With a concentration in Russian, you'll hone written and oral communication skills, as well as a deep knowledge of Russian culture, history, art, literature and politics.
We actively support dual-degree seekers who want to pair their knowledge of Russian with majors like international studies, international business and intercultural communications. You can even build your study of Russian culture into an honors thesis project that will allow you to graduate with distinction in the major.
DU houses one of the most extensive university collections of Russian literature, and you can expand your knowledge of Russian further through DU's Russian Club. Outstanding Russian students are selected as members of Dobro Slovo, the National Slavic Honor Society.
Away from campus, local community outreach and immersive study abroad opportunities in Europe and Central Asia give you real-world experience in a region that wields enormous influence over global affairs. Because Russia is a political and economic international superpower, a thorough understanding of the language and culture means you'll have career options both at home and abroad.
Concentration in Russian
The concentration in Russian is available for the major or minor in Languages, Literatures & Cultures. To learn more about the degree requirements, please review the program of study in Bulletin.
Learn About the Languages, Literatures & Cultures Major and Minor
Featured Courses
RUSS 1613
Introduction to Russian Culture and Civilization
About this Course
This course surveys Russia's cultural past and present—from the beginnings of the Russian state over a thousand years ago through the Soviet Union and, after its disintegration in 1991, to the Russian Federation. The course explores the various attitudes of Russian thinkers and authors towards the question of national identity and national destiny. Examples of Russian high culture (literature, art, music, ballet, film) and Russian religious faith (Orthodoxy) are discussed alongside daily life and folkloric beliefs. By working across disciplines, students will discover the fascinating cultural interconnectedness of Russian politics, art, faith, and national identity. Knowledge of Russian language and history is not required. The course format consists of lectures, slides, video and audio presentations, as well as whole-class and small-group discussions. This course counts toward the Analytical Inquiry: Society and Culture requirement.
RUSS 2461
Russian Science Fiction
About this Course
This course studies the fascinating world of Russian science fiction in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Throughout the term, students will examine how Russian and Soviet writers and filmmakers reimagined society, science, technology, and space. We will discuss Soviet futuristic utopias, interplanetary voyages, and post-apocalyptic visions. Students will further probe the figure of the alien as a dissident or cultural Other, as Soviet authors grappled with questions of cultural and ideological difference. We will examine how sci-fi writers glorify or critique Soviet society in their visions of space flight, technologically advanced societies, alien worlds, or post-nuclear disasters. Ultimately, we will reflect on the philosophical quandaries that Russian science fiction explores. Works include pre-revolutionary sci-fi texts by Bryusov and Kuprin; Soviet dystopias by Zamiatin and Bulgakov; sci-fi classics by the Strugatsky Brothers; Tarkovsky’s filmic masterpieces; and post-Soviet science fiction by Viktor Pelevin and Sergei Lukyanenko. This course is taught in English. All readings are in English translation. This course counts toward the Analytical Inquiry: Society and Culture requirement.
RUSS 3997
Russian: Learn Through Service
About this Course
Internship and/or service learning for credit with local organizations in the Russian-speaking community. Must be approved by both Russian faculty and organization participating.
