Russia and the countries of Eurasia have been, and will continue to be, of paramount importance to U.S. national interests. This region is the source of world-class literature and some of the finest traditions in the visual and performing arts. Immigration from this region has brought to the U.S. outstanding artists, dancers, musicians, writers, scientists, athletes, and entrepreneurs, whose innovative influences reach deep into American cultural life.
In this major, you will take courses with professors who are recognized experts in their fields. You will study the Russian language, spoken worldwide by some 250 million people, while also acquiring a foundational knowledge of the history, culture, literature, politics, sociology, economics, and geography of the region. Mason’s degree program is notably flexible, enabling you to focus your interests in one of three concentrations: Russia Studies, Russian Language and Culture, and Eurasia Studies.
Mason’s proximity to Washington, DC makes it a great place for you to study Russia and Eurasia. Mason students have held internships in several agencies and organizations, including the Department of State, Institute of World Politics, Library of Congress, American Councils for International Education, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
We encourage our students to apply for competitive scholarships to support study abroad and have had many receive prestigious scholarships, including the Critical Language Scholarship, Fulbright-Hays awards, and the Boren Scholarship.
This major prepares you for a wide range of career options in the private sector, government, and education. Our graduates are employed in U.S. firms that sell goods and services to Russia, in political consulting firms, technology companies, in environmental organizations, and in many agencies of the U.S. government. Other graduates have continued their education in graduate school or law school.
All students have opportunities for research, global-engagement, public service, and career preparation.