The department offers a full program of study in Russian language and literature and a range of other courses on the languages, culture, and history of Eastern Europe.
Russian study encompasses a broad discipline that touches on many others.
The rich heritage of Russia includes much that is fundamental to Western culture. For example, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov probe philosophical, social, political, and psychological issues that are central to the 20th-century experience. Courses in Russian literature open up the artistry and ideas of this intellectual tradition. At this time, of course, Russian study has obvious practical significance as well. Nonmajors as well as prospective specialists are served by the department's courses.