Russian

Few places on the planet offer more to study than Russia, home to more than 1,000 years of documented history and 193 ethnic groups spread over 11 time zones that collectively occupy one of every nine square feet of Earth’s land mass. The Russian major is largely focused on learning the Russian language, spoken by 80% of the country’s 145 million people.

• Russian majors are expected to be in great demand in the coming years. The U.S. State Department has identified Russian as a Critical Need Language.
• Among the Study Away programs available to Wake Forest students is Math in Moscow.

The Russian degree is offered as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a minor.

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Our model and curriculum educate the whole person and often help students discover interests they had never previously discovered. Students generally take 100-200 level courses during their first year of college, while registering for higher level courses as upperclassmen.

Sample courses that you may take as a Russian major include:

* Courses listed above are offered during the current academic year. Course availability and offerings can change at any time. Refer to the Academic Bulletin to view all major requirements.

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Majoring in a foreign language provides you with many of the skills in which employers are interested, although securing a job that uses your foreign language skills can be challenging. With the exception of positions in translating, interpreting or teaching, in most cases at the entry level your language fluency is seen as a secondary skill, an asset.

One option many foreign language students pursue is taking a semester to study abroad in a foreign speaking country. This will give you not only a better handle of the language, but if you are intentional with your time abroad a number of future job connections. Other possibilities to get your feet wet are available with international volunteer organizations that require translators in the field. On the local level, Wake Forest has connections with volunteer clinics and community centers in need of interpreters.

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Joining a club or organization is a great way to get involved and do more with your major. Our Russian program students participate in the following programs:

• Center for Global Programs and Studies

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Careers that often interest Russian majors, and fields our graduates work in, include:

• Editor/Proofreader
• Educator
• Foreign Service Officer
• Interpreter
• Journalist
• Language Engineer
• Lexicographer
• Librarian
• Linguist
• Missionary
• Social worker
• Technical writer
• Translator

Graduates majoring in Russian have gone on to a wide variety of careers including Russian and Eurasian issues policy in the U.S. State Department.