Professor: Victor Apryshchenko
Semester: Spring 2024 (January 29  – May 21)
Course Level: 300
Subject: HIST
Number of Bard Credits: 4
Course Title: Qualitative Research Methods
Max Enrollment: 22
Schedule: Tuesday 8:30 – 11:30 New York / EST
Distribution Area: Historical Analysis
Cross-Listing(s): no
Language of Instruction: English

The course seeks to expand the range of voices involved in the researching and writing
global history. Employing the same networked, blended model used in “A History of
the World”, the course trains students in history methods and project design. Students,
collaborating with each other and with instructor, develop and answer research
questions before carrying out independent research projects. At the end of the course,
they share their findings with the class, creating opportunities for students to see and
explore connections, parallels, and intersections between their diverse projects. The
course inverts traditional hierarchies of knowledge production by helping displaced
learners and their neighbors build the research and critical thinking skills needed to
create and share historical narratives—turning them from consumers to producers of
historical knowledge. 

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:
Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

Application Portal Instructions:
1) Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose file, and the title of the file should still be in English.
2) Refrain from using email addresses associated with Russian or Belarusian educational institutions.
3) While completing the “Required Information” section, ensure you fill in the “Province” field for your address.
4) Provide an address outside Russia or Belarus in both the “Required Information” and “Geographic Location Confirmation” sections of the “Online Course Application”. This ensures we can send your transcript.
5) You must press the “Sign” button twice during the application.
6) If you hold a bachelor’s degree, select “4th+” in the “Academic Year (online)” section.
7) Applicants either unaffiliated or affiliated with educational institutions in Russia and Belarus should list ‘Smolny Beyond Borders’ as their educational institution.
8) In the student ID section, enter ‘SBB’.
9) Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time. Save it as a separate file with this format: LastName_FirstName_CourseTitle for a smoother application process.