For Undergraduate Students

How can I study in Russia?

Students in the Russian Studies program are strongly encouraged to apply for participation in a study abroad program in Russia. Through a cooperative agreement with the American Council of Teachers of Russian, qualified students may apply to summer or semester Russian language study programs at one of several leading Russian institutes of higher education, including Moscow State University and the Herzen State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg. Students interested in participating should consult with their major advisor. Also, in order to improve language skills and the appreciation of Post-Soviet society, the Russian Studies program sponsors annual short tours to the former USSR. Information about these tours is normally available in the first part of the fall semester.

Can I be a part of the honor society?

A chapter of the National Slavic Honor Society, Dobro Slovo, confers membership upon deserving students every spring.

What kind of employment opportunities are available to Russian Studies graduates?

Employment opportunities for those with a sound knowledge of Russia and the Russian language are expanding rapidly. In recent years Russia has opened up to Westerners to an unprecedented degree, and as a result, governmental, business, professional, and personal contacts between Russians and Americans have greatly increased. The BA in Russian Studies will prepare you for a wide range of rewarding careers in the private sector, government, and education. Mason graduates in Russian Studies are employed by U.S. firms that sell goods and services to Russia, in technology companies, in environmental organizations, as teachers, and in several U.S. government agencies. Some of the associations, private firms, international organizations, and government agencies employing our graduates include:

  • American associations for international education
  • American Bar Association (Moscow office)
  • Central Intelligence Agency
  • Defense Intelligence Agency
  • DynCorp
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Geologistics
  • Library of Congress
  • Lucent Technology Worldwide
  • Science Applications International Corporation
  • Technology Management Company
  • U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Voice of America

What about graduate school or other professional opportunities?

The Russian Studies major also prepares students for a range of graduate and professional school opportunities. Because strong emphasis is placed on the Russian language, students who successfully complete the program will have received good preparation for M.A. and Ph.D programs in Russian Language and Literature and Slavic Linguistics. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Russian Studies degree, students will have met the prerequisites for graduate work in such fields as international relations, literature, and law. Recent graduates of Mason's Russian Studies program have been accepted for graduate study at the University of Chicago (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Stanford University and University of California at Berkeley (Russian Government and Politics), Columbia University (Sociology), Indiana University (Russian and East European Studies), and American University (School of Business).