SLU’s major in Russian studies requires 30 credit hours of upper-division courses, including those in history, politics, literature, and theology or philosophy. Students quickly immerse themselves in Russian language, literature, film and culture by analyzing a wide range of issues, attending cultural events and conducting digital research for independent projects as early as their first semester in the program. Working with the departments of English, history, political science and theological studies, students in the Russian studies program can develop their interests across the College of Arts and Sciences.

SLU's Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures cooperates with the Center for Intercultural Studies, the Catholic Studies Centre, and the Russian and East European Area Studies program to support lectures, exhibits, conferences and other cultural events on campus. The Russian program supports cultural events and honors society inductions every year.

Our students have explored Russia’s vast landscape in programs taking them from St. Petersburg to Siberia as they attempt to master this language identified as critical by the U.S. government. Several students have spent a summer or semester in the SLU-sponsored program at Smolny College in St. Petersburg through Bard College.