Departmental Brochure  The end of the Cold War, along with the collapse of the Soviet Union and communist regimes in Eastern Europe, offer a unique opportunity to take a fresh look at an old field: Russian and East European area studies. Formerly caught within the framework of the Cold War, new societies are emerging, struggling to come to grips with their pasts and forging their own unique futures. Russia and Eastern Europe offer an expanding market for jobs and other entrepreneurial activities. A minor in Russian and East European Studies offers students an opportunity, from a base major, to develop a focus on this dynamic area of the world. Complementary majors include International Studies/Business, History, Art History, English, Politics, and Economics.
Russian and East European Studies is an interdisciplinary program pulling together courses and faculty from a wide variety of fields in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, as faculty integrate Russian and East European Studies into the curriculum. Six three-credit courses including a capstone seminar are required for the minor. The courses required will introduce you to Russian language, history, politics, literature, art, economics, and business.
Course of Study
Russian Language
- Basic Russian I and II
- Intermediate Russian I and II
- Continuing Russian I and II
Also available:
- Third Year: Junior year or semester in Russia (intensive Russian)
- Fourth Year: Tutorials, internships, or independent study
History
- History and Culture of East Central Europe
Since 1945
- Russia's Road to Revolution, 1689-1917
- St. Petersburg in Russian History
- 20th Century Russia
- History of the Cold War (Seminar)
- Comparative Russian Revolutions
Visual and Performing Arts
- Introduction to Russian Culture
- Art and Mythologies of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Bolshevik Russia
Economics
- Comparative Economic Systems
Politics
- Russia Seminar
- East European Seminar
English (Comparative Literature)
- 20th Century Russian Novel
- The Russian Novel and Western Literatures
Religious Studies
- North Pacific Tribal Religion
Study Abroad
 Destinations in Russia and Eastern Europe are available for year-long, semester, summer or intersession study abroad programs. The following are exciting programs from which all students can choose:
- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) offers study abroad in Prague, the Czech Republic; Budapest, Hungary; Warsaw, Poland; and St. Petersburg, Russia.
- The American Councils for International Education Program has Russian language programs as well as internships available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Vladimir, Russia.
- Fairfield offers a three-week trip to St. Petersburg in May or January, alternating by year. Students take two classes each morning, in addition to basic survival Russian and spend the rest of the day involved in cultural activities including visiting museums and going to the theatre. This is a most vivid and memorable way to combine the history, culture, and present-day life of this region. No previous study of the Russian language is required for this short-term experience.
For more information about study abroad in Eastern Europe, please contact the study abroad office at (203) 254-4332.
Additional research opportunities at one of our Russian partner universities may be worked out by special arrangement. Please contact the program director for more information.
The Faculty
David W. McFadden
Director (pictured right)
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Professor of History, Director RES Program
Elia Chepaitis
Ph.D., University of Connecticut
Associate Professor of Information Systems and Operations Management
Edward Dew
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Professor of Politics
Philip Eliasoph
Ph.D., State University of New York at Binghamton
Professor of Visual and Performing Arts
Johanna Garvey
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Associate Professor of English
Kathryn Nantz
Ph.D., Purdue University
Associate Professor of Economics
Lenka Pichlikova-Burke
M.A., University of Texas at Dallas
Adjunct Professor of Russian and East European Studies
Jay Sommer
M.A., Fordham University
Adjunct Professor of Russian Language
Capstone Seminar
Current Topics in Russia and Eastern Europe (required)
Independent Study and internships are encouraged and can be substituted for any course with the approval of appropriate faculty and the director of the program. All students are also encouraged to apply for a semester or year abroad in Russia or Eastern Europe their sophomore or junior year.
Fairfield University's Ties with Russia and Eastern Europe
 Fairfield University has strong ties to five northwest universities in Russia (Herzen University in St. Petersburg, Pomor University in Arkangelsk, Kant University in Kaliningrad, Cherepovets University in Cherepovets and the St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance in St. Petersburg) and with programs that allow for an expansion of relations between Russia, Eastern Europe, and Fairfield University.
Fairfield University has hosted the Russian-American Bankers' Forum, and the Dolan School of Business is engaged in a series of training programs and internships for Russian bankers and businessmen.
International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) is an international nonprofit organization which specializes in education, independent media, internet development, and civil society programs in the United States, Europe, Eurasia, Middle East, N. Africa, and Asia. The Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program is part of IREX and sends first-, second-, and third-year undergraduates from countries throughout Eastern Europe to study in the U.S. for an academic year. For the past three years, Fairfield has hosted students from this program.
Fairfield is a partner of the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP) which provides junior university faculty from Eurasia with the opportunity to attend classes, do research, and develop new curricular materials to incorporate into their home institutions and to expand their teaching skills and fields of study.
For further information please contact:
Dr. David McFaddden
Canisius Hall 324
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
Tel: (203) 254-4000 ext. 2871
E-mail: dmcfadden@mail.fairfield.edu
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