B.A. in Russian Language, Literature, and Culture

Russian language, culture, and politics play an important role beyond Central and Eastern Europe, affecting the international community as a whole. To develop an understanding of this complex country and its people, students pursuing a B.A. in Russian Language, Literature, and Culture start with intensive language study.  They then build on this knowledge with diverse cultural studies, including Russian art, cinema, literature, and history. Opportunities for close relationships with acclaimed faculty and hands-on learning are at the core of this transformative experience, and allow students to develop exceptional insight into Russia and the people who reside there.

Beyond our program, students benefit from the department’s close ties to the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies in the Jackson School of International Studies, as well as to local Slavic communities. They also have the opportunity to take what they learn outside the classroom, by participating in study abroad, practicing their language skills at Russian Table, or attending one of our many departmental events.  

Admissions and Advising

University of Washington students in good academic standing may declare the major at any time by meeting with an adviser in the Humanities Academic Services Center. The Slavic Languages and Literatures Department does not offer any online majors. To learn more about applying to the University of Washington as an incoming student, please see information for first-year studentstransfer students, or postbaccalaureate students.

Major Requirements

  1. RUSS 110 (5 credits)
  2. RUSS 301, 302, and 303; OR RUSS 350 (15 credits) 
    One ore more of these language courses may be satisfied by taking placement exam and testing out of them.  A successful placement exam does not count towards the 50-credit requirement.
  3. RUSS 322, 323 (10 credits, may be taken in any order)
  4. RUSS 340 (5 credits)
  5. A minimum of 15 credits from the following list of courses (no more than 5 credits may be taken at the 100 level)

      • RUSS 111, 112, 113: First-Year Medical Russian
      • RUSS 120: Topics in Russian Literary and Cultural History
      • RUSS 210: From Paganism to Christianity: Medieval Russian Mythology, Literature, and Culture
      • RUSS 220: Topics in Russian Literary and Cultural History
      • RUSS 223: Russian Cinema
      • RUSS 230: Masterpieces of Russian Literature
      • RUSS 240: Vladimir Nabokov
      • RUSS 260: Underworlds
      • RUSS 313, 314: Business Russian
      • RUSS 316: Extended Russian Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
      • RUSS 320: Topics in Russian Literary and Cultural History
      • RUSS 324: Russian Folk Literature in English
      • RUSS 401, 402, 403: Fourth-Year Russian
      • RUSS 420: Topics in Russian Literary and Cultural History
      • RUSS 421: Post-Soviet Literary and Cultural Scene
      • RUSS 422: Russian Literature in Emigration and Exile
      • RUSS 423: Russian Film
      • RUSS 424: Topics in Ethnicity and Cultural Identity
      • RUSS 425: Russian Drama
      • RUSS 426: Russian Art and Architecture
      • RUSS 427: Russian Jewish Experience
      • RUSS 430: Major Authors
      • RUSS 450: Intensive Fourth-Year Russian
      • RUSS 451: Structure of Russian
      • RUSS 481, 482, 483, 486: Study Abroad (see adviser)
      • RUSS 490: Studies in Russian Literature
      • SLAVIC 101: Slavic Lands and Peoples
      • SLAVIC 110: The Slavic Languages
      • SLAVIC 210: Introduction to Bilingualism
      • SLAVIC 223: East European Cinema
      • SLAVIC 320: The Other Europe: Post-World War II East European Fiction
      • SLAVIC 323: Masterpieces of East European Cinema
      • SLAVIC 351: Introduction to the History of Slavic Languages
      • SLAVIC 370: What is in a Language Name? The Case of BCMS
      • SLAVIC 401: Research Methods and Writing
      • SLAVIC 423: East European Film
      • SLAVIC 425: Ways of Meaning: Universal & Culture Specific Aspects of Language
      • SLAVIC 426: Ways of Feeling: Expressions of Emotions Across Languages & Cultures
      • SLAVIC 470: Special Topics in Slavic Linguistics
      • SLAVIC 490: Studies in Slavic Literatures
      • SLAVIC 498: Senior Honors Thesis
      • HSTEU 444/JSIS A 444: Imperial Russia: 1700-1900
      • HSTEU 445/JSIS A 445: The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union


  6. A minimum of 50% of credits applied to the major must be taken at the 300 or 400 level.

  7. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all courses presented for this major.

  8. A minimum of 15 graded credits presented for this major must be completed through the UW.

PLEASE NOTE: The University of Washington requires a minimum of 50 credits for all majors. Students who test out of Slavic Department language requirements MUST STILL complete 50 credits appropriate to the Russian Language, Literature, and Culture major, and should select alternate courses with the assistance of an adviser in the Humanities Academic Services Center.

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