Cover/Signature Page - Abbreviated Template
Institution Submitting Request: Utah Valley University
Proposed Title: Minor in Russian Studies
Currently Approved Title:
School or Division or Location: College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department(s) or Area(s) Location: Interdisciplinary Studies
Recommended Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code1 (for new programs): 05.0110
Proposed Beginning Date (for new programs): Fall 2013
Institutional Board of Trustees’ Approval Date: 03/28/2013
Proposal Type (check all that apply):
R401-5
Items submitted will be reviewed by OCHE. If there
are any issues, the proposal will be returned for
clarification/correction. If no issues, the proposal will
be returned with a note of approval and the request
will be placed on the General Consent Calendar of
the next Regents’ agenda.
Section #
Item
4.1.5.2
5.1.1.1
5.1.2
5.1.3
5.1.4
5.1.5
5.1.6
5.1.7
5.1.8
5.1.9
1
Minor*
New Emphasis on an Existing
Degree*
Certificate of Proficiency Not
Eligible for Financial Aid
Out-of-Service Area Delivery of
Programs
Name Change of Existing
Programs
Program Transfer
Program Restructure
Program Consolidation
Program Discontinuation
Program Suspension
Administrative Unit Creation
Administrative Unit Transfer
Administrative Unit Consolidation
New Center
New Institute
New Bureau
Graduate Certificate
R401-6
Items submitted will be reviewed by OCHE. If
there are any issues, the proposal will be returned
for clarification/correction. If no issues, the
proposal will be returned with a note of approval
and the request will be placed on the General
Consent Calendar of the next Regents’ agenda.
Section #
Item
Reinstatement of Previously
6.1.1
Suspended Program
Reinstatement of Previously
6.1.5
Suspended Unit
CIP codes must be recommended by the submitting institution. For CIP code classifications, please see http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Default.aspx?y=55.
*Requires “Section VI: Program Curriculum” of Abbreviated Template
Chief Academic Officer (or Designee) Signature:
I certify that all required institutional approvals have been obtained prior to submitting this request to the
Office of the Commissioner.
______________________________________
Signature
Date: 04/01/2013
Printed Name: Ian Wilson
Program Request - Abbreviated Template
Utah Valley University
Minor in Russian Studies
03/10/2012
Section I: Request
Utah Valley University requests approval to offer a minor in Russian Studies effective Fall 2013. The minor
in Russian Studies will provide students with cultural knowledge of Russia as well as a basic understanding
of the Russian language. It is anticipated that this minor will support and enhance the student’s major
program. The minor focuses on essential aspects of Russian literature, language and history, with a
concentration on cultural studies. It is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of Russian as
well as an understanding of the social, political, historical, and economic factors that make Russia one of
the leading international powers today. The program draws on faculty expertise from various disciplines
and includes global and historical perspectives. This program will enable students to familiarize themselves
with basic concepts of the Russian language and culture. Students should be able to communicate at the
Intermediate Low level according to National Standards provided by the American Council of Teachers of
Foreign Language.
Section II: Need
Russian content courses attract a wide variety of students, including a relatively large contingent of LDS
students returning from missions in Russian-speaking countries. Many of these students wish to continue
their studies in this area and possibly gain university-level language and cultural competancy. This
represents a somewhat unique opportunity to allow these students to further their studies in Russian.
Without this minor, the impetus to continue with these courses is diminished.
As a proposed emphasis within Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST), the Russian Studies minor makes a strong
compliment to many majors, appealing especially to students interested in History, Literature, Psychology,
Philosophy, Linguistics, Music, Religious Studies, and International Business. The Russian Studies minor is
designed to respond to the increasing student interest in Russian language, culture, and business, as well
as foster interdisciplinary study within the university community.
According to the Utah Language Roadmap for the 21st Century, becoming proficient in a foreign language
is a critical skill for future business, government, and educational leaders in Utah (16). Further, it lists needs
in the business sector that include: “Multiple language proficiency and cultural awareness in the workforce.”
Proficiency in the Russian language and culture is a logical choice when one considers the position of
Russia in the world. Russia has the sixth largest economy by purchasing power, the fifth largest military
budget and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Russia is a member of the G8
and G20, the Council of Europe, the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, the Eurasian Economic Community, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
and is the leading member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Russia has the largest economy
in Europe and straddles business markets in both Europe and Asia. The Russian economy is extremely
diverse with interests in agriculture, energy (coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, hydroelectricity, etc.), scinece
and technology.
Many multi-national companies already have a strong business presense in Russia. Those companies
include Marriot, Lilly, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi, Ford, Parker Drilling, Monitor, SPP Management Inc.,
APCO and many more. These companies employ Americans with not only a facility in the Russian
language, but an understanding of the cultural norms of the country. These companies will demand in the
future a workforce that has ever greater global competancies in the Russian language and culture.
