Curriculum
The Russian Flagship Program provides undergraduate students with a rigorous, yet flexible curriculum designed to enable students of all majors and at all levels of prior proficiency in Russian to meet the requirements of their major field of study and achieve a Superior level of proficiency in Russian. Students are admitted to either the Beginner's Track (1st-2nd Year Russian) or Advanced Track (3rd Year Russian or above).
For more on language proficiency, see the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, which includes audio examples of speakers of English at different levels, and ILR Scale.
Requirements
Domestic UW-Madison Requirements
Russian Flagship students are required to take 1st-4th Year Russian, including Slavic 315 – 316: Russian Language and Culture I & II (or the equivalent), participate in 1-4 hours/week of individualized or small-group tutoring, and take the following Russian Flagship courses:
- Slavic 433: History of Russian Culture (3 cr.)
- Slavic 434: Contemporary Russian Culture (3 cr.)
- One elective area studies courses (3 cr.) from the approved list OR one course in discipline area, with a 1-cr. Russian language component
- One of the following courses:
- Research seminar (3 cr. total throughout the course of advanced study)*
- Slavic 560: Capstone Seminar in Russian Literature and Culture (3 cr.)
- Slavic 705: Special Topics in Russian Language/Linguistics (3 cr.)
Overseas Requirements
- Minimum 6 weeks study abroad in Russia at the secondary level or above, prior to participation in the academic yearlong overseas Russian Flagship Program
- Academic year Overseas Russian Flagship Program in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Courses: Download chart of course options, proficiency goals and Phase 1-4 timeline, Beginner's and Advanced Tracks.
Tutoring
Tutoring is a critical component of the Russian Flagship Program that provides students with 1-4 hours per week of extra practice and focused, small-group (Beginner's Track) or individualized (Advanced Track) attention as they progress through the program and work to meet proficiency goals. Russian Flagship advisors determine the general areas of focus for tutoring; students decide with their tutors how best to organize tutoring sessions, based on these general areas of focus, and on students' interests and needs.
The most rewarding thing about Flagship, for me, is the sense of pride I feel when I am able to carry on a conversation with one of my native Russian speaking tutors. The personalized lessons and attention I get through the Flagship Program have led me to make vast improvements in my speaking abilities. --Isabelle Darby, UW-Madison Russian Flagship student
Extra-Curricular Requirements
Russian Flagship students participate in a range of co- and extra-curricular activities to support their developing proficiency in Russian language and culture.
Required extra-curricular activities are:
- Weekly Social Hour for Russian Flagship students
- Workshops, lectures and films in Russian, organize for Russian Flagship students
Optional (but strongly encouraged!) extra-curricular activites include:
- Русский дом/ Russian House, a Russian language floor in the International Learning Community (ILC);
- dinners with Russian House residents and graduate language program coordinator
- weekly Russian language table
- films, lectures, workshops and other activities organized by the Russian Student Organization; Center for Russia, East Europe and Central Asia (CREECA), or other programs or organizations on campus or in the community. See Events>
Satisfactory Progress
Students admitted to the Russian Flagship Program work with an advisor on an individualized study plan for meeting these requirements. Those students who cannot follow the established curriculum in the recommended sequence will commit to summer study, in order to bring their proficiency level up to target levels for each year in the program.
At the end of 2nd Year Russian, students in the Beginner's Track are considered for recommendation to move to the Advanced Track. Students who are not recommended to move to the Advanced Track after the end of 2nd Year are encouraged to explore non-Flagship options such as the Russian major.
To make satisfactory progress in the Russian Flagship Program, students must:
- Meet proficiency benchmarks and complete course requirements, as specified in their individualized study plan
- Enroll in at least 3 cr. of Russian each semester
- Maintain a GPA of 3.5 in Russian courses, and cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Participate in 1-4 hours of tutoring, following program policies and tutoring guidelines
- Actively participate in weekly Russian Flagship social hour and other programming for Russian Flagship students
- Participate in Russian Flagship assessments
Students who are not making satisfactory progress are notified first orally, then, if necessary, in writing. Students who receive a written notice may be placed on probation. Students on probation must meet the terms of the probation to remain a student in the Russian Flagship Program.
