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The study of Russian and Soviet history provides a comprehensive examination of modern Russia's Imperial and Soviet periods. This field covers diverse themes such as Russia's Eurasian empire, the revolutionary period, 19th-century cultural developments, post-1929 Soviet society, women's roles in Russian history, and numerous other subjects. Students pursuing this major receive extensive education in modern Russian history across both Imperial and Soviet periods. Alongside a two-semester European history sequence, majors participate in specialized reading colloquia on Imperial and Soviet history led by Professors Louise McReynolds and Donald J. Raleigh, complemented by research seminars conducted by them and other European history experts. These professors also offer focused courses exploring Russia's Eurasian empire, revolutionary transformations, cultural identity in the 1800s, Soviet developments after 1929, women's historical experiences, and various thematic studies. Graduate students concentrating in this discipline must complete a directed reading course covering medieval and Muscovite historical periods.