CERE: B.A. in Central European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies

Central European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (CERES) was formerly known as the Russian Area Studies Program. CERES is a full-fledged undergraduate major offering the Bachelor of Arts degree, and it has traditionally welcomed students intending to double-major. The program brings together an array of Maryland’s finest faculty working on the region in a range of departments in the social sciences, humanities, and other areas. Above and beyond its academic program, CERES is committed to organizing and sponsoring cultural and academic events relating to Russia, Central/Eastern Europe, and Eurasia on the Maryland campus. It also aims to take advantage of the unparalleled resources the Washington area offers, with its embassies, institutes, libraries, and many other institutions linked to our region of study.

To earn a B.A. in Central European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies, students are required to complete all CORE, College of Arts and Humanities, and Department of History - CERE requirements. The College of Arts and Humanities has a dual advising system which means that you need to meet regularly with an advisor in the Office of Student Affairs (ARHU advisor) regarding your CORE and ARHU College requirements and with your departmental advisor for your major requirements. For more information about individual courses listed in the plan, you can consult the Course Catalog.

Please note: These sample templates presume that a student is full time and entered the major during the freshman year. All part-time students and students who have changed their major into the college, should consult with their advisors to determine how to develop an individualized plan.

For college advising, please contact: Office of Student Affairs
1120 Francis Scott Key Hall
301-405-2108

For departmental advising, please contact: Department of History - CERE
Advisor: Dr. Steven Mansbach - mansbach@umd.edu
Phone: 301-405-7633
Office: 4226 Art-Sociology Bldg.

What can I do with my major?

Download an editable (RTF) or plain text version of this plan.

You should also download and print the ARHU Advising Worksheet (MS Word format) before meeting with your advisor.

Year 1

Semester 1

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • MATH 110/111/113/115/140/220/STAT 100
  • ENGL 101 (A/H/U/S or X)
  • UNIV 100 or 101
  • RUSS 101 (6 cr.) or GERM 103 (4 cr.)

Semester 2

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE (e.g. Lab - LL or PL)
  • CORE (e.g. HL or HA )
  • CORE (e.g. SH or SB)
  • RUSS 102 (6 cr.) or GERM 203 (4 cr.)
First year benchmark (or 30 credits):
  • CORE: Fundamental English and Math requirements
  • MAJOR: RUSS 101 and 102 or GERM 103 and 203

Year 2

Semester 3

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE (e.g. Non Lab – LS/PS/MS)
  • CORE (e.g. SH or second SB)
  • CORE (e.g. HL or HA)
  • CORE (e.g. SH or second SB)
  • RUSS 201 (5 cr.—also HO) or GERM 220 (4 cr.-also HO)

Semester 4

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE (e.g. Non Lab – LS/PS)
  • CORE (e.g. Diversity)
  • Elective (1xx-4xx)
  • CERE 3xx-4xx
  • RUSS 202 (5 cr.) or GERM 3xx (3 cr.)
Second year benchmark (or 60 credits):
  • CORE: 7 of 9 Distributive Studies courses;
  • ARHU: At least 50% of the foreign language sequence completed.
  • MAJOR: RUSS 201 and 202 or GERM 220 and GERM 3xx and 1 upper-level CERE class

Year 3

Semester 5

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE Advanced Studies (#1)
  • Professional Writing (ENGL 391/392/393/394/395)
  • RUSS or GERM 3xx-4xx
  • CERE 3xx-4xx
  • CERE 3xx-4xx

Semester 6

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE Advanced Studies (#2)
  • Elective (1xx-4xx)
  • Elective (1xx-4xx)
  • CERE 3xx-4xx
  • CERE 3xx-4xx
  • GERM 3xx-4xx
Third year benchmark (or 90 credits):
  • CORE: Distributive Studies Completed.
  • ARHU: Intermediate level language requirement, 24 of the required 45 upper level credits (~50%). (Upper level courses needed to fulfill major requirements as well as upper level CORE requirements are included in the 45 upper level requirement).
  • MAJOR: 18 cr. toward the major, excluding RUSS 101 through 202

Year 4

Semester 7

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • Elective (1xx-4xx)
  • Elective (1xx-4xx)
  • Elective (3xx-4xx)
  • CERE 3xx-4xx
  • CERE 3xx-4xx
  • GERM 3xx-4xx

Semester 8

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • Elective (1xx-4xx)
  • Elective (1xx-4xx)
  • Elective (3xx-4xx)
  • Elective (3xx-4xx)
  • CERE 3xx-4xx