Russian

The US and Russia have had a tenuous relationship since the fall of the Berlin wall more than 20 years ago. But maintaining any kind of relationship is an improvement from their interactions during days of the Cold War. For that reason, the dramatic history and changing culture of Russia capture the interest of many Americans. Thus, they choose Russian as their program of study while in college. Students learn how to speak the language through class participation – the best way to become familiar the language is to use it while interacting with people on a daily basis. Of course, this only occurs after they have mastered the basics – like the entirely new alphabet. Russian majors gain cultural insight into Russia by learning about its history and traditions. Many of them get to experience the culture firsthand in study abroad programs. Classes within the major in addition to the language classes include intro to Russian literature, Russian poetry and Russian drama.

After graduation, Russian majors have the ability to find employment overseas in Mother Russia, where they can teach English or work in government. Or they can stay in the States and teach Russian to American students. If they acquired an additional skill during undergrad, perhaps with a double major, they will be extremely marketable to numerous industries. Bilingualism opens up a myriad of opportunities.