Slavic Studies Major

The major consists of the elementary Russian language sequence (RUS 101, RUS 102) plus nine additional courses, including SLA 105, RUS 201, and RUS 202. The following courses are highly recommended: SLA 165, SLA 205, SLA 247, SLA 264, and SLA 307 (or alternatively, RUS 307).

The Slavic Studies major is designed to bring students to advanced-level proficiency in Russian in four years; to give students a solid foundation in Russian literature, history, and culture; to impart a deep understanding of the historical relations of Slavic peoples to one another; and to give students the opportunity to develop select disciplinary expertise in such fields as film, theater, art history, gender studies, environmental studies, economics, anthropology, linguistics, and government.

All students meet with the Department Chair upon declaring a major to design an individual program of study. Majors receive ample mentoring throughout their four years to take full advantage of study away, internship, honors study, and fellowship opportunities.

Juniors are highly encouraged to study abroad during the second semester, preferably in combination with a summer internship, CISLA internship, or domestic intensive language program. Generally, two to three courses taken at universities abroad may be counted towards the major. Students who do not complete an honors thesis must enroll in a senior seminar and complete a senior integrative project.

The Russian language program is designed to prepare students to communicate freely with native speakers of Russian, and to give them the necessary background for a wide range of careers or graduate study in such fields as education, linguistics, history, journalism, law, business, environmental studies, and foreign service. Language courses are conducted in Russian beginning in the first-year sequence and establish a broad range of communicative skills by the end of the second year. The Advanced Russian sequence is a series of content courses in Russian on select topics, including film, history, and contemporary Russian culture.

The Department promotes learning outside of the classroom in our  partnerships with the Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg and the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in downtown New London. Students and faculty regularly participate in Russian language table in Knowlton and organize trips to cultural events in neighboring cities.