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Slovak Studies Program

Martin Votruba

Slovak program	Current information	Slovak studies topics	Queries on history

The University of Pittsburgh is the only university in the United States where students can take Slovak language and culture classes and opt to receive a Minor in Slovak Studies. People from other colleges in the region cross-register each year, the Slovak Studies Program has welcomed students, professors, and employees from CMU, Duquesne U., Chatham U., Carlow U., and La Roche College. Students sometimes come from universities around the country for a semester or two on a FLAS scholarship. People who meet the OLLI criteria are welcome to audit (almost all have chosen to participate fully) all our classes and do so every year.

Our practical language courses are Elementary SLOVAK 0010 and 0020, Intermediate SLOVAK 0030 and 0040, and Advanced Slovak 0400 and 0410; the students receive printable custom course materials at the beginning of the course and handouts in class. Click on anonymous student comments for more information. The language courses are always offered as follows: in the fall semester – Elementary 1, Intermediate 3, and Advanced 1; and in the spring semester – Elementary 2, Intermediate 4, and Advanced 2. They are always scheduled in the evening. We also teach intensive language courses in the summer.

Banska Bystrica

For the current and upcoming course schedule and classrooms, click here.

Slovak, Czech, and Central European Cinema - SLOVAK 0890 (3 cr.)
Meets A&S requirements:

HS - Historical change; 6 - History (CGS)
W - Writing intensive course; DS:H - Humanities requirement (CGS)
REG - International/Foreign culture - regional; 7 - International perspective (CGS)
EX - 2nd Course in Literature, the Arts, or Creative Expression; Literature (CGS)

For more information, click on Syllabus, Midterm assignment, Final assignment, Anonymous student comments.

Zahrada

Film The Garden

The Year Communism Crumbled - SLAV 1865 (3 cr.)
Meets A&S requirements:

REG - International/Foreign culture - regional; 7 - International perspective (CGS)

The students may focus their midterm and final papers primarily on Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, or the Czech Republic. If they have a strong preference, they may choose topics concerning Romania or Bulgaria. Click on anonymous student comments for more information.

returntoeurope

Return to Europe

Slovak Transatlantic Cultures - SLOVAK / ENGLIT 0380 (3 cr.)
Meets A&S requirements:

LIT - Literature; Literature (CGS)
HS - Historical change; 6 - History (CGS)
W - Writing intensive course; DS:H - Humanities requirement (CGS)
REG - International/Foreign culture - regional; 7 - International perspective (CGS)

If students are interested, they may take the initiative and modify their focus and assignments (see the detailed syllabus here) in order to explore their own ancestry or an immigrant group of their choice with roots in Central Europe or a significant presence in Western Pennsylvania. Click on anonymous student comments for more information.

Central Europe