SLAVIC

Slavic (Slavic Languages)

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The department at a glance

All recorded grades

average GPA

A / AB grades

letter grades

How grades break down

Grades over time

Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison

About these statistics

GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.

Fall 2026

Recorded this term

courses with offerings

instructors recorded

Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.

Find your next class

33 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.

LITTRANS/SLAVIC 215

Love and Death: Introduction to Polish Literature & Culture

3 credits

Introduction to Polish literature and culture from its beginnings to World War II, examining major traditions and narratives.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Krzysztof Borowski

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2023–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 101

First Semester Russian

4 credits

First Semester Russian introduces speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills alongside an introduction to Russian culture.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Kristin Edwards: The course is considered difficult due to the inherent challenge of learning Russian, requiring effort to transition from English and grasp the language and culture.

Anna Tumarkin Aleksandr Perchatkin+3 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2025

SLAVIC 111

First Semester Polish

4 credits

SLAVIC 111 is a first-semester course introducing speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Polish along with Polish culture.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Krzysztof Borowski: The course offers significant opportunities for correction, suggesting a supportive environment for learning rather than high-stakes pressure.

Oksana Stoychuk

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 203

Third Semester Russian

4 credits

Third Semester Russian develops speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills with continued study of Russian culture.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Anna Tumarkin Nastya Loginova+1 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 207

Third Semester Polish

4 credits

Third semester Polish course focusing on developing speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills alongside continued study of Polish culture.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The professor is easy to recommend, with a focus on group discussion rather than rigorous assignment completion.

Krzysztof Borowski

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sample

SLAVIC 231

History and Ethics on Film: Polish Cinema

3 credits

Examines Polish cinematic tradition from the Polish Film School to the present, exploring ethical and existential dimensions of heroism and identity.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Lukasz Wodzynski

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sample

SLAVIC 245

Topics in Slavic Literatures

3 credits

SLAVIC 245 explores various topics in Russian and Eastern European literature, including periods, genres, writers, and themes.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course involves a significant amount of reading, though reviewers note the material is not boring and enhances the lectures.

Oksana Stoychuk Karen Evans-Romaine

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

SLAVIC 246

Escaping Utopia: Cultures After Communism

3 credits

Examines how culture mediated the collapse of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe through literature and cinema.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Lukasz Wodzynski

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2025–Spring 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 275

Third Year Russian I

3 credits

Third Year Russian I reviews Russian grammar and complex syntax while reading literary works and developing writing skills.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews for Jennifer Tishler report conflicting workload experiences, ranging from tests that grade hard to a final project described as super easy. Some students found readings straightforward.

Alexandra Walter

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 277

Third Year Polish I

3 credits

Third Year Polish I reviews Polish grammar and develops reading, oral, and composition skills.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Ewa Miernowska: Reviewers describe the homework volume as excessive and the readings as particularly difficult for non-Polish students, requiring all available time and effort.

Krzysztof Borowski

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 278

Third Year Polish II

3 credits

Third Year Polish II focuses on reviewing Polish grammar, reading, oral practice, and composition.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Reviewers noted that Borowski gave extensive feedback on assignments and was receptive to questions.

Krzysztof Borowski

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

SLAVIC 285

Slavic Culture in Context: an Honors Course

3 credits

An honors seminar introducing Slavic languages, literatures, and cultures in a global context.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Students report long readings and unclear project guidelines, alongside a significant volume of papers and writing assignments that require demonstrated effort.

David Danaher

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 305

Fifth Semester Intensive Polish

3 credits

FIFTH SEMESTER INTENSIVE POLISH reinforces vocabulary and grammar through literature, film, and journalism while discussing contemporary Polish society.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Krzysztof Borowski

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

SLAVIC 306

Sixth Semester Intensive Polish

3 credits

Sixth semester intensive Polish focusing on reading 20th century Polish literature and intensive writing.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Krzysztof Borowski

No recorded grade history

SLAVIC 315

Russian Language and Culture I

3 credits

Russian Language and Culture I emphasizes speaking and listening skills, focusing on stylistic levels and speech etiquette.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course is described as very demanding, requiring significant effort to meet the instructor's high standards for success.

Anna Tumarkin

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 321

Fourth Year Russian I

3 credits

Fourth Year Russian I improves Russian proficiency in all four skills through literature, media, and presentations.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Sara Karpukhin

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

SLAVIC 331

Fourth Year Polish I

3 credits

Fourth Year Polish I focuses on extensive reading, discussion, composition, and grammar review in Polish.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Krzysztof Borowski

No recorded grade history

SLAVIC 332

Fourth Year Polish II

3 credits

Fourth Year Polish II covers extensive reading, discussion, composition, and grammar review.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Krzysztof Borowski

No recorded grade history

SLAVIC 401

First Semester Slavic Language for Graduate Students

3 credits

An introductory course for graduate students covering the fundamentals of Slavic languages.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Anna Tumarkin Oksana Stoychuk+4 more

No recorded grade history

SLAVIC 420

Chekhov

3–4 credits

SLAVIC 420 examines Anton Chekhov's works within their literary, historical, and cultural contexts.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Andrew Reynolds

No recorded grade history

SLAVIC 422

Dostoevsky

3–4 credits

SLAVIC 422 examines Dostoevsky's works within their literary, historical, and cultural contexts.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Maksim Hanukai: The course requires strict attendance and long readings, with only a few short papers or essays. One reviewer found the reading load challenging, while another noted the grading is easy.