Our Polish program has been exceptionally successful over the past decade, and it continues to grow. Language courses are the core, with offerings including first-, second-, third, and fourth-year Polish. U-M is the only American university to offer four levels of Polish every year.
Major Requirements
Prerequisites to Concentration: Polish 121, 122, 221, and 222, or the equivalent.
Concentration Program: (27 credits). At least 15 of the 27 credits must be upper-level (300 or above).
- Polish Language: 6-12 credits of POLISH 321, 322, 421, 422; or equivalent
- Polish Literature: 6-9 credits of POLISH 325, 326, 432
- Polish Culture: 6-9 credits of POLISH 214, 215, 314, 450, SLAVIC 490*
- Electives. 3-9 credits of:
- SLAVIC 225, 240, 270, 312, 396, 490* (Polish topics);
- HISTORY 330, 331
- REEES 396
* (appropriate sections of SLAVIC 490 include “Rocks Kill Communism” and “Revolution in the Attic”)
Up to two terms of another Slavic language (Bosnian / Croatian / Serbian, Czech, Russian, Ukrainian) can also be counted as electives; see department for additional course options.
Residence Requirement. At least 15 of the 27 required credits must be taken in residence or through a study abroad program affiliated with the University of Michigan.
Study Abroad credit my count toward the concentration. Please consult with the Polish advisor prior to studying abroad.
Minor Requirements
The academic minor in Polish is designed to give students a fundamental competence in Polish language upon which they can build, as well as knowledge of some of the major cultural achievements and individual masterpieces of Polish literature and cinema.
Prerequisites to the Academic Minor. POLISH 121, 122, and 221, or equivalent.
Academic Minor Program. 16 credits of courses; at least 6 of which must be taken at the upper level (300 or above):
- Polish language: POLISH 222, or equivalent
- Polish literature and culture: 6 credits in POLISH 214, 215, 314, 325, 326, 432, 450, SLAVIC 490*
- Electives:
- 6 credits in SLAVIC 225, 240, 270, 312, 396, 423, 490 (appropriate sections*)
- POLISH 330, 331
- Up to three credits of Third-Year Polish (POLISH 321 and 322) may be counted.
See department for additional course options
*(appropriate sections of SLAVIC 490 include “Rock Kills Communism” and “Revolution in the Attic”)
Residence Requirement. At least 10 of the 16 required credits must be taken in residence or through a study abroad program affiliated with the University of Michigan.
Study Abroad credit may count toward the academic minor. Please consult with the Polish advisor prior to studying abroad.
Typical Courses Offered
| Polish | ||
| Course No. | Typically Offered | Course Title |
| 121 | F | First Year Polish |
| 122 | W | First Year Polish |
| 214 | W | Rock Poetry and Political Protest in Poland |
| 215 | F | Heart of Europe: Poland Today |
| 221 | F | Second Year Polish |
| 222 | W | Second Year Polish |
| 314 | W | Polish Cinema |
| 321 | F | Third Year Polish |
| 322 | W | Third Year Polish |
| 325 | W (offered every other year) | Polish Literature in English to 1890 |
| 326 | W (offered every other year) | Polish Literature in English Since 1890 |
| 421 | F | Fourth Year Polish |
| 422 | W | Fourth Year Polish |
| 450 | F; W | Directed Reading |
| 525 | F | Early Polish Literature |
| 526 | W | 20th Century Polish Literature |
| 621 | F | Directed Reading: Polish Literature |
| 622 | W | Directed Reading: Polish Literature |
Polish Language Studies Scholarship
Copernicus Program in Polish Studies (CPPS) Scholarship for Polish Language Studies
The U-M Copernicus Program in Polish Studies and the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures are offering scholarships of $1,000 for Polish language study at U-M for the 2017-18 academic year.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all U-M undergraduate students studying the Polish language at the University of Michigan for one academic year. The following criteria must be fulfilled:
- Two consecutive terms of the appropriate Polish language sequence;
- courses must be taken in Fall 2017 AND Winter 2018 (2017-18 academic year);
- students must receive a grade of B- or better in both courses.
- Students may apply twice for this scholarship. Preference will be given to first-time applicants.
Application Deadline
Students must apply by the end of the first week of Fall term to be considered for the 2017-18 academic year scholarship.
Application Submission
Interested students should apply via the application.
Review Process
Applications are reviewed for eligibility by a selection committee; students will be notified of the academic year scholarship in mid-September. Scholarships will be disbursed at the completion of the Winter term, after grades have been submitted and evaluated.
