Harvard Summer Program in St. Petersburg, Russia
At a Glance
Dates:
June 2–July 28, 2010
Application deadline:
February 5
Cost:
$7,350
Accommodations:
Host family
Slideshow
Contact
- Harvard Summer Study Abroad Office, e-mail
Harvard College students can attend the study abroad fair to learn more about this program.
Russian language and cultural study on the Baltic coast
Faculty: Vladimir Y. Gitin, Rochelle Ruthchild, and Elizabeth A. Wood
As the capital of the Russian Empire, St. Petersburg was the seat of military might, ceremonial pomp, and official state policy. But “Piter,” as insiders have always liked to call it, was also the literary capital of tsarist Russia and, as such, the setting for major works by Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy. Established by Peter the Great in 1703 on remote swampland at the northwestern edge of Russian territory, the new Russian capital became the hub of a great empire and a showpiece city with strikingly western baroque and neoclassical architectural ensembles and a network of canals that many have likened to Venice and Amsterdam. Renamed Leningrad in the 1920s and famously blockaded by the Nazis during World War II, St. Petersburg returned to its original name in the early 1990s and celebrated its tercentennial and rich history in 2003.
The program consists of 7 weeks of course instruction at the Nevsky Institute of Language and Culture in St. Petersburg and 1 week of travel to Moscow. The program pursues 2 goals:
- To develop students’ knowledge and skills in Russian using Harvard University Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures materials applicable to everyday life situations. All language classes are conducted in Russian.
- To give students a broad understanding of the culture, art, and social life of Russia’s northern capital, and of the imperial and Soviet periods of Russian history. Class lectures are complemented with trips to local museums and places of historic interest. Students produce an independent research paper on a chosen cultural, historical, or social topic.
The program also includes field trips around St. Petersburg with professional photographers from the Institute of Design. Interested students can learn the art of photography applied to the unique architectural space of this city, and develop this skill in studio work under the guidance of professional photographers.
Course of study
Intermediate-level students take only RUSS S-Bx. Advanced-level students take both RUSS S-100 and SLAV S-50.
RUSS S-Bx Study Abroad in St. Petersburg: Intermediate Language and Cultural Study (32452)
Vladimir Y. Gitin.
(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
In this course, students develop vocabulary and oral expression while continuing to work on difficult grammar topics. The course covers the material of intermediate Russian. Students also practice the language of common social situations. Vocabulary is reinforced through films and the reading of prose and poetry, much of it related to the Petersburg theme. Each week, students spend 5 hours on grammar and 10 hours on conversation and videos.
Prerequisites: 1 year of college-level Russian or the equivalent (as determined by placement test).
RUSS S-100 Study Abroad in St. Petersburg: Advanced Intermediate Russian—Reading, Grammar Review, and Conversation (32304)
Vladimir Y. Gitin.
(4 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
In this advanced Russian-language course, students continue developing speaking and reading proficiency. Vocabulary work emphasizes verbs and verb government as essential for communication. Students work on word formation to increase reading vocabulary. Reading and discussion covers works in prose, poetry, and film. Each week students spend 5 hours on grammar and 10 hours on conversation, videos, and discussion of reading, much of it related to the Petersburg theme in Russian literature.
Prerequisites: 2 years of college-level Russian or the equivalent (as determined by placement test).
SLAV S-50 Study Abroad in St. Petersburg: Russian Imperial Masterworks (32385)
Rochelle Ruthchild and Elizabeth A. Wood.
(4 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
This course investigates major works of imperial Russian culture (historical and literary) as generations of St. Petersburg residents have experienced them from the eighteenth century to the present. Works include Peter the Great's orders for the building of the city, Pushkin's Bronze Horseman and Falconet's monument to Peter the Great, Gogol's short stories (from The Overcoat and The Nose to Nevsky Prospect), Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground, Tolstoy's Hadji Murad, and Zamyatin's The Cave. We study the imperial capital city of St. Petersburg itself—its many monuments and museums, diverse architecture, and the curious juxtapositions of different time periods as reflected in the city's broad vistas and lesser-known corners. Students spend 5 classroom hours a week in this course and also have opportunities for related explorations of the city with the professor.
Prerequisites: none.
Course credit
See Study Abroad Credit Information.
Faculty
Vladimir Y. Gitin, PhD, Senior Preceptor in Slavic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
Rochelle Ruthchild, PhD, Center Associate, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University
Elizabeth A. Wood, PhD, Professor of History, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Application
Students must be at least 18 years old, have completed at least 1 year of college or be a first-year student, and be in good academic standing to apply.
The application materials, outlined below, are due February 5:
- A completed online application (available in early December) that includes:
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- A supplementary statement describing interest in the program, relevant coursework, and travel experience abroad (previous travel is not a prerequisite)
- Official transcripts (sent directly to the address below; unofficial transcripts are accepted for Harvard College students only)
Transcripts should be addressed as follows:
Matilda West
Study Abroad Coordinator
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Students are notified of admission decisions by late February or early March.
Cost
The cost of the program is $7,350 and a nonrefundable $50 application fee. This covers the following:
- Tuition
- Room and some meals
- Excursions (including meals when appropriate)
In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for:
- A health insurance fee ($175; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States)
- Transportation to and from St. Petersburg
- The cost of passports and visas (if the latter is needed)
- Any immunizations
Program directors will advise students of likely additional expenses. A sample budget for estimating expenses will be available soon.
How to pay and funding options
See How to Pay for payment deadlines, deposit amounts, and more information including funding options for Harvard College students.
Accommodations
Students stay in homes with Russian families, where they have the fullest opportunity to immerse themselves in Russian life and to speak Russian with their hosts. Homestays are arranged by the host institution, the Nevsky Institute, which has extensive experience placing students with families.
Additional information
E-mail summerabroad@dcemail.harvard.edu.
Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible. See Students with Disabilities for more information.