Whether you want to connect to a Slavic or Eastern European heritage of your own, or are interested in a complex and beautiful part of the world, come join our Slavic and Eastern European Studies community!
In the CENES Department, you can pursue a Slavic and Eastern European Studies Minor and take a range of several languages such as Polish (POLS), Russian (RUSS), Ukrainian (UKRN), and Slavic and Eastern European (SLAV) culture, media, and literature courses. We also host regular Slavic tea events and an annual Maslenitsa festival in the spring.
Slavic countries, languages and cultures make up almost half of today’s Europe — including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Historically, Canada and Vancouver are major destinations for Slavic and Eastern European settler communities over the last two centuries. Canada has, for example, the largest community of people of Ukrainian descent outside of Ukraine and Russia! Additionally, there is much to learn about local Slavic and Eastern European history here in the Lower Mainland.
Slavic and Eastern European Language Programs
Slavic and Eastern European Language Courses
Our Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian language courses give students communicative competence in the five proficiencies of language learning: listening, reading, speaking, writing, and culture. Our language courses also provide you with a good foundation, if you would like to study or work abroad. Through UBC’s Go Global exchange agreements with an array of partner universities throughout the region, we offer you a unique opportunity to pursue studies abroad, or improve your language skills.
Minor in Slavic and Eastern European Studies
The Minor in Slavic and Eastern European Studies gives you the opportunity to combine your interest of Eastern European regions with your other programs of study.
The Slavic and Eastern European Studies Minor is made up of 12 foundational credits including a 9-credit language component, a 3-credit introductory SLAV_V course and 18 credits at the 300 and 400-level.
Students who complete 9-credits in a Slavic language (Polish, Russian or Ukrainian) will achieve B1 proficiency in that language based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). If the Director of Slavic and Eastern European Studies determines a student has demonstrated CEFR B1 or higher proficiency in any single Slavic or Eastern European language, the student is exempted from this foundational Language Component of the Minor. If a student is fully exempted from the 9-credit language component, they will take a total of 6 credits of SLAV_V courses at the 100 or 200-level.
The entire Minor is 30 credits.
*Please note that students with a background in Polish, Russian, or Ukrainian must take a placement test before the beginning of classes.
