Have questions about Russian courses, placement tests, or study abroad? Email Russian Language Coordinator Irina Kogel (ikogel@bu.edu) for more information.
The Russian program at Boston University offers four years of Russian language instruction, from the beginner level (LR 111-112) to advanced literature and culture courses taught entirely in Russian. We offer courses in Russian literature in English translation every semester, and students have the option of taking Russian-related courses in History and International Relations. The program offers a major (11 courses) and a minor (6 courses) in Russian Language and Literature. All our majors are expected to attain proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension in Russian; they are trained to work with primary sources in Russian, to navigate challenging real-life situations, and to have a deep understanding of the Russian literary tradition and the political and cultural movements that inform Russia’s history and position in the world today. The major also allows for students to specialize according to their specific interests and needs, to focus on language proficiency, on history and international relations, or on literature and culture. We encourage students to apply for scholarships to spend a summer or semester in such exciting cultural centers as St. Petersburg or Moscow, or in beautiful Siberia. The Russian major works well on its own or as a double major with other disciplines, such as International Relations, History, English, Comparative Literature, European Studies, and Political Science.
Russian is the fifth most spoken language in the world. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is considered a critical needs language by the U.S. government. As the lingua franca of a massive portion of Eurasia, Russian opens many doors, including careers in government, law, diplomacy, intelligence, academia, and business.
A complete list of Russian language, literature and culture courses is available on the CAS Bulletin or on our all courses webpage.
Placement Test and Language Credit
Complaint Resolution and State Authorization Process for Online Students