About Russian Studies

Welcome to the web page of the Russian Program of William and Mary's Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. We offer four full years of language training as well as a variety of courses in Russian literature, cinema and culture that are taught in English. Many of our literature and culture courses in translation fulfill General Education requirements and can be used as part of a concentration in Literary and Cultural Studies and Film Studies. At the present, students may choose between an interdisciplinary concentration and a minor in Russian Studies through the Global Studies and a minor in Russian Language and Literature. Study abroad is an important component of the Russian program. In addition to our own faculty-directed six-week intensive summer program at St. Petersburg University, students are encouraged to spend a semester or full academic year studying at Russian universities.

Why Study Russian at The College of William & Mary?

There are as many reasons for studying Russian language and culture as there are students of Russian. For centuries, westerners have been fascinated by popular Russian culture, the cosmopolitan creations of Pushkin and Tchaikovsky, the profound philosophical and religious tracts of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, and the musical magic of Stravinsky and Balanchine. Although the political and military threat of the Soviet Union is a thing of the past, a democratizing Post-Soviet Russia presents significant challenges and opportunities to the rest of the world in the areas of global security, nuclear non-proliferation, organized crime, international terrorism, to name just a few critical issues of the twenty-first century. As Post-Soviet Russia develops economically and politically, the number and variety of career paths available to college graduates with a knowledge of Russian language and culture are constantly expanding.  While the U.S. government remains the largest employer of Russian majors, high-tech computer, energy, and communications companies, law firms, consulting agencies and accounting groups are all in need of Russian-speakers to staff new offices in Russia. In addition, an increasing number of NGOs, including charitable, religious, academic, and political organizations, have begun to operate or expanded their operations in Russia.  If you are interested what our graduates do after they've completed Russian program, check our News from Alumni page. One thing is clear:  people trained in Russian, with a good knowledge of Russian history and culture, are absolutely crucial in developing and expanding a dialog with Russia. To learn more about careers in Russian, read Why Russian? [PDF]

Students interested in Russia and Eastern Europe may apply to live in the RUSSIAN HOUSE (third floor Pleasants, Randolph Complex). Our Russian House offers weekly Russian tea hours, tutoring, and monthly parties. If you are interested in living in the Russian House next year, call 221-3634.