Howard University is the only Historically Black University with a Russian Studies Program. Howard University offers a Russian language minor which includes coursework in the areas of history, social sciences, and culture.
Students also participate in a wide range of events and activities offered in the Washington, D. C. area, including internships, presentations at think tanks and government institutions. Students can also take advanced level coursework at Georgetown, George Washington, and American universities through our consortium agreement.
Need additional information on the Russian Studies program? Contact the program coordinator.
Russian Area Study Minors at Howard University enjoy access to an incredible number of research opportunities. Outside of access to Library of Congress, the foremost library for Russian Area Studies research in the United States, students can sample different areas of disciplines through the Consortium of Universities in the Washington Metropolitan Area, which includes American University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, George Mason University, and University of Maryland at College Park. Students who show interest are also invited to participate in a variety of research experiences, including presenting research projects at the Midwest Slavic Conference at Ohio State University. Students can also apply to summer study programs in Russian language study or special study programs that help prepare students to undertake graduate study in the field. Students can develop a full background in interdisciplinary study subjects.
For any questions regarding the Russian Minor program, contact Dr. B. Amarilis Lugo de Fabritz, Ph. D., program coordinator.
What are the credit requirements?
The Russian Minor at Howard University requires 18 credit hours beyond the 004 level of language, which can be completed taking courses on Russian language, literature and culture.
Two types of courses can count towards a Russia Minor. One type, which requires no approval by the program coordinator, are those offered by the Department of World Languages and Cultures. The second type requires approval ahead of time by the program coordinator and are described below.
What courses can cover the Russian Minor requirement?
a) Courses offered by the Department of World Languages and Culture
REQUIRES RUSSIAN MINOR COORDINATOR APPROVAL
b) Courses offered by the Political Science department (POLS 166. Russian Politics. 3 crs. An examination of post communist Russia and the international and domestic forces that gave rise to it. The course explores Russian’s foreign and domestic policies and the CIS system. Prerequisites: POLS 003 and 1POLS 28) or the History department (HIST 152. Russia to 1917. 3 crs. Emphasizes social, political, economic, and intellectual trends within Russia against both a European and world context. HIST 153. Russia Since 1917. 3 crs. Continuation of HIST 152 with emphasis on the Soviet Union.)
c) Courses in Russian language, literature, culture, and area studies offered through the Consortium of Universities of of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
d) Courses in Russian language, literature, culture, and area studies offered through approved study abroad.
Students are highly encouraged to engage in study abroad in the Russian-speaking world. You should consult the program coordinator, Dr. Lugo de Fabritz, to see which program best fits your interests.
Howard University Russian Minors have the opportunity to engage in world class research opportunities. From having access to the Library of Congress, the foremost library for research in Russian Area Studies in the United States, students can also taste different disciplines through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, which includes Georgetown University, American University, George Washington University, George Mason University, and University of Maryland College Park. Students also have the opportunity to present research at research conferences such as the Midwest Slavic Conference, at Ohio State University, the regional affiliate for the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES). Interested students can also apply to summer study programs in language area study, as well as intensive summer preparation to apply for graduate study in the field. Students can explore a variety of disciplines through the Russian Minor program.
Howard University's Russian Minor Program has undertaken a grant funded major national mentorship project for undergraduates of diverse backgrounds in the area of Russian and Slavic studies. The first round of the project involved three different projects.
Undergraduate Area Studies Professional and Academic Conference, Fall 2019
Professional Administrative and Strategic Planning Conference and Professional Opportunities Panel, Spring 2020
Undergraduate Intercollegiate Digital Humanities Think Tank and Cybersecurity Simulation, Fall 2020
Howard University's Russian Minor program is proud to present the final projects for the Howard University Digital Humanities Think Tank project. Students from eight institutions of higher learnings came together as teams to put together these digital humanities projects dealing with a broad range of historical and social topics -- from Soviet internationalism, to gender relations, to the rise of Putin.
Analyzing History and Themes of Ethnic Groups in Soviet Films. -- Elly Haljiti and Alondra Obispo
This report was part of the Howard University -- US Russia Foundation Digital Humanities Undergraduate Think Tank. Students worked with faculty mentors from across the country and presented their research at the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies 2020 National Conference.
B. Amarilis Lugo de Fabritz, Ph. D. is the Master Instructor for Russian language and literature in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Dr. Knickmeier-Cummings is the Lecturer in Russian language and literature at the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
