Choose to study Russian and you will learn to communicate in a language spoken by over 200 million people in Russia and across Eurasia. From being able to read Dostoevsky in the original to discussing in Russian the politics and environment in Russia and Central Asia, you will gain insights into the rich history and vibrant cultures of the Russian-speaking world.
Participating in PSU's dynamic Russian program, you'll have opportunities to immerse yourself in Russian-speaking communities here in Oregon, where Russian is the third most widely spoken language.
Whether you want to study the Russian language and culture to get in touch with your family's heritage, immerse yourself in Russian culture and arts, or prepare for a career in government or international diplomacy, business, or technology, a bachelor's degree in Russian from Portland State will help you build professional proficiency in the language and gain experience in cross-cultural communication. A bachelor's degree in Russian from Portland State University prepares you for a variety of careers in the Portland Metro-area and all over the world.
PSU's Russian program is designed to help you become wholly immersed in the language. Our small classes help you become proficient in speaking, reading, and writing the language, and our expert faculty have years of experience working with students who are starting from scratch and those who come from Russian-speaking backgrounds. Our instructors will help you build your ability to use Russian so that by graduation you will have the skills to engage with Russian speakers around the world.
In your Russian classes, you'll learn to communicate about topics of personal and public interest, explore major literary figures, their works and legacies, and appreciate the diversity and international scope of Russian culture. The program offers engaging courses in Russian literature, culture, film, history, folklore, and other topics in both English and Russian. If you have studied Russian elsewhere, or grown up speaking Russian, our expert faculty can help you find the right course for your language skills.
You'll also have opportunities to volunteer in and interact with greater Portland's Russian-speaking community, one of the largest in the country, and study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year in Russia or Kazakhstan.
You can also explore whether the Russian Flagship Program is right for you. One of eight federally funded Flagship Programs for Russian in the U.S., PSU's Flagship program allows you to pursue the major of your choice while developing professional proficiency in Russian. In the Russian Flagship Program, you can take specialized courses, work one-on-one with conversation partners, and participate in study abroad programs with generous scholarships.
PSU's Russian program prepares you to graduate with proficiency in the Russian language and with well-honed skills in critical thinking and cross-cultural communication. Russian majors work in a variety of fields, including national security and diplomacy, technical writing, interpretation, translation and localization, international trade and business, education, international development, social work, and publishing.
Recent graduates have found rewarding careers with NASA, the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, Rubicon Atlas, Bolshoi Ballet, Eurasia Foundation, and in academia. Others have used the major as preparation for graduate studies in law, international studies, and Russian studies.