At present, four universities in the USHE system teach Russian language courses. Utah Valley University is
second in overall enrolments (annualized student credit hours) at 662, behind only the University of Utah
with 725. This is more than double that the enrolment figures at Utah State University (312), where a
Russian minor already exists. In Spring 2011, UVU offered six sections of Russian (language and culture)
with an enrolment of nearly one hundred students. These are healthy enrolment figures when one factors
into the equation that we do not have a major or minor program. It is projected that with the Russian minor,
the numbers will grow, if not surpass, those of the University of Utah, which has both a major and minor
program. Among surveyed students presently taking Russian language courses, an overwhelming majority
indicated that they would minor in Russian Studies if given the opportunity:
Participated
students
20
Class
Yes
No
Undecided
RUS 1010
18
2
0
7
RUS 1020
7
0
0
11
RUS 2010
10
0
1
19
RUS 3050
18 total
(12 of them are
returned
missionaries)
0
1
(non-missionary)
11
RUS 3200
11 total
(8 of them are
returned
missionaries)
0
0
For the 2011-12 school year, there are five Utah high schools offering Russian language courses: Davinci
Academy, Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, Provo High, Rockwell Charter High School, and South
Summit High. Orem Junior High will be adding Russian this year. It is expected that many of these
students, especially from Orem and Provo, will eventually attend UVU.
Section III: Institutional Impact
Utah Valley University is prepared to host the Russian Studies minor with minimal impact on existing
administrative structures. As a stand-alone minor, Russian Studies will be housed within Interdisciplinary
Studies (IDST) which fully supports the program. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in which
IDST is housed, also backs the minor. A number of faculty already in place at UVU will also support the
program. This minor program serves the local, regional, national and international educational community,
responds to UVU’s global perspective and maximizes the faculty members hired within CHSS for this
purpose.
A broad range of departments and faculty will participate in the Russian Studies minor. UVU intends to
integrate Russian content into existing courses in cognate departments. Therefore, Faculty in History,
Integrated Studies, Communications, Languages, Humanities, Education and Interdisciplinary Studies will
eventually offer courses that contribute to the minor in Russian Studies. At present, UVU has five faculty
members with research and teaching expertise in the needed areas, with two more in cognate areas.
Section IV: Finances
While a number of new elective courses will be developed in support for this minor, the offering of these
electives will be managed such that existing faculty (salaried and adjunct) will deliver the courses within
their existing workload. Further, students need only complete 6 of the elective courses. The rotation of
elective courses is common within smaller disciplines. No financial impact is anticipated.
Section VI: Program Curriculum
Course Prefix &
Number
Required Courses
^Elective Courses
(students required to
select 6 courses
from this list)
Track/Options (if
applicable)
Title
Credit Hours
*RUS 2010: Intermediate Russian I
4
4
Sub-Total
*HIST 365G: Imperial Russia: Autocracy to Opposition,
1696-1917
*HIST 366G: The History of Modern Russia--1864 to
Present
*HIST 4170: The USSR under Stalin
*POLS 356G: Comparative Politics of Central Asia
RUS 202G: Intermediate Russian II
*RUS 266G: Introduction to Russian Culture
RUS 3030: Composition and Conversation I
RUS 3040: Composition and Conversation II
RUS 3050: Advance Russian I
RUS 3200: Business Russian
RUS 3520: Russian Culture and Civilization
*RUS 366G: Twentieth Century Russian Culture
*RUS 367G: History of Russian Film
RUS 4050: Advanced Russian II
RUS 4110: Translation and Interpretation
*RUS 416G: Post-Soviet Russian Media and Film
Sub-Total
N/A
Sub-Total
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
18
0
*Courses mainly taught in English.
^Students who want to purse a language intense option can select a majority of the Russian language
courses, while those students with lower language facility/interest can concentrate on culture courses
mainly taught in English.
New Courses to Be Added in the Next Five Years
Semester 1
Course Prefix
and Number
RUS 3030
RUS 4050
Composition and Conversation I
Advanced Russian II
RUS 3040
Composition and Conversation II
Course Title
Semester 2
Program Schedule
Fall of First Year
ENGL 1010 (GE)
Fine Arts (GE)
Biology (GE)
RUS 1010
MATH 1050 (GE)
Title
Introduction to Writing
from list
from list
Beginning Russian I
College Algebra
Spring of First Year
ENGL 2020 (GE)
PHIL 2050 (GE)
RUS 1020
HIST 1740 (GE)
HLTH 1100 (GE)
Title
Intermediate Writing
Ethics and Values
Beginning Russian II
US Economic History
Personal Health & Wellness
Fall of Second Year
Behav. Science (GE)
RUS 2010 (Required)
Phys. Science (GE)
G/I (GE)
Major
Title
from list
Intermediate Russian I
from list
from list
from list
Spring of Second Year
Major
Minor Elective
Minor Elective
Title
from list
from list
from list
Credit Hours
3
3
3
4
4
Semester total:
17
Credit Hours
3
3
4
3
3
Semester total:
16
Credit Hours
3
4
3
3
3
Semester total:
16
Credit Hours
3
3
3
Major
Major
from list
from list
3
3
15
Semester total:
Fall of Third Year
Major
Major
Major
Major
Minor Elective
Title
from list
from list
from list
from list
from list
Credit Hours
3
3
3
3
3
15
Semester total:
Spring of Third Year
Major
Major
Major
Major
Minor Elective
Title
from list
from list
from list
from list
from list
Credit Hours
3
3
3
3
3
15
Semester total:
Fall of Fourth Year
Major
Major
Major
Minor Elective
Major
Title
from list
from list
from list
from list
from list
Credit Hours
3
3
3
3
3
15
Semester total:
Spring of Fourth Year
Major
Major
Minor Elective
Major
Major
Title
from list
from list
from list
from list
from list
Credit Hours
Semester total:
3
3
3
3
3
15