General Course Purpose

This course reviews the history of Russia from earliest times to about 1900 and introduces students to the developments of medieval and imperial Russia. Students will examine the major themes and issues that have defined Russia's past and also study some Russian cultural achievements in areas such as art, architecture, music, theater, dance, literature and philosophy.

Here is an overview of all of the different types of assignments in the course. You can find the detailed directions for the assignments and the grading rubrics in the module where they are assigned.

Discussion Activities

The discussion activities provide you with an opportunity to deeply reflect on the readings assigned to each module and apply them to a problem. They can prepare you for the projects and the proctored assessments. Online discussion allows time to weave your thoughts and reflect on the readings and your experiences. All of the posts on the discussion board are required to be thoughtful, reflective, and concise.

Papers/Essays

The written assignments and essays will help you apply and communicate what you have learned in class.

Group Assignments

The group assignments will help you apply what you have learned in class while working with your peers in a collaborative learning experience.

Proctored Assessments

The proctored assessments provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the course knowledge. You can find the information on how to take proctored assessments in the Taking Proctored Assessments section of the Syllabus.