About Russian and Slavic
Studying Russian and Slavic in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at Florida State University provides students with a strong proficiency in Russian, with courses ranging from elementary to advanced Russian, and a thorough grounding in Ukrainian, with elementary and intermediate Ukrainian courses.
The language track also offers wide-ranging surveys of the customs, folklores, and literatures of the Slavic world, from Russia and Ukraine to the Balkans. Courses are taught in English translation as well as in Russian.
The Russian and Slavic track emphasizes professional and academic training. Former students are employed with the FBI, U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. They have been accepted into prestigious Ph.D. programs in linguistics and Slavic languages and literatures, as well as M.A. programs in Russian and East European studies, international affairs, linguistics and media studies. They have received internships with the U.S. Department of State and the FBI, scholarships from the U.S. Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Fulbright Awards, Boren Scholarships, Critical Language Scholarships and Pickering Fellowships. Others are employed in consulting and management positions in the private sector in Europe and the U.S.
The B.A. in Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers a major and minor in Russian. Students gain a strong proficiency in Russian, with courses ranging from elementary to advanced Russian. The major and minor also offer wide-ranging surveys of the cultures, folklores, and literatures of the Slavic world, from Russia and Ukraine to the Balkans. Culture, folklore, and literature courses are taught in English translation as well as in Russian, and in some courses with focus on the Ukrainian language.
[EFFECTIVE FALL 2025]:*
(*for students enrolled in the major prior to fall 2025, please consult the Academic Program Guide and for questions contact our undergraduate advising team).
Russian Major (30 hours total)
Core Requirements (6 hours)
- LIN 2004 World Languages
- FOW 2100 Literature and the World
Russian Major Requirements (24 hours)
Required Courses (9 hours):
- RUS2330 Russian Grammar and Popular Culture
- RUS3400 Conversation and Composition
- RUS3420 Russian Grammar and Composition
Elective Coursework (15 hours):
Students will complete 15 credit hours at the upper-division in electives.
- A minimum of 3 credit hours of SLL coursework at the 4000-level
- A minimum of 3 credit hours of RUS coursework at the 4000-level, excluding RUS4905 and RUS4930
- A minimum of 3 credit hours of Russian Literature coursework (RUW) at the 4000-level
- No more than 6 credit hours 3000-level RUT or SLL courses taught in English will count towards the Russian major
Russian Minor
The Russian minor allows students to create their own interdisciplinary program of Russian and Slavic studies, focusing on Russian language, culture courses in English, or anything in between.
12 semester hours in Russian and/or Slavic (RUS, RUT, RUW, and SLL) numbered above 1999 are required for the Russian minor. Credit earned in meeting the foreign language requirement for graduation may not be used in satisfying the minor.