Russian & East European Studies
Program Type
Undergraduate Certificate
Program Format
On Campus
Requirements
To obtain the certificate, students must complete at least 18 credits including the requirements in either of the following two tracks. In both tracks, students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in all courses taken for the certificate, including language courses. Students should be aware that not all certificate courses are taught regularly. They are advised, therefore, to plan ahead in choosing courses needed for the certificate. A maximum of 3 credits in advanced independent study courses (699) may be applied toward completion of certificate requirements. Other appropriate courses taught by the area faculty, but not on the list, may be taken with the approval of the Chair of the Russian and East European Studies Committee. For courses to count towards the REES certificate, at least one third of the content must be related to the regions of Eastern and Central Europe, Russia, Eurasia, and/or Central Asia. For pre-approved courses, see the list of approved courses. When necessary, requests for other substitute courses will be considered by the committee, provided they are made well in advance of graduation.
Track One (with language study)
-
9 credits in approved upper division courses in area history, political science, area studies, and foreign languages and literature, or substitutes as approved by the Committee.
-
Demonstrated proficiency in one of the languages of the region: four semesters of language study or its equivalent. Students with language proficiency gained in contexts other than classroom instruction should consult the REES advisor about proficiency testing options.
Track Two
-
18 credits from the approved list of courses in area history, political science, area studies, and foreign languages and literature, or substitutes approved by the Committee. At least 9 credits must be upper division.
At least 9 credits must be completed successfully at UWM for both tracks.
Courses Approved for the Certificate Program
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Geography | ||
| GEOG 330 | Europe: East and West | 3 |
| History | ||
| HIST 239 | Poland and its Neighbors, 1795-1914 | 3 |
| HIST 248 | The First World War (GER CP) | 3 |
| HIST 249 | The Second World War in Europe (GER CP) | 3 |
| HIST 295 | Historical Encounters: (with Russian and/or East European subtitle) | 3 |
| HIST 341 | Imperial Russia | 3 |
| HIST 343 | Russia Since 1917 | 3 |
| HIST 346 | Poland and Its Neighbors, 1914-1945 | 3 |
| HIST 348 | Poland and Its Neighbors, 1945 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 363 | Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship | 3 |
| HIST 364 | The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-45 | 3 |
| Jewish Studies | ||
| JEWISH 358 | The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture | 3 |
| JEWISH 421 | Introduction to Yiddish Literature: | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| POL SCI 310 | Russian and Post-Soviet Politics | 3 |
| POL SCI 312 | The Politics of Authoritarian Regimes | 3 |
| POL SCI 333 | Seminar in Comparative Politics: (with Russian and/or Eastern European subtitle) | 3 |
| POL SCI 371 | Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | 3 |
| Polish | ||
| All courses. The following Polish courses are offered regularly: | ||
| POLISH 101 | First-Semester Polish | 4 |
| POLISH 102 | Second-Semester Polish | 4 |
| POLISH 236 | Polish Culture in its Historical Setting | 3 |
| Russian | ||
| All courses. The following Russian courses are offered regularly: | ||
| RUSSIAN 101 | First-Semester Russian | 5 |
| RUSSIAN 102 | Second-Semester Russian | 5 |
| RUSSIAN 201 | Third-Semester Russian | 4 |
| RUSSIAN 202 | Fourth-Semester Russian | 4 |
| RUSSIAN 310 | Advanced Russian Reading and Conversation: | 3 |
| RUSSIAN 311 | Contemporary Russian Language: | 3 |
| RUSSIAN 419 | Introduction to Translation: Russian to English | 3 |
| Courses taught in English: | ||
| RUSSIAN 242 | Vampires: From Slavic Village to Hollywood (GER HA) | 3 |
| RUSSIAN 245 | Russian Life and Culture (GER HA) | 3 |
| RUSSIAN 260 | Topics in Slavic Culture: | 1 |
| RUSSIAN 350 | Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy in Translation: Major Works | 3 |
| RUSSIAN 361 | Russian and Slavic Folklore | 3 |
| RUSSIAN 391 | Russian Literature and Culture in Translation: | 3 |
| Slavic Languages | ||
| All courses | ||
Summer 2026: Upcoming Courses in Program
Check catalog for compatibility - https://catalog.uwm.edu| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| POLISH 199 | Independent Study
|
| POLISH 699 | Supervised Individual Reading
|
| RUSSIAN 199 | Independent Study
|
| RUSSIAN 699 | Supervised Individual Reading
|
Fall 2026: Upcoming Courses in Program
Check catalog for compatibility - https://catalog.uwm.edu| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HIST 343 | Russia Since 1917
|
| HIST 343G | Russia Since 1917
|
| POLISH 199 | Independent Study
|
| POLISH 489 | Internship in Polish, Upper Division
|
| POLISH 699 | Supervised Individual Reading
|
| RUSSIAN 101 | First-Semester Russian
|
| RUSSIAN 199 | Independent Study
|
| RUSSIAN 201 | Third-Semester Russian
|
| RUSSIAN 489 | Internship in Russian, Upper Division
|
| RUSSIAN 699 | Supervised Individual Reading
|
Certificates are similar to minors and generally require the completion of six to eight classes. Unlike a minor where all of the classes come from a single subject area, the classes come from multiple subject areas related to the theme of the certificate. Certificates are typically earned in conjunction with a degree though some certificates are available as a standalone credential.