Russian majors in small programs

[Elaine Rusinko]

I would like to tap into the accumulated wisdom and experience of this 
group, if I may. Our Russian program at the University of Maryland, 
Baltimore County has recently been challenged by the cost-conscious 
administration. We regularly have approximately 45 students in RUSS 101 
(we have a three-semester language requirement). But by the time the 
students reach the advanced level, we are down to four or five, and we 
graduate approximately 3-5 Russian majors per year. This results in a 
tenured faculty member or a part-time native speaker teaching a course 
of 4-5 students at the 400-level, which the administration does not 
consider cost-effective. We have been asked to propose changes to our 
program -- either dispense with the Russian major or figure out a way to 
offer the major through creative adjustments.

We already teach our literature and culture courses in English. These 
courses satisfy general education culture and writing-intensive 
requirements and serve the general university population. Our Russian 
majors take 1-credit supplements in Russian, which the tenured faculty 
teach as overloads. Almost all of our students start with RUSS 101, so 
the real problem is how to cover four years of Russian language in a way 
that is cost effective. Collapsing courses? Requiring study abroad? 
Changing the focus of the major? Other ideas?

I would like to hear from those of you in small programs who may have 
dealt with this problem. If you have suggestions for creative program 
adaptations, please contact me.

Thanks.


-- 
Elaine Rusinko
Associate Professor of Russian
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250

410-455-2109
rusinko at umbc.edu

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