East European and Russian Studies Department
The purpose of our East European and Russian Studies Program is to offer students, through its academic major and co-curricular offerings, an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to studying Russian civilization.
East European and Russian Studies are as vast as Russia itself. To study Russia is to explore a rich history, culture and politics that explore the best and worst of humankind. Contemporary Russia is an energy and military superpower, and under Putin, one that aspires to expand its influence around the world. Events in contemporary Russia need to be understood against the dramatic background of a millennium-long history, perhaps most dramatically the 20th century experiment with Marxism.
For all these reasons, students must be prepared to understand and interact with Russia on many levels. The East European and Russian Studies Program offers students, through its academic major and co-curricular offerings, an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to studying Russian civilization.
The EERS Department has been designed to provide the theoretical and practical background needed for either post-graduate study in a number of fields or for successful pursuit of a career immediately upon graduation. Three years of Russian, in addition to Russian-related course work from several disciplines such as history, literature, politics, anthropology, and art, are required for completion of the EERS major. Exceptional students may pursue an honors program, which requires a thesis based upon original research. Co-curricular features of the EERS program include a highly developed multi-media language center, Russian library collections for students and faculty research, as well as conversational tables with native Russian-language TA, Russian Theater, Culture Fridays, movie nights, guest speakers, and many more.
Graduates can pursue varied careers in areas such as international journalism, business, law, nonprofit work, film and Slavic studies.
The East European and Russian Studies Program provides vital scholarship support for prestigious programs like the Fulbright research or teaching assistantship program.
To study Russia is to explore a rich history, culture and politics that explore the best and worst of humankind. Russian language has been designated as a critical language of strategic importance. Russia, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land area, borders European and Asian countries as well as the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Natural resources potential of Russia is over 20% of the world’s reserves. Russian culture has a long history, steeped in literature, philosophy. architecture, painting, theatre and classical music. The country has a flavorful material culture and a rich tradition in the sciences, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Russian is the eighth most commonly spoke language in the world and it is one of the five official languages of the UN. Having a working knowledge of Russian helps you succeed in fields including the sciences, art, history, politics, and economics.
Department Info
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Ruscio Center for Global Learning
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450
W&L Outcomes: Tara Trinley ’25
Trinley has accepted an officer commission with the U.S. Army National Guard and plans to attend law school after completing her training.
W&L’s Jack Evans ’25 Awarded Fulbright to Uzbekistan
Evans received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Uzbekistan and plans to pursue a career in national security and diplomacy.
W&L’s Tara Trinley ’25 Earns Fulbright to Moldova
Trinley was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Moldova and plans to pursue a career in transnational litigation.
