Department of Languages and Cultures

Russian is spoken by 280 million people; it ranks with English and Chinese as one of the three major world languages. Over a quarter of the world's scientific literature is published in Russian. With the end of the Cold War, Russia has opened its door to international businesses, banking, mass media, culture, and entertainment. Thousands of Russians travel to the United States for business and pleasure each year, and thousands more have made the United States their home. The demand today for professionals who know Russian is great and is growing.

Although with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the motivations for studying Russian may appear to have lessened, nothing could be further from the truth. Russian is still a country rich in many ways: literature, drama, music, and culture. In addition, for the West, Russian will continue to be the medium of exchange with the former republics of the Soviet Union, at least until their own languages gain a larger following in this country.

Here are just a few of the many reasons to study Russian:

Business . Russia's re-entry into the world economic system has opened up an enormous and largely unexploited market for Western goods and services. Russia possesses a well-educated work force and vast natural resources; given this combination of factors, business opportunities in the region can only increase over time. Over 300 US companies have already opened businesses in Russia, and Western European firms are even more actively investing in the region. For more information on business in Russia, check out the BISNES web site maintained by the Department of Commerce.
Government, politics and international relations. Russia continues to play a central role in global politics, and there are a wide variety of career opportunities in both governmental and non-governmental organizations for people with Russian language skills. The far-reaching changes in the Russian government and society as a whole which began with the fall of communism offer students of Russian an exciting opportunity to study a nation in transition.
Learn about a different culture. Studying a foreign language offers a unique opportunity to experience another culture in depth. Russia's position on the boundary between Europe and Asia and its unique history have produced a complex and fascinating cultural environment, and there are now many more opportunities than in the past to travel there and experience this society first-hand. Knowledge of the Russian language opens the door to the study of Russia's rich tradition of literature, art and music. While studying Russian language and culture is an intellectually stimulating and enriching experience in itself, the cultural knowledge and understanding that can be gained also have career implications. Most large employers in the US are international corporations which need employees who have the ability to function successfully in foreign settings and to deal with their international business partners. Even if you don't use your specic knowledge of Russian, the cultural awareness you gain can transfer to other situations and settings.

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