Russian and Eurasian Studies, 20 cr

Russian and Eurasian Studies is a multidisciplinary module that covers Russian history, culture, media, and politics as well as the study of cultural, social and political phenomena in East Central Europe and Central Asia.

The aim is to explore Russia and Eastern Europe as well as societies and cultures in the Eurasian region in the global context. The participants will acquire deeper knowledge about the chosen fields and topics and develop expertise in diverse questions related to the area.

The program is optional and available to all students of Tampere University and ExpREES (nationwide network of expert studies coordinated at the University of Helsinki). Participation does not require knowledge of the Russian language or other languages in the region. The language of tuition is English. Teachers are experts in Russian and Eurasian studies from Finland and other countries.

After completing the Program, depending on the selection of courses, the student

• has knowledge about the Eurasian region and its diverse cultures and societies
• has basic knowledge of Russian and Soviet history and is able to critically review Russian historical narratives in the current Eurasian and global contexts
• is able to identify and apply key concepts of the region’s other histories, cultures, and societies to the analysis of the region’s contemporaneity
• is able to evaluate Russia’s and other Eurasian countries’ political systems as well as outline the key objectives of (post-Soviet) Russia's foreign policy
• has knowledge of contemporary Russian society and is able to analyze different social institutions and social structures
• ·has basic knowledge of Russophone media