Why Explore Russian Studies?
Welcome to George Mason University's program in Russian Studies. We are happy that you have decided to explore the possibility of learning to communicate in Russian, and of studying the history and culture of Russia from the earliest times to the present. GMU has an exciting, nationally recognized, interdisciplinary program with ten full-time faculty members in five departments, an active Russian Club, and our own study-abroad program providing opportunities for summer and semester study at Moscow State University and Herzen State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg.
This is a fascinating time for the field of Russian Studies. Over the past decade major changes have occurred in the political, social and economic structure of Russia which have not only affected every facet of Russian life, but have had far-reaching effects around the globe. Geographically the largest country in the world, post-Soviet Russia continues to be vitally important to a broad range of U.S. interests.
For example, Russia plays a crucial role in areas such as the United Nations, nuclear energy, ecology, scientific research, space exploration, and international law enforcement. Aside from the importance of Russia in the world, the Russian language is an important means of communication and cultural transmission throughout the countries of the former Soviet Union as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. From the standpoint of the number of people who speak it, Russian ranks with English and Chinese as one of the three major world languages.