Russian Studies

Davidson's Russian Studies Department prepares future leaders for this new era when Putin’s Russia poses an aggressive threat on the world stage, most recently with the unprovoked war against Ukraine.

The U.S. State Department designates Russian a Critical Need language, underscoring the need to train a new generation of Russia experts after decades of neglect since the fall of the Soviet Union. Our graduates enter a world that needs their service in foreign policy, diplomacy, national security, energy, business, NGOs, publishing, and the arts.

We offer a regular sequence of Russian language courses, from beginning through advanced, and a range of surveys and seminars in Russian literature and Russian cultural history. Our students also take courses toward the Russian minor and majors from other departments and programs, including Political Science and Global Literary Theory. Outside the classroom, students have opportunities to engage with Russian through workshops, invited speakers, weekly Russian table, Russian club events, and volunteering in the community to support Ukrainian refugees.