1. The Level 1 Cornerstone courses include “Russian I Part 1,” “Russian I Part 2,” “Russian II Part 1,” and “Russian II Part 2.” <br>These four courses are defined as preparatory courses and do not count towards the credits of “Russian Language and Literature Specialization Program” (referred to as the Program). However, in order to take the courses of “Russian III,” students must first complete at least three of the four preparatory courses (i.e., “choose three out of the four”) in advance. This is a mandatory requirement.<br><br>2. The Level 2 Keystone courses include “Russian III Part 1”, “Russian III Part 2” and “Selected Readings of Russian Literature Ⅰ.” <br>“Russian III Part 1” and “Russian III Part 2” are required courses, and the credits earned from them do apply to the Program. “Selected Readings of Russian Literature I” is classified as specialized literature course, the content of which involves reading original texts, and the credits earned will also count towards the Program’s credits.<br><br>3. The Level 3 Capstone course is “Selected Readings of Russian Literature IⅠ.” <br>This is a compulsory course and an integrated course. Students will be required to write a research paper addressing the curriculum material covered in class to demonstrate their learning outcomes. <br><br>The Level 2 Keystone Courses Guidelines:<br>● “Russian III (Part 1&Part 2)” (3 credits+3 credits). Instructor: Assistant Professor Elizaveta Litovskaia<br>These courses are designed for students who have studied Russian for at least two years. It focuses on developing functional competence in conversational Russian used in everyday situations and expanding knowledge about Russian culture. Instruction emphasizes integrated practice in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with each unit centered on developing communicative skills.<br>Class activities include discussions, presentations, grammar and vocabulary practice, listening and reading exercises, as well as cultural exploration.<br>The final exam consists of four parts: a Grammar and Vocabulary test, a Listening test, a Speaking assignment, and a Writing assignment.<br><br>● “Selected Readings of Russian Literature Ⅰ” (3 credits). Instructor: Assoc. Prof. Serafima Tsung-Huei Hsiung<br>This course provides readings of original Russian literary works, focusing on classic Russian novels from the 19th century. This course is designed for students who have studied Russian at least one year. The course focuses on reading adapted Russian short stories. The exam is primarily a written test.<br><br>The Level 3 Capstone Course Guidelines:<br>● “Selected Readings of Russian Literature II” (3 credits). Instructor: Assoc. Prof. Serafima Tsung-Huei Hsiung<br>This course provides readings of original Russian literary works, focusing on classic Russian novels from the 19th and 20th centuries. Fairy tales and poetry are also included in the reading range. This course is designed for students who have studied Russian for two years and have taken relevant Russian literature courses. Assignments primarily consist a research paper written in Russian. The topic must be relevant to the course content and decided after consultation with the instructor.