Dickinson in RUSSIA

ACADEMICS AND INTERNSHIPS 

Moscow honors its rich cultural traditions in many ways.  Students might visit—or live near—homes of some of the world's best writers, including Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Chekhov. The arts are central to daily life, with inexpensive dance, music and museum tickets that make language and cultural immersion a fist-hand experience. The academic program including the core course Moscow Practicum as well as the homestay program gives students unique educational and cultural opportunities, while improving their Russian language skills.  

At The Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH), Dickinson students take the majority of their classes at the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language, but they are also encouraged to take classes with Russian students. Students also have the opportunity to take courses in English at the Higher School of Economics, which offers courses in economics, business, mathematics, sciences, philosophy, classics, etc. Students typically have three to four classes a day, five days a week. Students also take the Moscow Practicum course with the on-site coordinator, which exposes them to the culture and history of Moscow in a hands-on way. Academic-year students do a research project in the spring semester on a topic of their choosing in conjunction with a relevant course taught at RSUH in Russian. The research project often serves as an opportunity for students to engage with Muscovites through their expertise in a given field/topic or interview. Students also may be able to do an internship in the spring. 

ACADEMIC EXCURSIONS 

The Dickinson in Russia program offers students a full complement of cultural opportunities. Each week students may see exhibits, attend concerts and theatre productions, visit homes of cultural figures and take day trips to see small towns outside of Moscow. Past excursions have gone to St. Petersburg and the cities of the Golden Ring. 

HOUSING AND MEALS 

Russian program participants are housed with Russian families. The families are carefully matched with students for compatibility and all live within commuting distance of the university. Families provide breakfast and dinner and students receive a stipend to cover lunch. 

STAFF 

Irina Filippova, a native of Moscow and expert language and culture teacher, has worked with the program for over a decade. She teaches the core course and advises and supports students. Irina has spent two years at Dickinson teaching in the Russian department. The on-campus coordinator is Associate Professor of Russian Elena Duzs.