ObjectivesRussian courses at Sheffield focus on small-group teaching. You'll be taught by internationally-renowned experts and by native speakers of the language. All students follow either a beginners or an advanced (post-A Level) Russian course, depending on their qualifications. You will gain a thorough grounding in all aspects of spoken and written Russian, including conversation, reading, translating and oral presentation. At the same time you will hone your reading, research, presentation and writing skills in English. You will also follow a core programme of modules in Russian cultural and social history that complements language instruction at each level. You may also choose from an exciting range of optional modules, including literature, East European cinema, art and visual culture, linguistics, and other Slavonic languages (Czech or Polish). About a third of teaching time is devoted to developing your written and oral fluency in Spanish, supported by language laboratory, video and satellite TV facilities and regular classes with native-speakers. Level one provides a grounding in the language, culture, history and society of Spain and Latin America. Suitably qualified Dual Honours students can also take Portuguese or Catalan. Levels two and three allow you to plan your work to suit your particular interests, offering a broad coverage of Spanish and Latin American culture, history and society. Level three also includes practically-based modules on Interpreting, Translating, and Teaching. Our courses last four years. You spend your third year abroad in Russia and an Hispanic speaking country.
Entry requirementsEntry requirements GCE/VCE A Levels - BBC Two GCE A Levels plus two GCE AS Levels - BB+BC Scottish Highers - ABBB Irish Leaving Cert. - ABBBB International Baccalaureate - 30 points including 6 points at Higher Level in Modern Foreign Language, Spanish if taken; 5 points at Higher Level in Russian if taken. Core Requirements - Grade B in GCE A Level language (not necessarily Spanish) We do not require qualifications in Russian and Spanish but they can affect the offer made. Applicants without A Level Russian or Spanish should normally have at least grade B at A Level in another Modern Foreign Language. If you have taken A Level Russian we would normally require at least grade C. If you have taken A Level Spanish we would normally require at least grade B.
Academic titleBA Russian and Hispanic Studies
Course descriptionOur students usually select from a range of compulsory and optional modules to add up to 120 credits.
Some departments offer courses that don't feature optional modules whereas other courses are fully flexible.
Important notice :
This is a list of modules that have been offered in the past. We expect similar modules to be offered for courses starting in 2009.
This information is provided for illustration only and you should check with the department directly when applying to confirm module options.
Typical First Year Modules
Module/Unit Credits
Introduction to Russian Culture 20
Russian for Beginners (I) 20
Russian for Beginners (II) 20
Russian Language I 10
Russian Language II 10
Spanish Advanced: Language and Culture I 20
Spanish Advanced: Language and Culture II 20
Spanish Beginners: Language and Culture I 20
Spanish Beginners: Language and Culture II 20
Typical Second Year ModulesModule/Unit Credits
Advanced Spanish Language I 10
Advanced Spanish Language II 10
Politics and Culture in the USSR 1917-38 20
Russian Approaches to Culture 20
The Structures of Russian 20
Visual Culture and Society in the Soviet Union, 1917-1991 20
Cinema, Nation and Identity in the Hispanic World 10
Contemporary Latin America (Cuba) 10
Contemporary Latin America (Mexico) 10
Cuban Culture and the Revolution 10
Czech I 10
Czech II 10
Czech Intermediate I 10
Czech Intermediate II 10
Further Portuguese: Language and Culture I 10
Further Portuguese: Language and Culture II 10
Hispanic Film and Human Rights 10
Intensive Catalan I 10
Intensive Catalan II 10
Intensive Portuguese I 10
Intensive Portuguese II 10
Linguistic Developments in Modern Spain 10
Movements in Russian Culture: Realism, Modernism and Beyond 10
Narrative Perspectives on Post-Civil War Spain 10
Polish I 10
Polish II 10
Polish Intermediate I 10
Polish Intermediate II 10
Representations of Latin America 10
Russian Language (Course A): Translation Skills 10
Russian Language (Course B): Translation Skills 10
Russian Language Skills (I) Course A 10
Russian Language Skills (I) Course B 10
Russian Language Skills (II) Course A 10
Russian Language Skills (II) Course B 10
Spain and Enlightenment 10
Spanish American 20th-Century Literature I 10
Spanish Language in Business Contexts 10
The Novels of Benito Perez Galdos 10
The Russian Novel in the 19th Century I 10
The Russian Novel in the 19th Century II 10
Troubled Times: Writers and Social Conflict in the Spain of the 1930s 10
Typical Third Year Modules
Module/Unit Credits
Hispanic Studies Year Abroad 40
Hispanic Studies Year Abroad 40
Russian and Slavonic Studies Year Abroad 40
Russian and Slavonic Studies Year Abroad 40
Hispanic Studies Year Abroad (Project) 20
Hispanic Studies Year Abroad (Project) 20
Russian and Slavonic Studies Year Abroad (Project) 20
Russian and Slavonic Studies Year Abroad (Project) 20
Typical Fourth Year Modules
Module/Unit Credits
Advanced Spanish Language III 10
Advanced Spanish Language IV 10
Aspects of Post-Soviet Russian Culture 10
Russian Language (Advanced): Comprehension and Communication Skills (I) 10
Russian Language (Advanced): Comprehension and Communication Skills (II) 10
Russian Language (Advanced): Translation Skills 10
Dissertation 20
Dissertation 20
Spanish Language Teaching 20
Catalan Advanced: Language and Culture I 10
Catalan Advanced: Language and Culture II 10
Contemporary Argentina 10
Dissidence and Debate in Early 20th-Century Spain 10
Genesis and Genre: From Novel to Play to Screen: Galdos Today 10
Interpreting Skills 10
Law and Culture in the Hispanic World 10
Media Ethics in the Hispanic World 10
Modern Peru 10
Modern Uruguayan Narrative 10
Musical Performance and Hispanic Culture 10
Popular Culture and Society in Latin America 10
Portuguese Advanced: Language and Culture I 10
Portuguese Advanced: Language and Culture II 10
Portuguese Advanced: Language and Culture III 10
Portuguese Advanced: Language and Culture IV 10
Sexual Politics in Latin American Fiction 10
Spain Since 1975 10
The Politics and Fiction of Crisis: 1868 - 1898 10
The Rise of Popular Culture in Latin American Fiction 10