Earn your BA in Russian

The Bachelor of Arts in Russian requires a minimum of 120 semester hours, including 32 semester hours of work for the major earned in Russian courses. Students must maintain a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

Students with previous knowledge of Russian language, should take the World Languages Placement Test (WLPT) to determine the best level for your first enrollment in a language course.

The Russian major leading to the BA degree trains students in both written and spoken Russian and in Russian literature, culture, and civilization. The department encourages students to pursue a second major (e.g., global health, history, linguistics, political science) and to develop their interests in related or complementary fields. Students interested in focusing on a broader interdisciplinary understanding of the region may earn a second major in international studies; see the BA in International Studies.

Coursework Requirements
Course typeHours
Russian language courses20
Russian and East European culture courses12
Total hours32

Teacher licensure

Students interested in teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools should seek admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the College of Education.

Majors must complete designated pedagogy and linguistics courses in the department in addition to the coursework required for their major. 

To qualify for licensure in secondary teaching, students in the TEP complete a degree in education as well as a related College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree. See Teacher Education Program Application and Admission on the College of Education website for details on requirements and deadlines for applying to the College of Education and about TEP choices of majors leading to licensure.

Create your academic path

You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.

Current course list

The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.