Russian Area Studies Minor
Get an interdisciplinary background in the history, culture, and contemporary politics of a critically important region of the world.
18 Credit Hours for Minor
Russian History Courses (9 Hours)
Russian Politics (3 Hours)
Russian Literature and Culture (3 Hours)
Independent Study (3 Hours)
What You'll Study
To earn a minor in Russian area studies, students must complete six approved courses in history, political science, religion and culture, modern languages and literatures, or English, including a senior essay written under the direction of a faculty member.
If you are preparing for graduate study or planning a career in government service, international business, journalism, teaching, or development work, we strongly encourage you to pursue a minor in Russian language as well.
Related Links
Beyond the Classroom
What's the best way to learn about Russian culture?
Going there to experience it person. Each year, the Russian Language Program takes a group of students abroad in conjunction with ROTC Project GO. In 2013, sophomore Courtney Howell and seven fellow Hokies took courses in Russian language and customs and saw famous sights. Courtney drew on these experiences when she did research for her Soviet History course blog.
Undergraduate Research
Students in Dr. Amy Nelson's Soviet History course used databases and open web sources to create and curate digital portfolios on topics of their choosing, such as the Space Race and Eastern Orthodoxy. The results of their semester-long research projects were displayed in an exhibition in Newman Library.
Contact Us
For more information or to add this minor to your Virginia Tech course of study, please contact: