Minor in Russian
The Russian Program at Howard University offers students a dynamic foundation in Russian language proficiency while introducing them to the rich histories, cultural traditions, and diverse literatures of the Russophone world. We teach our language courses in a structured way, so language learners develop strong communication skills that fulfill the university’s foreign language requirement and prepare them for work in globally connected fields. In addition to language study, we teach Russian and Eurasian history, literature, and culture through a broad selection of courses taught in English, making the program accessible to learners at all levels. The Russian Program is a lively intellectual community committed to preparing students for meaningful engagement with the wider Russophone world.
Contact
Dr. Isabelle Kaplan
Karina McCorkle
Olga Seliazniova
Studying Russian connects you to a global community of more than 250 million speakers worldwide, making it one of the most widely used languages across Eurasia. Because U.S. government agencies identify Russian as a high-demand language critical to national security, international business, and diplomacy, learning it can strengthen career opportunities in both the public and the private sector. Beyond such practical advantages, Russian offers access to a rich cultural landscape of Russophone literature, distinct cultural traditions, and diverse histories. Studying Russian opens pathways to a deeper understanding of the region and the major cultural and historical forces that shape global society.
Most students at Howard University have a foreign language requirement to graduate. Depending on their major, students typically take between two and four semesters of a foreign language. Enrolling in Russian language courses at Howard will count towards fulfilling your foreign language requirement. The sequence for basic Russian language courses is as follows:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| RUSS 001 | Russian I |
| RUSS 002 | Russian II |
| RUSS 003 | Russian III |
| RUSS 004Russian IV | Russian IV |
In addition to language, the Russian Program at Howard offers a variety of courses, taught in English, focusing on Russian culture. These elective courses, which are taught on a rotating schedule, can be taken to satisfy the COAS Division A (Humanities) requirement. They include:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| RUSS 100 | Great Russian Short Stories |
| RUSS 101 | Literature of Revolution |
| RUSS 103 | Love & Hate |
| RUSS 109 | Slavic Mythology |
| RUSS 111 | Classic Cinema |
| RUSS 112 | African Americans & the Soviet Experiment |
| RUSS 131 | Russian Culture and Politics After 1985 |
| RUSS 145 | Russian Culture |
| RUSS 146 | Politics of Culture |
The Russian minor is an excellent way to complement language study with broader knowledge of the cultures, histories, and societies of the Russian-speaking world. Students interested in pursuing a more in-depth exploration of Russian language and culture may choose this track. The minor consists of 15 credit hours beyond the basic language sequence (RUSS 001-004), giving students a structured yet flexible pathway to strengthen their linguistic proficiency and expand their understanding of the region.