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Croatian Studies

The living Croatian language, literature and culture, studied in depth through up-to-date information about historical developments and their contemporary relevance, comprise the subject of this program.

Croatian Language Courses

The language taught is the Croatian literary language officially used in the Republic of Croatia and by Croats living in some other republics of the region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as by Croatian immigrants abroad. Instruction is provided with the assistance of a native-speaking, university-trained professional language teacher using the most recent language teaching materials published in Croatia.

Two tiers of language instruction are offered. Elementary Croatian Language (SLA237Y) meets the needs of students for beginning or remedial grammar study. Advanced Croatian Language (SLA316Y) is for students who wish to attain a level of nuanced, sophisticated competence, particularly in spoken Croatian. Primary emphasis in all courses is on perfecting oral and written communication.

Croatian Literature and Culture Courses

Offerings in Croatian literature and culture include aspects of humanistic and scientific thought, ranging from a course in Croatian intellectual history to courses in specific art forms--prose fiction, plays and theatre life, and poetry. Lectures and readings are in English. All primary works are provided in the Croatian original. Discussions may be conducted in Croatian, as well as in English.

Croatian Cultural History (SLA227Y) is a year-long survey from the pre-historical origins of the Croats and their migration to southeastern Europe until the 21st century. Delving into Croatian life and works, this course is richly illustrated with audio and visual examples of the nation's accomplishments in architecture, dance, drama, film. law, literature, music, painting, sculpture, and theatre. No prior knowledge of Croatian is required.

Courses in which plays, novels, short stories, and folklore are studied focus on original texts in Croatian, with English translations provided. These include The Balkan Short Story (SLA327H), Political Drama from Dubrovnik to the Danube (SLA337H) and South Slavic Folklore (SLA347H). The course in Modern Croatian Bards (SLA407H) is a modern spiritual biography of Croatia viewed through the lives and works of the nation's premiere poets over the past 100 years. Knowledge of Croatian is useful but not required.

Croatian Studies Programs

In the seven courses described here the goal is to perfect communication skills and comprehension of culture patterns. Students not only learn about the unique heritage of the Croats; they also learn to recognize and reproduce features of that heritage in a Croatian manner.

Because Croatia is located in a strategically vital and controversial region linking the cultures of the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans, certain other courses in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, as well as in the Department of History and the Department of Political Science, are relevant to this field and may be used to fulfill requirements in the Croatian Studies degree programs.

Students may choose from two programs in Croatian Studies.

The Major Program (B.A.) requires completion of 6 full courses or their equivalent.

1. In language: SLA227Y or equivalent knowledge, SLA316Y.
2. In literature and culture: SLA227Y, SLA327H, SLA337H, SLA347H, SLA407H.
3. Additional courses, if needed, from groups A, B, and C: Group A, Slavic: SLA330Y Old Church Slavonic, SLA217Y, SLA417H. Group B, History: HIS251Y History of East Central Europe. Group C, Political Science: POL440Y Politics and Governments of Eastern Europe.

The Minor Program (B.A.) requires completion of 4 full courses or their equivalent from the offerings listed in the major program.

Croatian Studies and your career

Croatian Studies are based on the humanities and social sciences. Your university degree in many fields will be enhanced when combined with a program in this field. Croatian Studies will help prepare you for language and culture related careers in

Business and Communications,
Computer Science and Commerce
Journalism, Film and Theatre,
Public Relations and Publishing,
Government and Law,
Teaching and Education,
Travel and Tourism,
Health Care and Criminology
Science and Technology.

A degree combining Croatian Studies and another field of the arts or science will help you gain the global perspective needed to compete and work at the international level. There are particularly good opportunities with non-governmental organizations in today's developing Croatia. The Croats' rich national history and traditions offer fertile ground for understanding the intricate network of cultural relations that unites the human family.

Croatian Courses

SLA227Y1 - Croatian Cultural History (formerly SLA227H)

A survey of Croatian culture in literature, science, philosophy, film and the fine arts during two millennia of European history. The Greek and Latin heritage; the medieval Croatian state; Humanism and Reformation among the Croats; the Dalmatian Renaissance and Baroque; the Illyrian Movement and Croatian National Rebirth; Romanticism, Realism, and Modernism. Readings in English with accompanying original texts in Croatian.
Exclusion: SLA227H

SLA237Y1 - Elementary Croatian

Basic phonology, orthography, morphology and syntax. Development of practical language skills--reading, writing, listening, speaking--with simple texts, compositions, life situation dialogues, and dictations. (Offered in alternate years)

SLA316Y1 - Advanced Croatian

Application of orthographic rules to word formation and the syntax of compound sentences. Perfection of language usage through exercizes in translation, composition, and oral expression. Extensive readings from contemporary Croatian authors. (Offered in alternate years)
Prerequisite: SLA237Y or equivalent knowledge of the language

SLA327H1 - The Balkan Short Story

Studies of short works written since 1950. Focus on current trends -- the Second Moderna, Jeans Prose, Post-Modernism, Hyperfiction -- and innovative fiction by Andric, Bulatovic, Desnica, Kis, Marinkovic, Novak, Pavic, Selimovic, and others. Readings in English with accompanying texts in the original.

SLA337H1 - Political Drama from Dubrovnik to the Danube

The development of theatre traditions as reflected in dramatic masterworks from the Renaissance to the present. Plays by Drzic, Gundulic, Sterija Popovic, Vojnovic, Nusic, Krleza, Snajder, Simovic, and others. Readings in English with accompanying texts in the original.

SLA347H1 - South Slavic Folklore

Ethnographic, generic and stylistic study of the customs, oral lore and native traditions among pagan, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Moslem Slavs. Study of the role of folklore in the ethnogenesis of national culture. Proverbs, myths, legends, folktales, lyric songs and heroic epics. Readings in English with accompanying genre texts in the original.

SLA407H1 - Modern Croatian Bards

Verse since 1900 by the major poets of the nation. Focus on poetics, versification and literary history during the Croatian Moderna, Expressionism and other Avant-Garde movements in Croatia up to the present. Works by Matos, Nazor, Krleza, Parun, Mihalic and others. Readings in Croatian and English.