Russian

Bachelor of Arts

(Faculty of Arts)

Russian is spoken by nearly 150 million people in the Russian Federation; it is also the lingua franca of many who live in the countries that used to be a part of the Soviet Union. The Russian Federation remains the largest country in the world (followed by Canada, with which it shares very similar climates, landscapes and natural resources). A knowledge of Russian can open doors for you to study or work in a variety of fields in Russia. A knowledge of Russian can also be an important key to accessing wide-ranging professional opportunities in a variety of fields, many of them of importance in the economy of Canada and Southern Alberta in particular. Even when knowledge and skill in Russian may not be directly required in these professions, if you do know Russian, you will often find unexpected opportunities to use it in interesting and rewarding ways.

To study Russian is to study a culture that, for more than a century and half, has had a profound effect far beyond its national borders. While, for many, the major impact of Russia and Russians in the 20th century has been perceived as primarily political, Russians have made significant contributions in a wide variety of fields, including the visual and musical arts, science and technology to name just two broad areas. Not for nothing is Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace considered by many North Americans as the quintessential summer reading that they spend a lifetime not getting around to. Where would the world's ballet companies be without the Tchaikovsky ballets, especially Swan Lake and The Nutcracker? If you study Russian, you will acquire a greater understanding of and appreciation for this culture; if you study Russian, you will create for yourself the potential for experiencing this culture, to some small degree, from the inside out.

At the same time, to study Russian from a perspective which is necessarily that of an outsider is to embark on a profound experience of cross-cultural exploration. To study the life, culture and language of another is to understand better one's own life, culture and language. Exposure to multiple points of view and diverse methodologies and ideologies provides the opportunity to engage in critical enquiry, which by definition involves an honest attempt to examine divergent opinions.

Co-op is available for students in Russian.  Find out more. 

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission applicants are required to present appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.

Application/Document Deadlines

Why take this program?

Knowing languages and cultures other than your own is part of the educational foundation necessary for the development of human interactive, reflective, and creative potential. In this dimension, the study of Russian is part of the study of the humanities, the liberal arts. The broad perspective and personal flexibility you can acquire in the study of another language and culture provides intellectual skills transferable to many situations.

An Honours degree is excellent preparation for advanced study, either in a graduate program in Russian or in a program leading to a professional designation, e. g. Information Science or Law). Through an Honours degree, you will acquire more depth of training, and you will demonstrate skill and ambition beyond that required by a usual university degree. You also work closely with a professor on your own research project for the Honours essay. An Honours program can, but need not necessarily, involve an extra year of study; this would depend on the way you schedule your courses and on your own preferences. You should seriously consider an Honours degree if you are a Russian major with a very good to excellent academic record.

What will I study in my first year?

Your studies in Russian will begin with the introductory courses that look at the principles of language learning, strategies for observing and interpreting cultural phenomena, reading Russian texts and basic Russian language skills.

You are encouraged to explore a variety of option courses in your first year that will compliment your studies in Russian. You are also encouraged to take courses from the faculties of Communication and Culture, Fine Arts, Science or Social Sciences. For example, you might take a Political Science course that includes an exploration of Russian history. You could also take a Computer Science course to gain computer skills that employers love seeing on student's résumés.

What will I study in later years?

As a senior student you will continue to hone your language skills through the study of Russian grammar and linguistics as well as developing a greater understanding of Russian culture through the study of Russian history, literature and film

What can I do with this degree?

The great thing about studying a field in Humanities is that you’ll graduate with a number of marketable skills including:

• Planning
• Articulate
• Advanced reading comprehension
• Summarizing
• Report writing
• Interdisciplinary methodology
• Focus and concetration on detail

Graduates from the Russian program have a number of career options available to them in a variety of industries. Here is what some U of C grads have done with their Russian degree:

• Product developer
• Human resource management
• Electronic publishing specialist
• Playwright
• Account and finance
• Broadcast supervisor
• Accounting executive

To see a full list of potential skills, careers and industries available to you, visit the Career Services Career Profiles website (look under German, Slavic and East Asian studies).

Additional Information

Department Germanic, Slavic and East Asian Studies