Ukraine-Related Courses 2017-2018

August 29, 2017
folded newspapers

The Ukrainian Research Institute is pleased to announce the following Ukraine-related courses offered by Harvard University.

Fall

Ukrainian language courses

  • Ukrainian AA. Elementary Ukrainian I
  • Ukrainian AR. Elementary Ukrainian Tutorial
  • Ukrainian BR. Intermediate Ukrainian
  • Ukrainian CR. Advanced Ukrainian

Ukrainian AA. Elementary Ukrainian I

Volodymyr Dibrova
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9-10am

An introductory course in modern Ukrainian language and culture, designed for students without previous knowledge who would like to speak Ukrainian or use the language for reading and research. All four major communicative skills (speaking, listening comprehension, reading, writing) are stressed. Students are exposed to Ukrainian culture through work with prose and poetry as they learn to use the language both as a means of communication and as a tool for reading and research.This year-long full course satisfies the foreign language requirement and prepares students for continued study of Ukrainian in intermediate-level courses and for study or travel abroad in Ukraine. Part one of a two-part series. Course catalog listing. 

Other Ukrainian language courses require application and tutorial arrangements. 

Linguistics courses

Slavic 201. Introduction to East Slavic Linguistics

Michael Flier
Mondays 2-4pm

Introduction to the structure and history of Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian. Prerequisite: Linguistics 250. Course catalog listing. 

Literature and culture courses

Cultblf 38. Apocalypse Then! Forging the Culture of Medieval Rus'

Michael Flier
Mondays and Wednesdays 11am-12pm

When the natives of Medieval Rus (later Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians) accepted Orthodox Christianity in the 10th century, their nature-based paganism gave way to a powerfully sensual belief system that made good use of the visual and the verbal to prepare these newest Christians for the coming Apocalypse and Last Judgment. We investigate this transformation from the conversion of Saint Vladimir and the excesses of Ivan the Terrible through the Time of Troubles and the modern turn of Peter the Great. The class features close analysis of architecture, icons and frescoes, ritual, folklore, literature, and history to understand this shift in worldview, including the role of women. Special attention is devoted to the ways in which Medieval Rus is portrayed in film, opera, and ballet. Course catalog listing.

Slavic 223. 19th-Century Ukrainian Poetry

George Grabowicz
Wednesdays 1-3pm

A survey of the major poets: Kotljarevs'kyj, Hulak and the pre-Romantics, Shevchenko, Kulish, Rudans'kyj, Franko, and Lesja Ukrajinka. Recommended: Reading knowledge of Ukrainian. Course catalog listing. 

History courses

Hist 1270. Frontiers of Europe: Ukraine since 1500

Serhii Plokhii
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-11:30am

The history of Ukrainian territory and its people within a broad context of political, social and cultural changes in Eastern Europe in the course of the half of a millennium. Special emphasis on the role of Ukraine as a cultural frontier of Europe, positioned on the border between settled areas and Eurasian steppes, Christianity and Islam, Orthodoxy and Catholicism, as well as a battleground of major imperial and national projects of modern era. Course catalog listing. 

Hist 82F. The Origins of the Cold War: The Yalta Conference (1945)

Serhii Plokhii
Tuesdays 2-4pm

The Yalta Conference is analyzed in the context of the long-term geostrategic goals of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the USSR. Special attention is paid to psychological and cultural aspects of the negotiating process. Course catalog listing.

Ukrainian studies seminar

Ukrainian 200A. Seminar in Ukrainian Studies 

Prof. Serhii Plokhii
Mondays, 4:00-8pm

Interdisciplinary seminar in Ukrainian studies with broad regional and comparative perspective. Faculty and invited scholars discuss a variety of topics in the humanities and social sciences. Students conduct an individually tailored reading and research project under the guidance of a faculty advisor and in consultation with other resident specialists. Part one of a two-part series. Course catalog listing. 

Spring

Ukrainian language courses

  • Ukrainian AA. Elementary Ukrainian II
  • Ukrainian AR. Elementary Ukrainian Tutorial
  • Ukrainian BR. Intermediate Ukrainian
  • Ukrainian CR. Advanced Ukrainian

Ukrainian AB. Elementary Ukrainian II

Dr. Volodymyr Dibrova
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10am

An introductory course in modern Ukrainian language and culture, designed for students without previous knowledge who would like to speak Ukrainian or use the language for reading and research. All four major communicative skills (speaking, listening comprehension, reading, writing) are stressed. Students are exposed to Ukrainian culture through work with prose and poetry as they learn to use the language both as a means of communication and as a tool for reading and research. This year-long full course (together with the first part in the fall) satisfies the foreign language requirement and prepares students for continued study of Ukrainian in intermediate-level courses and for study or travel abroad in Ukraine. Part two of a two-part series. Please see language course notes for information about sectioning, pass/fail, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, auditing, and language track information. Course catalog listing.

Other Ukrainian language courses require application and tutorial arrangements.

Government courses

Gov 2152. Post-Soviet Conflict

Alexandra Mary Vacroux 
Fridays 10am-12pm

This course will use case studies, intensive simulations, and negotiation exercises to explore the dynamics underpinning hot spots in the post-Soviet space (e.g. Nagorno-Karabakh and Eastern Ukraine). Complements Gov 2887 and Gov 2151. Course catalog listing.

History courses

Hist 2277. Eastern Europe: Peoples and Empires: Proseminar

Serhii Plokhii
Tuesdays 2-4pm

This course is an introduction to major themes and debates in the early modern and modern history of the "other Europe." Its main focus is on the histories of European Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland. Readings discuss international and political developments in the region and their impact on the formation of imperial, national, religious and cultural identities from the rise of Reformation to the collapse of Communism. The course is designed to prepare students for a general exam field in East European history. It is open to graduate and advanced undergraduate students working on a senior thesis. Course catalog listing. 

Ukrainian studies seminar

Ukrainian 200B. Seminar in Ukrainian Studies

Prof. Serhii Plokhii
Mondays, 4:00-8pm

Interdisciplinary seminar in Ukrainian studies with broad regional and comparative perspective. Faculty and invited scholars discuss a variety of topics in the humanities and social sciences. Students conduct an individually tailored reading and research project under the guidance of a faculty advisor and in consultation with other resident specialists. Part two of a two-part series. Course catalog listing.