Query: Spetskurs

[Edward M Dumanis]

I am sorry but there is nothing here "too detailed and too complicated."
Everything is quite simple. If "spetskurs" can be "objazatel'nyj," then
it cannot be just an elective. Moreover, my second reference
http://db.projectharmony.ru/upload/events/pi_2004_5_27-6_11_9.doc
shows a discussion of an introduction of a particular "objazatel'nyj
spetskurs," namely "Kul'tura zdorov'ja," in the academic plans for the 1st
year students. So, we are not talking here of any particular "kafedra
spetskurs" at all. It is a clear example of a "blanket obligatory
spetskurs" whose existence was denied in the previous message. And
answering the question of what was special about it in this example, the
answer is very simple: it is given with a special purpose in the opinion
of its designers. The only reason why all other courses would not be
called special by the same reasoning is that they have been already a part
of a more general academic structure, and this course only complements
such a structure, enriching it while not being its part.

Sincerely,

Edward Dumanis <dumanis at buffalo.edu>

On Mon, 1 May 2006, Alina Israeli wrote:

> >  "spetskursy po
> >vyboru" for the students of the 3rd year, and "objazatel'nyje
> >spetskursy" for the students of the 4th year, and many-many others.
> >However, "spetskursy po vyboru" are electives.
> 
> This is probably getting too detailed and too complicated. A student 
> in any department (fakul'tet) may or may not be already in certain 
> "otdelenie" from the very beginning. Later on there is specialisation 
> (po kafedre chego-to). So each kafedra may or may not have obligatory 
> "spetskursy". There are no blanket obligatory spetskurs'es because 
> then by definition it is a kurs, and nothing "spets"/special about it.
> 
> So "electives" is still probably correct, given that in the US, for 
> example, there may be some limitations on electives within one's 
> major: so many of that level, or such and such distribution of 
> courses and so on. This type of electives is opposed to true 
> electives, like underwater basket weaving for math majors.
> 
> -- 
> __________
> Alina Israeli
> LFS, American University
> 4400 Mass. Ave., NW
> Washington, DC 20016
> 
> phone:	(202) 885-2387
> fax:	(202) 885-1076
> 
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