interested in improving their command of spoken Russian by daily use of the language. A native Russian house master lives in the house; her or his presence serves as a powerful stimulus to conversation. All residents of the house must take the evening meal together.

In addition to academic courses, the Slavic Department also offers a broad variety of extracurricular activities —teas, lunches, lectures, bi-weekly film series, talent shows, field trips, excursions, poetry recitations and parties. They supplement class work in a pleasant, congenial atmosphere.

Sociology

http://www.ssc.upenn.edu/soc/

The study of sociology provides an understanding of how societies, communities and smaller groups are organized and maintained and how individual behavior is related to group experiences. It also introduces students to the concepts and methods that characterize social science research and provides them with the tools for a critical analysis of the varied types of human relations in which all are involved. Sociology can help students understand their place in the family, the community, the nation and work and other group situations. It also provides a background for careers in teaching, theoretical and applied social research, social work, journalism, demography, criminology, management, law and medicine.

Theatre Arts

http: //www.sas.upenn.edu/theatrearts/

The Theatre Arts program offers a comprehensive 14-course major in theatre studies. Students may choose from a wide range of courses in all aspects of theatre, including acting, directing, design, playwriting, dramatic literature, theatre history and theories of performance. Theatre Arts mounts several productions each academic year, and now students may receive academic credit by acting in or working on theatre productions directed by members of the faculty. Theatre Arts welcomes students who wish to major and make theatre the primary focus of their academic careers at Penn, as well as students who wish to take a course or two to enrich their educational experience. Advanced students are encouraged to do a senior honors thesis, often in an acting, directing or design project. It is also possible to do a research-based thesis.

As a complement to their studies at Penn, majors are afforded opportunities to study abroad for a semester at one of several theatre schools in England and elsewhere.

Many Theatre Arts graduates enter professional training programs in acting, film directing, theatre management or

Urban Education (minor only)

http: //www.gse.upenn.edu/

degrees_programs/ugprog.php

See page 18.

Urban Studies

http: //www.sas.upenn.edu/urban/

Urban studies is an interdisciplinary major that offers students an opportunity to think and learn about cities in an informed, disciplined and integrated way. Majors take courses that introduce them to a variety of perspectives on the origins, development and nature of cities. The program stresses the application of theory to practice with an internship for credit in which students work closely with a community group, public agency, non-profit or private organization in the city. Majors also gain competence in a discipline area and in conducting research.

Visual Studies

http: //www.arthistory.upenn.edu/vlst/

We live in an increasingly visual culture. The visual studies major prepares students for acting in and interpreting this culture through a multidisciplinary course of study, connecting the theory, practice and culture of seeing. The major serves as a liberal arts preparation that develops visual literacy, studio skills and knowledge of visual science and visual theory. It provides strong and distinctive preparation for continuing on to graduate or professional training in several fields, including philosophy, perceptual psychology, history of art, fine arts and architecture.

Women’s Studies

http: //www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/

Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary program that provides exciting intellectual opportunities to study the role of gender in human societies. There are over 100 faculty members across the University who teach and do research on gender and/or sexuality. In their courses and research, these faculty explore the myriad ways in which societies shape the lives and relationships of women and men—intellectually, socially and psychologically. They analyze how gender, as well as other basic organizing principles of societies such as race and social class, affect access to opportunity, resources and power. Women’s studies scholarship also demonstrates the active role that women, as well as men, have played in all arenas of life.