Russian Studies

Laurel Brook, Tomson 368
507-786-3383

wp.stolaf.edu/russian

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, where Russian-speaking college graduates are increasingly sought after for positions in government service, business and consulting, journalism, and education.

The Russo-Ukrainian war has brought about a long-overdue change in how we understand our field. We teach Russian as a global language that belongs to many different cultures, societies, and peoples and serves as an essential access point for studying the culture, history, and politics not only of Russia, but of Eurasia more broadly. This understanding is reflected in our curriculum, which includes courses in cultural, literary, and intellectual history that are interdisciplinary, socially engaged, and inclusive.

The department offers a major in Russian Studies. We teach Russian language from beginner to advanced levels as well as courses on Russian literature and regional cultural history taught in English. In our Russian language courses, we provide an entry point not only into an endlessly fascinating and challenging language, but in Areas Where Russian is Commonly Spoken (ARCS), which is a linguistic, cultural and historical space that is as diverse as it is vast. In our literature classes we read both canonical and lesser-known works of Russian, Soviet, and Ukrainian literature, ranging from the tenth to the twenty-first century: from the austere homilies and enchanting folktales of medieval Rus’ to the brooding meditations of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, to the anguish and defiance of Akhmatova, Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, and Petrushevskaia; and finally from the frenzied postmodernism of Pelevin and Sorokin to the search for meaning, belonging, and identity among Russian-language writers today.

Students may satisfy OLE Core curriculum requirements with Russian Studies courses taught in English such as RUSSN 180 The Cultures of Medieval Rus',  RUSSN 265 Soviet and Russian Film Directed by Women (Taught in English), and RUSSN 280 Mystics & Madmen: An Introduction to Russian Intellectual History. RUSSN 231 or a higher numbered course taught in the Russian language satisfies the World Languages and Cultures requirement for all students. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad with the School of Russian and Area Studies (SRAS) in Riga, Latvia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Yerevan, Armenia; or Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 

Overview of the Major

The Russian Language and Area Studies Department offers the Russian Studies major with the aim of providing students with a strong foundation in Russian language as well as a profound cultural and historical literacy, not only of Russia, but of ARCS more generally. Graduates from our department will be prepared to work in Russian-speaking environments, Russian-related fields, or to continue their studies at the graduate level.