Russian Studies
We offer 4 years of Russian language studies and a wide range of courses in literature, culture, and area studies. You will be part of a close-knit and dynamic community with numerous co-curricular activities (Russian Tea, Slavic Club, trip to Boston Symphony).
Our students have gone on to first-rate law and graduate schools and won prestigious fellowships such as Fulbright, Truman, Rangel, and Critical Language Scholarships.
30
Credits
The major in Russian provides rigorous training in Russian language, literature, and culture. The major concentrates on acquiring advanced proficiency in Russian language and on comprehending important aspects of the literature, culture, and civilization of Russia and the former USSR.
The Russian major requires ten three-credit courses (30 credits):
- 9 credits (normally, three one-semester courses) in Russian grammar, composition, and stylistics at or beyond the intermediate level
- 9 credits (normally, three one-semester courses) in Russian literature and culture, including two survey courses for classical and modern Russian literature (SLAV2162 and SLAV2173)
- 3 credits in Introduction to Slavic Peoples and Cultures
- 9 credits (normally, two one-semester courses) in Russian literature, culture, advanced grammar and stylistics, linguistics, history or politics.
18
Credits
The Russian minor requires six three-credit courses (18 credits):
- Four language courses between Elementary and Intermediate (SLAV 1121, 1122, 2121, 2122; 12 credits). More advanced students can take upper-level language courses instead.
- Either Classics of Russian Literature or Twentieth Century Russian Literature (SLAV 2162 or 2173; 3 credits)
- One elective course in in Russian literature, culture, advanced grammar and stylistics, history, or politics (3 credits)
Q: Do I need to know Russian to take other Slavic courses?
A: The only courses that require Russian are Russian language courses beyond Elementary Russian I. We offer literature and culture courses that satisfy various requirements (Core, Global Studies, etc.) that are conducted in English and in translation.
Q: I speak Russian/Ukrainian/Polish/Bulgarian at home but I don't read/write well. Are your language courses for me?
A: Absolutely! We regularly have heritage speakers take our classes. These students are often surprised by how much they learn and report very high satisfaction. They also appreciate learning about the culture of their heritage. Please e-mail Prof. Lin if you have questions about placement.
Q: What activities, student clubs are available?
A: We have a weekly Russian Tea that is open to everyone. We also regularly attend events in the Boston area (recently we saw concerts at the Boston Symphony, attended a musical at Harvard, etc.) We also work closely with the Slavic Club, which regularly organizes events such as movie nights and cooking classes.
Why Study Russian?
A global language
Russian is spoken by more than 250 million people across the globe.
- Eastern Europe (Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova)
- Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan)
- Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia)
- Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia)
- Israel, where over 1 million Russian speakers live.
The US government has designated Russian a “critical language.” Learning Russian makes your resume stand out and opens doors to diverse careers, including Foreign Service/Department of State, cybersecurity, FBI, intelligence analyst, translator/interpreter, and many areas of academia.
Studying Russian gives you the key to understanding many of the world’s most renowned writers, musicians, artists, and directors who were born in the former Russian Empire, the former USSR, and in post-Soviet states: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Babel, Nabokov, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Kandinsky, Chagall, Tarkovsky, Eisenstein.
