Why Russian?

Why should you study Russian now? The reasons to study Russian have changed considerably over the past twenty years, and they continue to change. Yet there is a timeless value in studying Russian and Russian culture. The Dickinson College Russian Department believes in educating its students to appreciate both the modern and classic value that the Russian language has to offer.
 
A Whole New World 

Less than twenty years ago, the Soviet Union was the "Evil Empire." Communist Russia and the United States were the two superpowers of the world, glaring at one another across sharp ideological and political lines. In the 1980s, following Gorbachev's "openness," all that began to change. After the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, these modern times mark the beginning of a new, capitalist era for Russia. 


 
Today Russia is our ally, though its culture is somewhat removed from that of western tradition. Monumental changes have swept through the country in the past decade, changes that can only be rivaled by those that accompanied the Russian Revolution nearly a century ago. To study Russia now is to study a process of metamorphosis unprecedented in world history. 


 
Timeless Mystery of Russia 

Despite these tremendous political, economical and ideological shifts, Russia remains a land of magic and mystery. As Winston Churchill once said, Russia is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside a conundrum." This mystery, this enigmatic nature– this Russian soul– has been something that has inspired people to study Russia for centuries. Russia is a country rich in complexities, glimmering with subtlety, and always distinctly invested in its own essence.  A country that values and upholds its cultural treasures, Russia has a long and fascinating history. Russian language is equally rich, sparkling, and soulful, and Russian writers hold a unique place in the canon of world literature. 


 
Why study Russian? Some reasons never change: Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Chagall, Kandinsky, Ballanchine, Nijinsky. Furthermore, the artistic life of modern Russia is proving itself to be just as vibrant as the years past. 


 
Is Studying Russian Practical? 

The skills you will acquire studying Russian are especially critical and versatile in current times. Decades ago, when the United States and the Soviet Union held each other in suspicion, travel to Russia was difficult to arrange. Now there are a numerous opportunities to study in Russia, and endless ways to get to know this wonderful and mysterious country. Dickinson College's program,  Dickinson in Moscow, provides not only an intensive summer study-abroad program, but also programs for the spring or fall semester, or for the academic year. Dickinson's programs are entering their 15th year, and recently began a close relationship with the Russian State University of the Humanities. With so many newly opened doors between Russia and the United States, studying Russian provides numerous opportunities. 


 
There are many possibilities to use Russian language in the greater world, and the job opportunities for students of Russian are constantly expanding. Of course, there are still considerable opportunities for employment with such United States governmental agencies as the CIA, the FBI, the State Department, and the NSA. Furthermore, the 1990s saw a huge growth in opportunities in the private sector, in such fields as business, marketing, and finance. A huge number of modern travel possibilities that afford visitation between Russia and the West have given rise to jobs in tourism and  the administration of travel-abroad programs. International exchange organizations (such as the American Council of Teachers of Russian) regularly post opportunities to work, teach, and volunteer abroad. You can also check out the web pages of The Moscow Times  or The St. Petersburg Times  for specific job advertisements. READ MORE  on why study Russian now. 


 
Read what our current students say.


 
For information about what some Dickinson College graduates are doing with their Russian degrees, visit our alumni page.