Russian Program Overview
Courses & Activities | Faculty
Russian Immersion Overview
Learning Russian in today’s world offers numerous benefits, making it an excellent choice for college freshmen, even those without prior experience. With over 260 million speakers, Russian is one of the most widely spoken languages globally and serves as an official language of the United Nations. This significance means that proficiency in Russian can enhance one's ability to engage in international diplomacy and understand global affairs.
Moreover, the Russian language opens up a treasure trove of cultural insights. Russian literature, music, and art have profoundly influenced global culture. By learning the language, students can appreciate the works of great authors like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Pushkin and explore modern Russian cinema and music in their original context.
From a career perspective, knowing Russian can be a valuable asset across various fields. In international relations and diplomacy, for instance, understanding Russian politics, history, and culture is crucial for navigating the complexities of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In business, Russian is essential for engaging with one of the key players in global markets. Additionally, government agencies, NGOs, and private security firms actively seek individuals fluent in Russian for roles in intelligence and security, where analyzing information and conducting operations in Russian-speaking regions is often necessary. The demand for skilled translators and interpreters in legal, technical, and literary fields also continues to grow, providing further career opportunities.
Academically, learning Russian enriches studies in multiple disciplines. Students pursuing political science can benefit from a deeper understanding of Russian politics and its global impact. History and Eastern European studies majors will find that knowledge of Russian history is essential for grasping pivotal events that shaped the world. Additionally, literature and cultural studies students can explore the rich tradition of Russian literature and its context in more profound ways. Even those studying linguistics will gain insights from learning a Slavic language, allowing for enhanced linguistic skills and cross-linguistic comparisons.
Courses & Activities
Students who wish to fulfill the RC Language Requirement with Russian must complete RCCORE 193 Intensive Russian I and RCCORE 293 Intensive Russian II (or demonstrate an equivalent level of skill in the language). Each course carries eight credit hours, students must then pass a proficiency examination. In addition, all students must take a readings course in the Russian language. Students who pass the readings course have completed the RC’s language requirement.
In addition to the classroom experience, the Russian Program offers numerous opportunities for students to apply and practice their language skills. Regular weekly Russian Teas take place in the Greene Lounge and daily lunch table conversations as well as a special section in the Benzinger Library that contains Russian language videos, journals, and other published materials ensure that students are exposed to multiple opportunities for engagement with the language.
The Program also stages Russian language theatrical productions, in which students participate in all aspects of the performance.
RCLANG 193: Intensive Russian I
RCLANG 293: Intensive Russian II
RCLANG 323: Russian Readings
Advising for Russian
Alina Makin is the primary instructor and head of the Russian Program.
Faculty
Residential College: Russian Language NEW
Professor Emerita Arts and Ideas in the Humanities Program, Department of Afroamerican and African Studies, and Women's Studies
Director, Residential College; Professor and Head, Science, Technology and Society Program
Lecturer II, Semester in Detroit, Creative Writing & Literature, and First Year Writing Seminar
RC Lecturer III and First-Year Writing Seminar Program Head; Adjunct lecturer, School of Education
Lecturer II, German Intensive I & II, Humanities in Arts and Ideas, Cultural Anthropology and CBL in Social Theory and Practice
Professor, Social Theory and Practice, Richard A. Meisler Collegiate Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, and History
Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Instructor, RC Social Theory and Practice Program
Teaching Professor and Program Head, German; Arts and Ideas in the Humanities Program; First Year Writing Seminar
U-M Detroit Center
Lecturer Emeritus, Social Theory and Practice; Faculty Scholar Integrative Medicine; Faculty Fellow, Mellon Faculty Institute on Arts Academic Integration; Academic Advisor
Director of Residential College Admissions, Recruitment & MLC Administration; Adjunct Lecturer
Theodore Roethke Distinguished University Professor of English Language and Literature, RC Creative Writing and Literature Program
Professor of Theatre & Drama and the Residential College, Prison Creative Arts Project, Carceral State Project
Walgreen Drama Center, room 2435
RC Community Programs Business Manager; Associate Director, Prison Creative Arts Project
Lecturer Emerita, Spanish, Comparative Literature, Arts and Ideas, American Culture, Latino/a Studies, Women's Studies
701 E. University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1245
Social Theory & Practice Major Advisor; General Academic Advisor; Living/Learning Issues; Mental Health Referrals
Lecturer, Spanish Program, Social Theory and Practice; Coordinator Intensive Spanish II
Lecturer Emerita, Creative Writing and Literature, First Year Seminar Program Head, Academic Advisor
Lecturer, Social Theory and Practice, and Spanish Language Internship Program Coordinator
Collegiate Professor of History and African American Studies in the History, Afroamerican and African Studies Departments and in the Residential College Social Theory and Practice Program
Associate Director for RC Faculty; Arthur F. Thurnau Professor; Associate Professor, Semester in Detroit, Social Theory and Practice Program; Advisor, Urban Studies minor; Faculty Director, Semester in Detroit
Professor, Arts and Ideas in the Humanities Program; Professor, Afroamerican and African Studies; Professor, History
