Undergraduate Russian Studies
Study Russian language and culture to become a global professional.
"The professors make learning Russian fun while teaching the language, culture, and history. I remember the feeling when I first learned something mundane like colors or how to say my age. It seems so simple, but it was so gratifying to say even these basic things. It is a very pure and happy feeling, which made that class wonderful for me."
Tyden Kortman
B.A. in Political Science with minors in International Studies, Intelligence and Security Studies, and Russian '26
Immerse Yourself in Russia’s fascinating literature and culture.
Russia is the world's largest country and its language is spoken by over 250 million people worldwide. It plays a pivotal role in today’s global affairs, influencing international politics, economics, and security. Now, more than ever, knowledge of Russian language and culture is seen as an extremely important asset to the student entering the field of international relations, law, economics, political science, government, and foreign service. In the world of international diplomacy, Russian is a key language. It is an official language of the United Nations and the second most important world language for scientific publications.
The number of students in the United States who are studying Russian increases virtually every day. Recent world events have helped make Russian a more sought-after language in many fields.
Explore Russia's Rich Tradition of the Arts
The Department of Modern Languages offers an undergraduate Russian minor with elementary, intermediate, and advanced courses that emphasize the language and culture of Russia. Students may also study Russian to fulfill a possible general education language requirement.
Russia is home to a rich tradition of arts, including ballet, theater, cinema, literature, and music. Our Russian language program is committed to providing our students with a proficiency in contemporary spoken and written Russian, as well as introducing them to Russia’s fascinating literature and culture.
Faculty Expertise
Our Russian classes feature low faculty-to-student ratios allowing students to work closely with the Russian faculty, who have expertise in Russian language in the post-Soviet period, languages in contact, language pedagogy, and sociolinguistics. Language proficiency and cultural understanding they develop make them better-informed citizens of the world, as well as job candidates with highly sought-after skills.
Dr. Donald Dyer, Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages, has teaching and research interests in Slavic and Balkan linguistics and language in contact. He is the editor of Balkanistica, a peer-reviewed journal of Balkan studies, and Romance Monographs, a journal dedicated to Romance languages and literatures.
-
Dobro Slovo National Slavic Honor Society
In 1990, the Gamma Omicron chapter of the National Slavic Honor Society–Dobro Slovo–was established at UM. Inductions are held annually and the membership currently numbers just over 200. Every year the Russian program invites students who have completed Russian at the 300-level and demonstrated outstanding academic achievements to be inducted into Dobro Slovo.
Dobro Slovo National Slavic Honor Society
Welcome to our Russian Language Program
Our language program is designed to immerse you in the rich culture, language, and traditions of Russia. Whether you are a beginner or looking to enhance your skills, our engaging language program, comprehensive resources, and dedicated teaching staff will guide you on your journey. Join us to explore the beauty of the Russian language and its vibrant heritage!
Valentina Boris Iepuri
Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Meet the Faculty
Donald Dyer
- Associate Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages
Valentina Iepuri
- Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Tamara Karakozova
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Russian
Ala Simonchyk
- Instructional Associate Professor of Linguistics
Featured Courses
Russ 111: Intensive Elementary Russian
Students develop proficiency in elementary Russian with cultural information about the Russian-speaking world. They earn 6 credit hours and attend class each day of the week.
Russ 411: Political Russian
Students develop their language skills using Russian mass media, expanding their socio-political vocabulary, advanced grammar structures, and cultural awareness. It covers topics encountered in mass media such as government and politics, business and economics, and armed conflicts. Students also learn about Russian print and broadcast media as they use the Internet, print media, and video reports about current events.
Sofia Diaz
What did you enjoy most about studying Russian?
See Sofia’s AnswerBeyond the Classroom
Russian Conversation Group
Join our weekly informal conversation group to practice your Russian, meet new friends, caffeinate your body, and exercise your mind.
— Tuesday 3:00-4:00p @ Bondurant C005A
Russian Club
The Russian Club at is a student organization that welcomes students of all Russian-language levels and anyone with an interest in Russian language, Russian and East Slavic history and culture. Our events include:
- Meetings with visitors from Russia and other former USSR countries
- Student presentations about their study abroad programs
- Russian poetry readings
- Russian film nights
- Celebration of Russian and East Slavic national holidays
- Russian food cooking workshops
- Participation in international festivals
- Students getting together to speak Russian, learn Russian songs, or practice Russian tongue-twisters
Study Abroad
We encourage all of our students to immerse themselves in the study abroad experience. The Study Abroad Office offers programs to study Russia in countries around the world.
