Polish

• UW–Madison Polish studies program is the oldest academic program in Polish language, literature, and culture in the United States

• UW Department of Slavic Languages and Literature (now GNS+) was established in 1936 as the Department of Polish thanks to the effort of state legislators and the local Polish American community

• first Polish language classes held in 1936; first professors included prominent linguists—Jerzy Kuryłowicz and Witold Doroszewski, author of the Polish Language Dictionary (ca. 125,000 entries in 11 volumes)

• Polish language, literature, and culture courses are offered to this day, making part of the Polish major, one of the four majors offered by the Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic+

In 2011 the department received the Wyróżnienie Polonicum Award. The Centre for Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners “Polonicum” (University of Warsaw) is awarded for “remarkable achievements in popularizing the Polish language and knowledge of Polish culture and history worldwide.”

UW—Madison’s Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures (now GNS+) remains the only academic department in the United States to receive this recognition.

Left: An image of the plaque recognizing the 2011 award.

The Polish major requires study of the Polish language, Polish literature in translation, Polish literature in the original language, as well as culture and area studies.

21 credits overall, including:

• 6 credits in Polish Language
• 6 credits in Polish Literature and Culture
  – Polish Literature in Translation: 14th to the Mid-19th Century (Slavic 215)
  – Living at the End of Times: Contemporary Polish Literature and Culture (Slavic 361)
• 3 credits in Polish Language or Literature and Culture
• 6 credits in Polish Literature and Culture Area Studies
  – selected from some 20 courses spanning Slavic, History, Political Science, and Folklore, including Slavic 245 Topics in Slavic Literatures courses with Polish content

More information about our BA/BS: gns.wisc.edu/undergraduate_majors

Polish courses also count toward the East Central European Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (ECELLC) Certificate (only 15 credits).

Work underway to create a Slavic Studies certificate.

Polish language

• First-year Polish (Slavic 111 + Slavic 112)
• Second-year Polish (Slavic 207 + Slavic 208)
• Third-year Polish (Slavic 277 + Slavic 278)
• Fourth-year Polish (Slavic 331 + Slavic 332)
• Introduction to Intensive Polish (Slavic 301) – for heritage/native speakers
• Fifth Semester Intensive Polish (Slavic 305) – for graduate students
• Sixth Semester Intensive Polish (Slavic 306) – for graduate students

Polish literature and culture

• Escaping Utopia: Cultures After Communism* (SLAVIC 245) – Spring 2022
• History and Ethics on Film: Polish Cinema (SLAVIC 245)
• Migrant Nation: The Polish American Migration Experience (SLAVIC 245)
• Multicultural Central Europe* (SLAVIC 245) – Spring 2022
• Living at the End of Times: Contemporary Polish Literature & Culture (SLAVIC 361)
• Love and Death at the Heart of Europe: Polish Literature in Translation (SLAVIC 470)
• The Politics of Laughter: Polish Comedy Culture (SLAVIC 245)
• War & Culture: The Polish Experience (SLAVIC 245) – Spring 2022

Michael and Emily Lapinski Scholarship

• intended specifically for students in the UW–Madison Polish studies program
• both undergraduate and graduate students can apply
• provides tuition for studying Polish language, literature, and culture
• preference for Polish majors (undergraduate) and graduate applicants with a significant Polish component (e.g., dissertation focused on Polish/Poland, second Slavic language, minor)
• annual application deadline is March 1 (or first Monday thereafter)
• awards announced by April 1 annually
• award: $500 to full tuition
• application includes (a) student dossier and (b) two recommendations (at least one from faculty/staff teaching Polish language, literature, or culture)
• student dossier materials include a cover sheet, statement of purpose, transcript(s), and a sample of work in Polish studies
• Questions?
  • Contact Joanna Schuth (jschuth@wisc.edu), Lapinski Scholarship Coordinator

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS)

• both undergraduate and graduate students can apply
• contingent on federal funding.

• First edition took place back in 1991
  • established 30 years ago by Dr. Ewa Miernowska
  • one of the oldest film festivals co-organized by UW–Madison students
  • annual, free event, usually held over two weekends in mid-to-late November

attended by hundreds of viewers (students, faculty, staff, community members)

• • screened for free over 120 new Polish films thus far
  • hosted Polish film director Filip Bajon in 2010
  • co-organized by the Polish Student Association (PSA), in collaboration with the Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic+ (GNS+), UW Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia (CREECA), Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Film Committee, Polish Heritage Club of Madison–Wisconsin (PHC), in close cooperation with the Polish Film Festival in America (Chicago)

Polish Student Association (PSA) is an international student organization dedicated to expanding cultural awareness of Poland. Members participate in biweekly general meetings to explore and discuss history, geography, traditions, pop culture, and current events relating to Poland.

• student-led and student-organized activities including trips to Milwaukee and Chicago, ice skating socials, sports games, trivia, social dinners, etc.
• usually meets on a biweekly basis to discuss and explore Polish history, culture, traditions, geography, pop culture, and current events
• Polish language table meetings on rotating weeks
• open to everyone, no language/origin requirement

Email: psa.madison.wi@gmail.com
Instagram: instagram.com/psa_uwmadison
Facebook: facebook.com/psa.uwmadison
Twitter: twitter.com/@psa_uwmadison

• As the home for the nation’s oldest academic Polish studies program, UW–Madison boasts ample academic resources to help our students succeed in their study of Polish language, literature, and culture
• UW–Madison libraries Polish collection includes ca. 50,000 unique items (books, journals, visual materials, music), 78% of which is in Polish
• Access to major Polish newspapers and magazines through UW Libraries (Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita, Polityka, Newsweek Polska, Przekrój)
• Polish film collection includes 120+ Polish films in digital format (and counting!), incl. recent additions to the Madison Polish Film Festival