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Major in ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ and East European Studies (REES)

This page contains a summary of the information found in the corresponding section of theÌý. Please contact the Undergraduate Chair with any questions.

The major in ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ and East European Studies (12 c.u.) offers an interdisciplinary framework for exploring the languages, literatures, cultures, histories, and societies of Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, and the Balkan and Baltic regions. Students fulfill the language requirement by studying any language of the region offered at Penn, and the major’s flexible structure allows for focused study across different periods, places, and disciplines. Coursework spans the humanities and social sciences, and students are encouraged to incorporate a summer or semester of study abroad to strengthen their language skills and gain firsthand experience in the region. An honors option is available for qualified students pursuing independent research.

Major Requirements

Language Prerequisite

The REES major requires 4 semesters or equivalent in any language of the region, subject to approval by the Undergraduate Chair. For most languages, including ºìÐÓÖ±²¥, this requirement is fulfilled by the course numbered 0400 or 0401. These courses do not count toward the major's 12 c.u.

Core Courses (5 c.u.)

One course from each of five core categories.

Introductory Core (1 c.u.)

  • REES 0010: Central and Eastern Europe
  • REES 0011: The Power of Language
  • any course numbered REES 0000-0099

Historical Foundations (1 c.u.)

  • REES 0100: Portraits of Old Rus
  • REES 0105: Portraits of Tsarist Russia
  • REES 0310: The Rise and Fall of the ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ Empire
  • REES 0311: The Soviet Century
  • REES 1174: National Antiquities
  • any course with attribute ARHF

Literary Traditions (1 c.u.)

  • REES 0110: Portraits of ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ Society
  • REES 0190: Russia and the West
  • REES 0410: Masterpieces of 19C ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ Lit
  • REES 0411: FYS: Masterpieces of 19C ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ Lit
  • REES 0430: Masterpieces of 20C ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ Lit
  • REES 0471: ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ Short Story
  • REES 0478: Banned Books
  • any course with attribute ARLT

Modern Culture (1 c.u.)

  • REES 0130: Portraits of Soviet Society
  • REES 0131: Putin's Russia
  • REES 0240: ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ and East European Art and Cinema since 1900
  • REES 0270: ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ History in Film
  • REES 1173: ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ Modernism
  • any course with attribute ARMC

Social Thought (1 c.u.)

  • REES 1172: Marx, Marxism, and the Culture of Revolution
  • REES 1530: Communism
  • REES 1531: Socialism
  • REES 1631: Anarchism
  • REES 1680: Sex and Socialism
  • any course with attribute ARSO

Electives (7 c.u.)

Any seven courses with a REES subject code (including core courses taken beyond the minimum) or bearing the attribute REES Elective (ARNE), or language courses beyond the second year of instruction.

Minimum Grade

Students must receive a grade of C+ or above in a course for it to count toward a core requirement or elective in the REES major.

Study Abroad and Immersion Opportunities

Students are encouraged to consider study abroad options as a way to gain knowledge and understanding of the local communities they study and to advance their language competency. Up to 4 c.u. from study abroad and/or summer programs in the USA may be counted toward the REES major. An additional 2 c.u. may be approved, under rare circumstances and only with advance permission, for students who devote more than one semester/summer toward such programs. All external credit is subject to departmental approval. For more information, click here.

Honors

Students with a minimum overall GPA of 3.3 overall GPA and a GPA of at least 3.6 in REES coursework are eligible to pursue honors in the major. To qualify, students must complete a research thesis of 35-40 pages, including bibliography and notes, under the supervision of a REES faculty member whose expertise aligns with the proposed topic.

The honors thesis may be written during either semester of the senior year. Students must enroll in REES 4998 (note that REES 4998 does not count toward the major's 12 c.u.) and should submit a two-page research proposal endorsed by their faculty advisor to the Undergraduate Chair within the first week of the semester in which they intend to complete the thesis. The deadline for Fall 2025 isÌýSeptember 5, 2025.

Only original work completed specifically for the REES major will be considered for honors; research projects submitted for other programs or majors will not be accepted. Students may also fulfill the honors requirement by enrolling in a relevant graduate seminar (with prior approval from the Undergraduate Chair) and earning on A on a final paper that meets the expectations for a REES honors thesis.

Only theses awarded the grade of A will confer honors in the major. A copy of the completed thesis must be submitted to the Undergraduate Chair before the major certification is approved for graduation. All honors theses are kept on file by the Department.