International Relations MSc
Russian For Social Scientists (Intermediate) CEES5055
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Social and Political Sciences
- Credits: 40
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This topic-based course builds on beginner-level language proficiency. It develops students' vocabulary, grammar and oral and written communication skills through topics in the social and political sciences, including gender, demography, politics, media, ecology, economics, and ethnography. Particular emphasis is placed on the use of Russophone sources and on the discussion of students' research interests in both spoken and written Russian.
Timetable
4 hours weekly. Class times to be arranged
Assessment
1. One exam (70%).
2.Oral examination: there will be an oral examination at the end of the year of approximately 20 minutes. duration which will test comprehension and speaking skills. Students will be required to discuss a randomly selected topic covered during the course, as well as their research interests. The oral examination is worth 30% of the overall mark.
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
This course provides students with intensive Russian language tuition over 2 semesters of study. The course is taught to enable students to enhance the basic skills they have developed through entry-level courses. In so doing they will acquire sufficient linguistic knowledge and translating skill to be able to read and discuss social sciences' texts of an intermediate standard in the original language and to use these in their study of social sciences' disciplines. They will also develop the requisite oral and aural skills to deal with more complex situations in Russian. In addition they will have acquired sufficient writing skills to be able to provide a considered account of their research. At the end of the course the students will have attained the necessary competence in Russian in order to use original intermediate level language sources competently with the help of a dictionary, so that they can undertake more advanced research programmes or employment in the field of Central, East European and Eurasian Studies.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
Read, discuss and translate standard social sciences' texts with the aid of a dictionary;
Write a full summary in Russian of a social sciences' text;
Conduct conversations in Russian and give a presentation about their research;
Make effective use of dictionaries and other reference sources;
Give and understand oral presentations in Russian of social sciences' topics.