Reasons to study the Russian language

The Russian language is crucial for gaining insights into Eastern European and Central Asian geopolitics. With Russia's role in global affairs, linguistic proficiency offers a deeper understanding of its political, economic, and cultural landscape.

Studying Russian allows students to access original documents, media, and literature, providing unbiased primary sources for research and analysis. This is especially important in understanding diverse perspectives on the war in Ukraine and Russia's global interactions.

Knowledge of Russian opens up opportunities in various fields such as international relations, diplomacy, intelligence, journalism, and multinational corporations. As geopolitical tensions continue, experts with Russian language skills are in high demand to engage in dialogue and conflict resolution.

Language learning fosters cultural exchange and mutual understanding, which are essential in diplomacy and peace-building efforts. Understanding the Russian language and Slavic and Eurasian culture helps build bridges in educational, cultural, and humanitarian initiatives.

Russian is spoken by over 258 million people worldwide. By learning the language, students not only gain access to Russia but also to a vast Russian-speaking community spread across many countries, broadening their global perspectives.

Russian literature, history, and arts are integral parts of world heritage. Familiarity with the language allows students to explore these rich cultural contributions and engage with them more profoundly.

Russia has been a key player in fields such as space exploration, engineering, and science. Russian language skills can provide access to unique scientific resources, collaborations, and innovations. After English, it is the second most important world language for research publications in chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics, and the biological sciences.

Speak Russian to engage in the Russian economy or economy of a post-Soviet country, such as Kazakhstan.

“Studying Russian really helped me with my analytical skills and attention to detail. Russian is not for the faint of heart, and it also taught me to stay the course when I put my mind to something (and that has translated into numerous work scenarios throughout my career so far).”

What can I do with a Russian major?

Knowledge of the Russian language and Slavic culture provides you with opportunities to stand out in the job market. The study of Russian equips you with the tools necessary to tackle challenges and thrive in unexpected situations. Whatever your goals post-graduation may be, studying Russian can help you achieve them.

Considering a career in government or diplomacy? The U.S. government needs more specialists in Russian-speaking countries. Federal agencies have identified Russian as a priority language of national need. The agencies that seek expertise in Russian include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Human Development, Department of Labor, and Department of the Interior. The FCC, ITC, FBI, CIA, NSA, and State Department have also identified Russian as a priority language.

Our graduates have a high rate of acceptance to graduate schools and professional programs, have received Fulbright awards and internships with the U.S. State Department in Moscow and the FBI in Washington, D.C., served with the Peace Corps, and worked for international banks, accounting firms, and law firms.

Take Russian at Notre Dame and be our next success story!

“I've worked for many years with international students and so my ability to communicate with those from different backgrounds, to intuit and draw out cultural differences has been very valuable. Thinking through how to articulate and convey information in the best way possible has been equally useful in all of my roles, especially those where I've worked with many different stakeholders. I applied for and was invited to join the U.S. Foreign Service, and my general knowledge of other cultures, languages, and international relations was important for that process.”