Russian, BA

This is the first version of the 2024–25 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

The Russian major leading to the BA degree trains students in both written and spoken Russian and in Russian literature, culture, and civilization. The department encourages students to pursue a second major (e.g., global health studies, history, linguistics, political science) and to develop their interests in related or complementary fields. Students interested in focusing on a broader interdisciplinary understanding of the region may earn a second major in international studies; see the BA in international studies in the catalog.

Learning Outcomes

Russian majors will:

  • enhance their language proficiency and cultural awareness of the Russian-speaking world; 
  • attain skills to engage critically with histories, cultures, literatures, and other arts, and gain knowledge of the diversified Russian-speaking world (Russia, former Republics of the Soviet Union, and Southern and Western Slavs);
  • practice interpersonal, interpretative, and presentational communication skills at levels of increasing complexity as indicated by each course number and description;
  • engage with multiple perspectives while practicing linguistic skills and analyzing cultural items, such texts, art and other images, or film and music; and 
  • develop intercultural competence, helping to engage with those whose first language is other than English. 

Study Abroad

Russian is one of the most popular languages on earth. Contact the academic coordinator of the Russian program or International Programs Study Abroad for more information on safe programs abroad where Russian is one of the official languages.