at St. Petersburg and offers study tours to Russia for undergraduate students.

For more information about Russian studies at the University of Michigan, contact:

Marysia Ostafin
Program Manager
Center for Russian and East European Studies
University of Michigan
1080 South University Ave., Suite 3668
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
Phone: 734.647.2237
Fax: 734.763.4765
Email: mostafin@umich.edu

People

The following CREES-affiliated faculty, research associates, and staff contribute to the University of Michigan's prominence in Russian studies. For more information, see CREES People.

University of Michigan Faculty

Anderson, Barbara A.: Sociology
Besprozvany, Vadim: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Brader, Ted: Political Science
Branch, John: Business
Cameron, George D. III: Business
Eagle, Herbert J.: Slavic Languages & Literatures, Residential College
Fine, John V. A.: History
Genné, Beth: Music, Theatre & Dance, Residential College
Gitelman, Zvi Y.: Political Science, Judaic Studies
Greene, Arthur: Music, Theatre & Dance
Hell, Julia: Germanic Languages & Literatures
Humesky, Assya: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Khagi, Sofya: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Kivelson, Valerie A.: History
Knysh, Alexander: Near Eastern Studies
Kondrashova, Natalia: Slavic Languages & Literatures, Linguistics
Krutikov, Mikhail: Slavic Languages & Literatures, Judaic Studies
Lawrence, Janet: Education
Lemon, Alaina: Anthropology
Levitsky, Melvyn: Public Policy
Maiorova, Olga: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Makin, Alina: Slavic Languages & Literatures, Residential College
Makin, Michael: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Markel, Howard: Medicine, History
Matjias, Christian: Music, Theatre & Dance
Mendeloff, Kate: Residential College
Northrop, Douglas: History, Near Eastern Studies
Paloff, Benjamin: Slavic Languages & Literatures, Comparative Literature, Michigan Society of Fellows
Rogovyk, Svitlana: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Ronen, Omry: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Rosenberg, William G.: History
Senkevitch, Anatole: Architecture & Urban Planning
Shevoroshkin, Vitalij V.: Linguistics, Slavic Languages & Literatures
Shkolnik, Nina: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Suny, Ronald G.: History
Svejnar, Jan: Business, Economics, Public Policy
Toman, Jindrich: Slavic Languages & Literatures
Wiley, R. John: Music, Theatre & Dance
Zimmerman, William: Political Science, Center for Political Studies

CREES Research Associates

Bergen, Kathleen M.: Natural Resources & Environment, U-M
Berglund, Bruce R.: History, Calvin College
Burnham, William: Law, Wayne State University
Field, Deborah A.: History, Adrian College
Goldstein, Robert J.: Political Science, Oakland University
Kandogan, Yener: Management, University of Michigan, Flint
Kubicek, Paul: Political Science, Oakland University
Kullberg, Judith: Political Science, Eastern Michigan University
McMann, Kelly: Political Science, Case Western Reserve University
Meyendorff, Anna: Center for Political Studies, U-M
Retish, Aaron B.: History, Wayne State University
Schwartz, Ellen: Art, Eastern Michigan University
Siegelbaum, Lewis: History, Michigan State University
Silver, Brian D.: Political Science, Michigan State University
Vujacic, Veljko: Sociology, Oberlin College

Library Staff: Slavic and East European Division

Crayne, Janet
Slater, Walter
Snyder, Beth E.

CREES Staff

Facey, Rachel
Ostafin, Marysia

Academics

Students wishing to specialize in Russian studies have several options. Through CREES, students may focus on Russia within interdisciplinary undergraduate minor, bachelor's, master's, and graduate certificate programs in Russian and East European studies. Through the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, they may pursue an undergraduate minor in Russian language, literature, and culture; bachelor's degree in Russian; and master's and doctoral degrees in Slavic languages and literatures. Students may also emphasize Russian studies in undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs in anthropology, business, comparative literature, economics, history, law, natural resources, political science, public policy, and sociology.

Courses

Each year the University of Michigan offers over 60 courses on Russian culture, economics, film, history, language, literature, politics, and society. For offerings in specific terms, see CREES courses.

Study Abroad: Through the Office of International Programs, U-M students can earn in-residence credit for semester- or academic-year study with the Middlebury College program (Moscow, Yaroslavl, and Irkutsk), University of California program (Moscow), and CIEE (St. Petersburg). To introduce students to Russian culture, CREES offers a short-term Study Tours to Russia (REES 310/Russian 310). The Center's next offering is a Moscow Study Tour from May 10- 25, 2008.

Events

CREES regularly organizes lectures, conferences, film screenings, and other events on Russia. These include several major cross-University collaborations such as the two-part Shostakovich Centennial Festival in 2006 and the yearlong commemoration of St. Peterburg's tercentenary in 2003 (see selected past events listed below).

For complete information about Russian studies events, please visit the CREES Events Calendar. You may also sign up for our email or U.S. mail notifications.

Selected Russian Studies Events

Supporting Russian Studies at the University of Michigan

Gifts to the CREES Endowment will support Russia-focused courses, lectures, conferences, film screenings, and other programs, as well as student awards for research and internships in Russia. Please review the various options for making a gift.

For more information, contact Marysia Ostafin by email (mostafin@umich.edu) or phone (734.647.2237).

Internet Resources

The following websites offer a starting place for Russia-related information.

University of Michigan Resources

Curriculum Resources

St. Petersburg: The Historical Context of Its Musical Heritage - middle/high school-level lessons plans prepared for CREES by Carol Mohrlock (PDF)
A History of St. Petersburg through Its Architecture - middle/high school-level lessons plans prepared for CREES by Tracey VanDusen (PDF)
Outreach World - an online source for instructional materials prepared by U.S Department of Education-funded National Resource Centers