Learning Outcomes

Language Outcomes

Students will be able to express physical and abstract concepts and effectively narrate events in Russian. Russian Studies majors will have basic but solid language skills. Russian Language and Literature majors, or students who do some study abroad in Russia, will master a greater range of proficiency.

Literature and Culture Outcomes

Students from both majors will develop a critical knowledge of Russia’s canonical and extra-canonical literary history and culture. They will be able to describe, analyze and discuss texts and general culture, and will have experience articulating and presenting their work.

Social Science Context

Students in both majors, but especially those in Russian Studies, will be equipped to discuss Russian culture in the context of history, politics, and current affairs. At least four faculty members teach courses in affiliated departments to broaden the students’ experience with Russia.

Outcomes upon Graduation, and Career outcomes

Immediately after graduating, our students have:

  • Gone to Law school or Graduate school: Johns Hopkins, Ohio State, Indiana, University of Wisconsin, Durham (UK), University of Michigan, Tufts School of International Studies, Yale.
  • Done a Fulbright year, either to teach English or to do research, in Russia and related states.
  • Worked on the family potato farm.
  • Worked for a local EMT or elder care service with many Russian-speaking clients and patients.
  • Worked for banks, businesses, libraries, NGOs, law firms, foundations and academic associations, mostly in the U.S.

Russian and Careers/professions

Russian majors might consider these careers; several Russian majors combined their studies with another field (Political Science, Economics, English) to earn a double major. Russian is useful for many international activities; it is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Our students have jobs in the fields below.

  • Teaching, high schools, prep schools and colleges.
  • Directing study abroad programs, here and in Russia.
  • Banking and business, local and international.
  • Library work and some Journalism.
  • Law, domestic and international.
  • Government – especially State and national security agencies. There is a constant need and there are some relevant scholarships.