USC offers South Carolina’s only BA in Russian, a degree that prepares students for careers dealing with a crucially important region of direct relevance to the United States. Students who major in Russian will learn about Russian culture, history, politics, and society, providing a context with which to understand Russia’s resurgence under Vladimir Putin as a world power challenging the United States. In addition to acquiring a cultural and historical background, students will become proficient in Russian, the seventh most spoken language in the world and one of the official languages of the United Nations. They will also have opportunities to study abroad in Russia and Russian-speaking surrounding nations.
Students studying Russian at USC have been attracted to the program by innovative classes, award-winning teaching, and individual attention; committed faculty dedicated to the success of their students; and engaged and motivated fellow classmates. As Russian is recognized by the U.S. government as a strategic language, the program includes students funded by federal grants from the Air Force, Boren Fellowships, and Critical Language Scholarships. USC Russian majors have gone on to graduate programs at Harvard, Georgetown, and other elite schools.
Students who graduate with a degree in Russian will be equipped with the following skills:
- linguistic proficiency in Russian language
- critical thinking/analytical reasoning
- verbal and written communication in English
- research experience
- ability to work with diverse groups
- global awareness
- cross-cultural literacy
Careers to consider:
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State Department/Government |
Translation and Interpretation |
Advanced Degrees that are especially attractive for students with a background in Russian:
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Security Studies |
Slavic Languages and Literatures |