Russian
Photo credit: Siobhán Seigne
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made the study of Russian language and culture both more difficult and more urgent than ever before. More difficult, because Russia has once again descended into a dangerous totalitarianism that prevents students from traveling there and threatens the peace and well-being of not only its own citizens but also the entire global order. More urgent, because there is no more important time to study Russian language and culture than now, when the need for experts on Russian politics, history, and culture is at an all-time high. The Russian program at URochester is an ideal place to start your journey to linguistic and cultural fluency.
The Russian curriculum at Rochester offers students courses that will prepare them for future careers, whether in Russian or adjacent areas. We introduce you to the language and culture of one of the most fascinating and important countries in the world, a country that straddles the East and the West and that belongs culturally as much to Asia as it does to Europe. To understand this unique civilization, we offer beginning through advanced Russian language study, survey courses on Russian literature and cinema, seminars on important authors and directors (Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Nabokov, Tarkovsky), a “slow reading” series that focuses on important novels (Brothers Karamazov, War and Peace, Anna Karenina), and broad-ranging topics courses (“Russia Now,” “Russian Civilization: Myth, Culture, History,” “Hipsters, Rebels, and Rock Stars in Russian Literature and Culture,” “Russian Movies that Rock”).
In addition, our students routinely study abroad in Russophone countries for a summer (4 or 8 weeks) or a semester through American Councils and CIEE. Rochester students studying abroad in the summer are eligible for Mildred R. Burton Traveling Fellowships, which for over three decades have helped students with financial need.
Our classes boast small faculty/student ratios and our students often pair their Russian major with other majors in the School of Arts & Sciences. Our graduates are highly competitive and have gone on to work in the government, the intelligence services, academic positions, international business, language exchange programs, as teachers of English in Russia, with various NGOs, and as lawyers, doctors and other professionals in the US.
There are many reasons why you should study Russian:
- As geopolitical tensions continue to rise in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, experts with Russian language skills are again in high demand in government and the intelligence services.
- There are more than 3,000 estimated annual US government positions that require Russian language skills.
- There is a 30% estimated salary increase for jobs requiring Russian language skills in some sectors.
- Russian is one of three critical languages (with Arabic and Chinese) chosen by the US government for its National Strategic Language Initiative, with a wide variety of career opportunities.
- Critical Language Scholarships program (CLS) provides fully funded intensive language instruction for 7-10 weeks for US undergraduate and graduate students at the intermediate and advanced levels.
- Russian is spoken by millions of people in Russia, the Baltic states, Central Asia, Europe, the US and elsewhere. Knowing Russian improves your ability to travel and work in countries with significant populations of Russian speakers.
- Majoring or Minoring in Russia sets you apart from others applying for professional schools and jobs.
- For more reasons why now is a good time to study Russian, see https://www.actr.org/Why-study-Russian
The University of Rochester offers degrees in both Russian and Russian studies. The Russian major, minor, and clusters are in the humanities division. The Russian studies major, minor, and clusters can count in either the humanities or the social sciences.
- Russian major requirements
- Russian minor requirements
- Russian clusters
- Education abroad
- Language placement
- Contact information
Russian Major Requirements
The Russian major has a total of 10 required courses:
Foundation Courses (fulfill upper level writing)
- CLTR 200 Topics in Critical Thinking (or approved equivalent course)
- CLTR 389 MLC Research Seminar (or approved equivalent course)
Core Courses
- RUSS 202 Advanced Readings in Russian I
- RUSS 205 Advanced Readings in Russian II or RUSS 209 Advanced Russian through Film
- Two content courses in literature, culture, or film
Elective Courses
Four or more courses in literature, culture, film or language beyond RUSS 102.
See a complete list of Russian courses (pdf)
Russian Minor Requirements
Five courses in Russian language, literature, and culture, to be selected in consultation with the Russian advisor.
See a complete list of Russian courses (pdf)
Russian Clusters
There are two Russian clusters, both in the humanities academic division.
Russian Language (H1RUS007)
Three courses of language study at the elementary, intermediate and advanced levels.
Russian Language and Culture (H1RUS008)
Three courses in Russian language, literature, art, and film.
Education Abroad
Students can study Russian abroad in Estonia, Armenia or Kazakhstan for a summer (4 or 8 weeks) or a semester through the American Councils or CIEE programs. Students live with Russian speaking families and attend classes focused on language, culture, and politics. Fellowship aid for students with financial need is available for summer study. Speak to a Russian advisor for more information about studying Russian abroad and how courses taken abroad can count for majors and minors at URochester.
Language Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) scores or International Baccalaureate (IB) rankings assist departmental advisors in finding the right course level for you. Information on how you learned the language or languages you know will also help us advise you on the most appropriate courses for you in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.
For students with previous experience with the Russian language, the first step is to take the online placement exam. For instructions for how to login, see our online placement exam instructions page.
After you take the test, you will receive a score that will be used along with the other information you provide to help determine your placement. A language placement advisor will email you with your official placement sometime after you take the exam. Students who have not studied Russian previously and who are not heritage speakers of Russian may register for RUSS 101 without taking a placement exam. The placement you receive with your online numerical test scores is not necessarily how you will be placed by MLC.
Contact Information
For more information about Russian, contact Professor John Givens at john.givens@rochester.edu.
Faculty
Dmitrii Bykov, Scholar in Residence in Russian
John Givens, Professor of Russian, Head of the Russian Program, Undergraduate Advisor
Laura Givens, Professor of Instruction in Russian, Placement Advisor
Rita Safariants, Assistant Professor of Russian