Outstanding Student Awards
| Year | Outstanding Russian Language Students |
| 2024 | 100: Samuel Lee Achord 200: Eli T. Keel 300: Tyden Joshua Kortman 400: Jackson Shannon McArthur |
| 2023 | 100 Level: Jose Andres Cepeda Santiago 200 Level: Kimberly Jeanne Ridley 300 Level: Benjamin Patrick Achord 400 Level: Sophia Toner |
| 2022 | 100 Level: Lauren Mein 200 Level: Ashlyn Kofford 300 Level: Jackson Shannon McArthur 400 Level: David Brian McDonald |
| 2021 | 100 Level: Eric William Marks 200 Level: Jackson Shannon Smith 300 Level: Elizabeth Lucile Smith 400 Level: David Brian McDonald 500 Level: Olivia Nicole Meyers |
| 2020 | 100 Level: Elizabeth Lucile Smith 200 Level: Lily Nguyen 300 Level: Connor Jacob Donlen 400 Level: Harrison Marcel Durland 500 Level: Jillian Sage Vice |
| 2019 | Mary Frances Holland (Honors Day) |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | Annelise Albert, Mary Albert, Kathryn Johnston, Nicole Thraser |
| 2015 | Annalise Kay Albert (Honors Day), Kathryn Johnston, Lidia Caroline McGuire, Taylor Nicole Thrasher, Ariyl Onstott, Connor Alexander Yackels |
| 2014 | Brad Alexander Gordon (Honors Day), Arpi Grigoryan, Madison Steward |
| 2013 | Timothy Sean Ray (Honors Day), Brad Alexander Gordon, Isaac Lichlyter, Rebecca Elizabeth Pocase, Arpi Karen Grigoryan |
| 2012 | Christopher Bond Finseth (Honors Day), Arpi Grigoryan, Brad Gordon, Carley Rodgers, Vihara Dharmaratne |
| 2011 | Tyler Lenny Firth (Honors Day), Christopher Finseth, Sean Ray, Carley Rodgers |
| 2010 | Matthew Judson Stephenson (Honors Day), Kira Thomas, Timothy Ray, Tyler Firth, Jessica Ann Beck |
| 2009 | Matthew Judson Stephenson (Honors Day), Jane Gilder, Tyler Firth, Paul Clark, Rachel West |
| 2008 | Dustin Cody Bankston (Honors Day), Matthew Judson Stephenson, Jessica Ann Beck, Diana Madrigal |
| 2007 | Jennifer Teresa Harkins (Honors Day), Elizabeth Anne Baker, Jessica Beck, Alyosha Downing, Diana Madrigal, Graham Purcell, Matthew Stephenson |
| 2007 | Jennifer Teresa Harkins (Honors Day), Elizabeth Anne Baker, Jessica Beck, Alyosha Downing, Diana Madrigal, Graham Purcell, Matthew Stephenson |
| 2006 | |
| 2005 | Jenna Leigh Ann James (First Year), Erin Renee Burnett (Second Year), Felicia Miel Rabey (Third Year), Sara Schreiber Osadov (Fourth Year) |
| 2004 | Erin Renee Burnett (First Year), Thomas Daniel Booth (Second Year), Jonmichel Seman (Third Year), Donna Ann Duncan (Third Year), Sara Scheiber Osadov (Fourth Year) |
| 2003 | Felicia Miel Rabey (First Year), Donna Ann Duncan (Second Year), Donald Keith Boyd, Jr. (Third Year), Jeffrey Clark Boyce (Third Year), Robert Emmett Kelly (Fourth Year) |
| 2002 | Jennifer Rose Hayes (First Year), Matthew Christopher Straatman (Second Year), Christopher Kazumi Lamont (Third Year), Damir Mehmedic (Fourth Year) |
| 2001 | Nathan Shefveland (First Year), Ernest Donald Ross (Second Year), Robert Lane Simmons (Second Year), James William Hopson (Third Year), Shay Hitchcock (Fourth Year) |
| 2000 | Christopher Kazumi Lamont (First Year), Shay Hitchcock (Second Year), James Harry Knight III (Third Year), Courtney Lee Lane (Third Year), Stanley Michael Clark (Fourth Year) |
Year | Award |
| 2021 | Jackson McArthur: Bronze Medal A1 Olivia Myers: Bronze Medal A3 Martha McCafferty: Bronze Medal A3 Karina Bundy: Silver Medal B1 |
| 2020 | Martha Hamilton McCafferty: Category A Level 3 Gold Medal |
| 2019 | Connor Donlen: Category A Non-Heritage Learners Level 1: Gold Medal ACTR Russian Scholar Laureate Award: Mary Frances Holland |
| 2018 | Amy Camille Cain: Category A Level 2: Bronze Medal Veronika Andreevna Arkhipova: Category C Level 4 Heritage learners: Silver Medal |
| 2014 | Sarah Brettin: Honorable Mention, Category A, Level 1 Brent Eubanks: Honorable Mention, Category A, Level 1 Charles Moser: Honorable Mention, Category A, Level 1 Brad Gordon: First Place, Category A, Level 3 Dennis Artischev: Honorable Mention, Category C, Level 1 Arpi Grigoryan: First Place, Category C, Level 3 |
| 2013 | Caroline Lyell: Honorable Mention, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 2 Timur Brodskiy: Second Place, Heritage Learners, Level 2 |
| 2012 | Chelsea Dickinson: Second Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 1 Caroline Lyell: Honorable Mention, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 1 Elizabeth Rose Williamson: Non-Heritage Learners, Level 1 Timur Brodskiy: Second Place, Heritage Learners, Level 2 Arpi Karen Grigoryan: Second Place, Heritage Learners, Level 3 |
| 2011 | Matthew Judson Stephenson: First Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 3 Diana Kapanzhi: Heritage Learners, Level 2 |
| 2010 | Matthew Judson Stephenson: First Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 4 |
| 2009 | Matthew Judson Stephenson: First Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 3 |
| 2008 | Dustin Cody Bankston: First Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 4 Alexsandra Murray: Second Place, Heritage Learners, Level 2 Matthew Judson Stephenson: Third Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 1 Jessica Ann Beck: Honorable Mention, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 1 |
| 2007 | Alexsandra Murray: Third Place, Heritage Learners, Level 2 Nika V. Koukhartchouk: Third Place, Heritage learners, Level 3 |
| 2006 | Dustin Cody Bankston: Second Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 4 Elizabeth Baker: Honorable Mention, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 2 |
| 2002 | Donna Duncan: Second Place, Non-Heritage Learners, Level 1 |
| Year | Award |
| 2021 | CARTA Poetry Recital Contest 3rd Place: Jackson McArthur |
| 2007 | CARTA Essay Contest: Elizabeth Baker |