Russian and East European Studies Major

Requirements for the Major in Russian and East European Studies

Russian and East European studies (REES) is an interdisciplinary program of study of the peoples of Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia in their historical and international context, combining language study, the arts and humanities, historical inquiry and the social sciences. Relevant courses taught at any of The Claremont Colleges may be applied to the major. In order to declare a major in REES, a student must present to the department a prospectus, which explains which courses he or she plans to take, how these courses fit together as a coherent program of study and what general problem or area is proposed for a senior thesis. Detailed instructions for preparation of the prospectus are available upon request. The major includes 12 courses which are to be distributed as indicated, including a full-course senior exercise.

1. RUSS 001 PO , RUSS 002 PO , RUSS 033 PO  and RUSS 044 PO , or the equivalent.
2. Seven courses to be chosen either from the Russian Program offerings or from the list of associated courses in the arts and humanities and social sciences (see Associated Claremont College REES courses listed here ), including the Research Seminar, RUSS 190 PO . At least four of these courses must be taken at Pomona College, unless special permission is granted.
3. Comprehensive Examinations (RUSS 193 PO ) or a one-semester senior thesis (RUSS 191 PO ). This is to be an investigation of some aspect of Russian and East European studies under the supervision of a committee of two faculty members. It is essential that students consult with the faculty and form their supervisory committee before the last day of classes of the junior year. The senior thesis must lead to a series of papers or a single thesis. The senior thesis may be pursued in the first or second semester of the senior year and must be completed by the last day of classes of the first semester and by the end of the next-to-last week of classes of the second semester.

Students who complete one semester in a study abroad program in Russia may apply two courses to the REES Major; students who complete two semesters in a Russia program may apply for four such courses.  No courses taken on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading basis may be applied to the major or the minor.