Russian Language and Area Studies Department
The Russian Language and Area Studies Department offers a variety of courses that build upon Russian language proficiency to give students the knowledge and tools they need to pursue their vocation in the Russian-speaking world or closer to home.
The Russo-Ukrainian war has brought about a long-overdue change in how we understand our field. We teach Russian as a regional language that belongs to many different cultures, societies, and peoples. Russian language is an important access point for studying the culture, history, and politics not only of Russia, but of Eurasia more broadly. This is reflected in our curriculum, which includes courses in cultural, intellectual, and literary history that are interdisciplinary, socially engaged, and inclusive.
Why Russian?
Linguistics
Russian is one of almost twenty living Slavic languages.
History
The Cyrillic alphabet was developed by SS. Cyril and Methodius in the ninth century.
Literature
Writers and poets from across Central Europe and Eurasia have been writing in Russian for hundreds of years.
International Relations
There are more than 250 million Russian speakers worldwide.