Russian Studies
Accelerated Russian Language Program
The Accelerated Russian Language Program allows motivated students to complete the first two years of university Russian in just two semesters. By studying Russian in an intensive format, students build language skills quickly and efficiently—reaching intermediate proficiency far sooner than in a traditional sequence.
Students enroll in 8 credits of Russian per semester for one academic year:
By the end of the spring semester, students are prepared to enter Advanced Russian (RUS 3050) the following fall—opening the door to upper-division coursework, study abroad opportunities, and advanced cultural or professional study well before graduation.
If you are interested in taking Russian, click here to explore current offerings.
Language acquisition improves dramatically with sustained daily practice. The immersive schedule helps students develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills more rapidly while building confidence through continuous use of the language.
Students who complete the program:
Russian proficiency is consistently identified as a high-demand skill by government agencies, the military, diplomacy professionals, and international organizations. Guest speakers from the diplomatic corps, U.S. military, and State Department have emphasized that Russian language ability alone can significantly strengthen a candidate’s profile.
Russian speakers are needed in fields such as:
Students who combine language proficiency with regional knowledge—history, politics, culture, and society—are especially competitive.
With a grant from the U.S. Russia Foundation, we offer partial scholarships for the first 16 credits of the accelerated Russian language program. For more information contact Dr. Frederick White .
I am very lucky, because I got to participate in the Accelerated Russian Language Program. I am amazed that in less than a year, I went from literally zero Russian experience to having basic conversational exchanges with Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, Latvians, Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Belarusians. Without the program, I would not have reached such a high level of proficiency before graduation. Thanks to the textbooks, teaching style, and overall spirit of the program, I learned to love the Russian language and culture and now feel confident learning the language on my own.
I started the Accelerated Russian Language Program in August 2023, only knowing the words “Hi” and “How are you”, with the rest of the language being nothing more than gibberish to me. In April 2024, I could write paragraphs on a variety of topics, hold short conversations about everyday life, weather, literature, movies, etc. I would have to say without a doubt that this program has been one of the most successful learning experiences I have ever participated in. To reflect and realize the fact that I have covered two years’ worth of material in one is astonishing. Not only did I gain language proficiency, but I also gained some learning skills that I will continue to use indefinitely. If anyone wonders if they should take these courses or not, the answer is simply “Yes, you should!”
The accelerated sequence integrates seamlessly with the Russian Studies minor or Integrated Studies major, allowing students to pair language proficiency with specialized coursework in national security, international relations, business, STEM fields, or the humanities.
Finish the fundamentals quickly. Reach advanced proficiency sooner. Graduate with a rare and valuable global skill.
