Slavic students are culturally curious, interested in understanding different ways of thinking, feeling, and conceiving the world in distant times and places. They become critical readers and interpreters, sensitive to nuances of expression, responsive to artistic innovation, open to new ways of thinking. In the end, they are skilled writers and communicators who can master complex material, reconcile conflicting evidence, and succinctly argue and support a position.
Slavic courses challenge them to interpret masterful and complex cultural products—novels, poetry, films—that pose ethical dilemmas, confront violence and war, delve into the intricacies of love and friendship, advocate different political systems, and offer alternative religious perspectives. Study abroad in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Prague, Warsaw, and Odessa immerses them in those other worlds and brings them home with new human connections.
Slavic students go on to fulfilling careers across a wide spectrum of fields. Some make daily use of the foreign language and cultural interpretation skills they have mastered in the major, while others draw on the broader humanities skillset: analytical, communication, writing, research, and interpersonal skills that are in high demand in many fields. They often work in publishing, writing, editing, and media; government service, international non-governmental organizations; international or domestic law; international cultural foundations and organizations; international business; education and training. And our career practicum helps them make the transition from classes to careers.
Interested in learning more? Explore this website further to see the options available: the Slavic Studies major with concentrations in Russian Language, Literature, and Culture; Polish Studies; South Slavic Studies; Ukrainian Studies; or Czech Studies; or the minors in Russian Language and Literature and in Slavic Studies. If you are already taking our classes, the goal may be closer than you think.
Have a look at what some of our former majors are saying about the careers Russian has opened to them.
Go here for why you should study more than one Slavic or East European language, and here to find out more about individual languages.