Interdisciplinary in its approach

This major was created to give the student at Wittenberg the opportunity to study the complicated fabric of Russian society through an interdisciplinary approach. Thus, Russian civilization, economics, geography, history, language, literature, political science and sociology are synthesized in tis program.

Wittenberg is able to offer some of the finest study abroad opportunities in Russia, among them on-site study in Kiev, Minsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, and more. Intensive study of the Russian language can be pursued at Middlebury College and Indiana University over the summer. With enough language proficiency, you may choose to take classes at Wittenberg taught entirely in Russian.

Our expertise and experience come from regularly conducted research in Russia, publishing, and addressing professionals and students around the U.S. Extensive resources available and Russian periodicals at the Thomas Library.

Degrees offered

B.A.: Russian Area Studies
Minor: Russian Area Studies

Courses

• 491: Internship
• 499: Honors Thesis/Project

Economics

• 231: European Economic History
• 490: Independent Study

Geography

• 250: Regional Geography: Post- Soviet Realm
• 380: Topics
• 490: Independent Study

History

• 251: History of Russia to 1917
• 252: History of Russia since 1917
• 390: Reading Colloquium
• 490: Independent Study

Political Science

• 204: Russian Politics
• 352: Russian Foreign Policy
• 490: Independent Study

Russian Language and Literature

• 111: Elementary Russian I
• 112: Elementary Russian II
• 205: Readings in Russian Culture
• 210: Beginning Conversation and Composition
• 230: Topics Course in Russian Literature in Translation
• 260: Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature in Translation
• 261: Twentieth-Century Russian Literature in Translation
• 310: Advanced Conversation and Composition
• 490: Independent Study in Russian

Russian Area Studies

• 490: Independent Study

Sociology

• 390: Post-Soviet Societies and Cultures
• 490: Independent Study

Facilities

Wittenberg’s multimedia foreign language classroom has 27 computer stations, each loaded with programs that allow students to speak, write, listen and read in Russian. Some programs help with vocabulary, grammar and reading skills while others help with composition.

Faculty

George E. Hudson, professor and director (Political Science), Russian politics, Russian foreign policy, Russian national security affairs

Olga L. Medvedkov, professor (Geography), geography of the post-Soviet realm, Russian urban geography

Joseph E. O’Connor, professor (History), Russian and Soviet history of former Yugoslavia

Jerry G. Pankhurst, professor (Sociology), post-Soviet societies, religion in Russia and successor states

David M. Wishart, associate professor (Economics), comparative economic systems, natural resources economics

Lila W. Zaharkov, associate professor (Foreign Languages and Literatures), Russian language, literature and culture

Opportunities

Our students have taken internships with businesses in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod and Odessa.

Students interested in study abroad often pursue studies in cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Vladimir, Minsk, and Kiev, among others.

Placement

Recent first jobs include:

• Markewitz and Naughton, business analyst
• U.S. Army, Russian language specialist
• George & Phillips, sales associate
• Goldman Sachs & Co., sales/trading assistant

Wittenberg graduates also often attend law schools. In recent years our majors have attended:

• Case Western University
• Michigan State University
• The Ohio State University

Ten years after graduating, our majors were in jobs such as:

• Wright Patterson Air Force Base, environmental specialist
• U.S. State Department, foreign service officer
• San Francisco law firm, immigration attorney
• Cleveland Council on World Affairs, international program officer
• Key Bank, vice president of human resources

Get involved

Our Russian Area Studies students attend colloquia; participate in round-table discussions; have meetings with Russian politicians, playwrights, artists; and take trips to see Russian theatre and movies.