First year Russian students gathering together and singing a song.

Russian

Welcome to the Russian Language Program at Columbia University

Добро пожаловать! Welcome!

The Russian Language Program at Columbia University offers students the opportunity to develop advanced language proficiency while exploring the rich cultures, histories, and societies of the Russian-speaking world. Whether you are beginning your study of Russian, continuing from previous coursework, or growing up with Russian as a heritage language, our program provides a supportive and intellectually engaging environment for every learner.

What We Offer

Our curriculum includes:

  • Four levels of Russian language instruction, from beginner to advanced
  • A dedicated course designed specifically for Russian Heritage Speakers
  • A range of content courses taught in Russian, covering literature, film, music, and contemporary Russian society
  • An intensive Summer Russian Practicum, allowing students to complete the equivalent of two semesters of language study in just eight weeks

Students who complete Russian courses also fulfill Columbia University's language requirement.

A Program for Every Learner

We are committed to helping every student achieve their language-learning goals. Our curriculum is informed by current research in second language acquisition and language pedagogy, while our instructors bring extensive teaching experience and a strong commitment to student success.

We are especially proud of our course for Russian Heritage Speakers. In its 2017 report Investing in Language Education for the 21st Century, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognized Columbia University's Russian for Heritage Speakers course as a pedagogical model that can be adapted by other institutions across the United States and applied to the teaching of additional heritage languages.

Student Achievement

Our undergraduate Russian program enjoys a national reputation for excellence.

Since 2003, Columbia students have participated annually in the ACTR National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest, consistently earning numerous national awards, including Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. In addition, each year one outstanding graduating senior is recognized as the ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate, honoring exceptional enthusiasm for and dedication to Russian language and culture.

We are always proud to celebrate our students' accomplishments and the many paths they pursue through Russian language study.

A Tradition of Excellence

The study of Slavic languages at Columbia has a distinguished history. First established as the Department of Slavonic Languages in 1915 and reorganized as the Department of East European Languages in 1935, the department assumed its present direction in 1946 with the establishment of the Russian (now Harriman) Institute through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. Today, the Department of Slavic Languages offers instruction in Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Czech, Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Learn More

For current course offerings and schedules, please consult Vergil.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Russian Language Program at Columbia University.

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