Russian Studies
At once one of the richest cultures and one of the most volatile, perplexing and powerful of the world's emerging economies, Russia and the Newly Independent States are fast attracting the attention and involvement of a variety of professional spheres, ranging from industry and finance to law, government and education. All of these sectors are actively recruiting graduates familiar with the Russian language and culture.
The Russian Studies Program is committed to providing its students with a thorough, well-balanced and practical proficiency in contemporary spoken and written Russian, an in the rich and diverse literary and cultural traditions that make Russia such a fascinatingly different and complex nation today. We are committed to helping students develop the critical, analytical and interpretive tools essential for successfully working and living in today's increasingly global environment. Toward these ends, we regularly offer the UF community an array of courses conducted in both English and Russian, restricted in size, and taught by full-time faculty and native speakers who are trained to teach Russian as a foreign language and culture. Our Overseas Study Program at the Russian State University for the Humanities ensures that those interested in living and studying in Russia have a safe and affordable means of doing so.
Why Study Russian?
A major or minor concentration in Russian Studies prepares students for a wide variety of careers, including international law, business, journalism, advertising, foreign service, tourism, teaching and educational exchange, as well as for advanced degree work in the humanities or social sciences. Completed alone, in combination with a second major, or as a minor, the concentration in Russian provides students with interpretive and analytical skills essential for performing effectively in today's global environment. Successful completion of the program, which includes a range of courses in Russian language, literature and culture--as well as optional overseas study on the U.F. exchange program in Moscow--will give students the tools needed to interact with Russians, to understand Russian-language media on the level of everyday communication as well as their individual sub-specialties, and to pursue their interests in cross-cultural communication independently, beyond the walls of the classroom.
Finally, you don't need to be a genius to study Russian. While the grammar is somewhat more challenging than Spanish, French or German for native English speakers, our teaching methods are enormously student-friendly and geared primarily toward introducing students to Russian culture and giving them the tools for interacting with it. All they need to bring is a healthy dose of curiosity and a willingness to engage themselves. We welcome students who are mainly looking to fulfill the language requirement and generally approve an S/U option for those who are concerned about being penalized for taking the less conventional, more exotic route.
Russian Studies Accomplishments
- The Russian Studies Program is committed to providing its students with a thorough, well-balanced and practical proficiency in contemporary spoken and written Russian while explicating the rich and diverse literary and cultural traditions that make Russia such a fascinating and complex nation today.
- The Russian program is known for its consistently high retention rate beyond first-year Russian, despite its classification as a less commonly taught languages (LCTL).
- Russian enrollments and majors are growing and currently meet or exceed national averages among peer- and top-10 programs in Russian. The Russian Studies faculty has developed a comprehensive plan for further boosting enrollments and has begun pursuing private and federal funds for further program development at the undergraduate and graduate level. It should be noted that Russian language enrollments already meet or exceed the national average.
- The faculty plans to work closely with the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, and with campus- and state-level initiatives in web-based distance learning.
- Russian Studies is working towards a cutting-edge M.A. program specializing in advance-level training in language, literature, and cultural studies. The program will feature a unique, cross-cultural immersion component at its partner institute in Moscow, and will draw on the strong research productivity of the Russian Studies faculty, on resources in Czech and Polish Studies and in the Center for European Studies.
- Russian Studies maintains a very successful summer abroad program in Moscow.
More Information
Contact
For questions concerning the program, its courses, or its major and minor, please contact the Undergraduate Advisor for Russian Studies, Dr. James Goodwin:
Dr. James Goodwin
jegoodwi@ufl.edu
252c Dauer Hall
(352) 273.3790
Office Hours - Fall 2012:
- Monday, Aug. 20: 12:30 - 1:00pm & 1:40-5:10pm
- Tuesday, Aug. 21: 12 noon- 2:30pm & 3:00-4:30pm
- Wednesday, Aug. 22: 3:00-4:30pm
- Thursday, Aug. 23: 3:00-4:00pm
- Friday, Aug. 24: 12:00-4:00pm
- Monday, Aug. 27: 11:30 am-1:00pm & 3:00-4:30pm
- Tuesday, Aug 28: 3:00-4:30pm
- From Wednesday, Aug. 29 to Dec. 5:
-----Mondays & Wednesday: 11:30am -1:00pm
