Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novels remain relevant to readers across the globe for their daring critique of modernity. A journalist himself, he took his material from the newspapers – stories of crime, corruption, poverty, addiction, terrorism, politics – and mined it for existential meaning. He also drew on his own difficult experience as a political prisoner who spent a decade in Siberia, an eternal debtor, and an incurable epileptic.
This course stresses vocabulary building and continued development of speaking and listening skills. Active command of Russian grammar is steadily increased. Readings from authentic materials in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Brief composition assignments. Five meetings per week, including a conversation hour and a drill session.
Requisite: RUSS 102 or the equivalent. This will ordinarily be the appropriate course placement for students with two to three years of high school Russian. Limited to 12 students. Fall semester. Professor Ciepiela.
This course stresses vocabulary building and continued development of speaking and listening skills. Active command of Russian grammar is steadily increased. Readings from authentic materials in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Brief composition assignments. Five meetings per week, including a conversation hour and a drill session.
Requisite: RUSS 102 or the equivalent. This will ordinarily be the appropriate course placement for students with two to three years of high school Russian. Limited to 12 students. Fall semester. Professor Ciepiela.
Often referred to as the "Golden Age," the nineteenth-century of Russian literature boasts some of the most famous and influential works of world literature. The poems, novels, and dramas pose important questions about imperialism, gender, class, and social organization that still inform our modern conversations on the topics. Such authors as Alexander Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol, Leo Tolstoy, Evgeniia Tur, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Anton Chekhov offer works that are profoundly thought provoking and also incredibly enjoyable reads.
Introduction to the contemporary Russian language, presenting the fundamentals of Russian grammar and syntax. The course helps the student make balanced progress in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural competence. Five meetings per week.
Limited to 12 students. Fall semester. Senior Lecturer Babyonyshev.
How to handle overenrollment: Amherst students will be given priority consideration.
Introduction to the contemporary Russian language, presenting the fundamentals of Russian grammar and syntax. The course helps the student make balanced progress in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural competence. Five meetings per week.
Limited to 12 students. Fall semester. Senior Lecturer Babyonyshev.
How to handle overenrollment: Amherst students will be given priority consideration.
Required of candidates for Honors in Religion. Preparation and oral defense of a scholarly essay on a topic approved by the Department. Detailed outline of thesis and adequate bibliography for project required before Thanksgiving; preliminary version of substantial portion of thesis by end of the semester.
Open to seniors with consent of the instructors. Fall semester. The Department.
How to handle overenrollment: null
Independent Reading Course. Reading in an area selected by the student and approved in advance by a member of the Department.
Fall and spring semesters. The Department.
How to handle overenrollment: null
Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: in-depth independent student research and substantial written work
(Formerly offered as ASLC-381 and RELI-381)
Close readings of “classics” from the Islamic world. Topics may include: theories of language and revelation; the role of the human intellect and imagination; ritual and prayer; ethics and responsibility; prophecy and miracles; the Quran and its interpretation; sin and salvation. All readings are in English. No prerequisites.
Fall Semester. Professor Jaffer.
How to handle overenrollment: null
This course will explore the relationship between a family of religious traditions (Christianity) and an ideal of governance (democracy), both historically and theoretically. Over the past two thousand years Christian traditions have existed within a wide range of systems of governance. Very few of these have been democratic systems. The history of Christian traditions includes substantive reflections on matters of governance by Christian thinker
