Why study Russian at BGSU in Ohio?
- Highly-skilled educators. Our award-winning world language and cultures faculty leverages their wealth of scholarship, research and real-world experience to ensure each student excels.
- Study abroad. Immersion is one of the best teachers. That’s why BGSU prioritizes study abroad experiences for our students.
- On-campus resources. Our on-campus learning resources include expansive university libraries and student language clubs.
- Ample scholarship opportunities. BGSU students have so many scholarship prospects – for specific degree programs, international travel or study abroad opportunities.
- Hands-on experiences. Experiential learning is a core focus of the world languages and cultures degree program. BGSU offers service learning classes, the Global Village learning community, field trips, research opportunities and more!
- BGSU Peace Corps Prep Program. The BGSU Peace Corps Prep Program is a 15-credit, 3-course study concentration that offers students a chance to be a part of life-changing (and resume-boosting) international outreach and aid operations.
- Career connections. Our impressive alumni network includes professionals at prominent universities, major corporations and elite government agencies such as the FBI.
- Get hired! Graduates of the BGSU B.A. in world languages and cultures degree program bring essential skills to the global job market. Employers across industries recognize them as stand-out workers with exceptional abilities to communicate across cultures, think critically and ethically adapt to diverse environments with social awareness.
- BGSU Russian Club. Learn more about Russian culture through games, music, films, food and more.
Second language acquisition can boost salary and job prospects by as much as 35%.
– Empirica
#1 public university in Ohio for career prep
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Career - what can you do with a Russian degree?
The need for individuals competent in Russian is expanding rapidly in both the public and private sectors. Despite opportunities opening up for Americans with Russian language skills, the number of qualified candidates is declining. Therefore, BGSU graduates proficient in Russian have good career prospects.
Students are prepared for such fields as intercultural communications consulting, international business management, international trade, law, library science, politics, teaching, translation and travel.
Some of these fields require additional professional training, but international specialization in these fields is impossible without Russian language and culture skills.
Career paths
- International finance and banking
- Healthcare provider
- International trade
- Journalism
- Art curator
- Translator
- Intelligence analyst
- Diplomat
- International lawyer
- Teacher/professor
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
Students can take courses with no previous knowledge of Russian or receive advanced placement if they have sufficient background in the language. The four-year Russian language and culture core program features intermediate to advanced-level courses in reading, translation and Russian for business and journalism. The program also has six culture and literature courses – in English and Russian. Film and poetry courses are available as well.
World languages and cultures majors who specialize in Russian may choose to compete in the Undergraduate Russian Language Olympiada. This competition is an opportunity for Russian language students from all over Ohio to practice and show off their Russian speaking skills.
You also have the chance to direct your independent research into Russian culture and its manifestations in arts, family and social life, folkways and religion of the region.
Mastery of independent thinking skills is encouraged by frequent undergraduate research projects. Many students have published papers, presentations and conference posters to their names when they graduate.
Sample courses
- Elementary Language and Culture
- Russian Studio
- Russian Culture
- Introduction to Russian Literature
- Contemporary Eastern European Societies and Cultures
- Post-Communist Russia
BGSU Russian students have medalled in the Undergraduate Russian Language Olympiada.
Study Abroad
Bowling Green students can study Russian abroad with several reputable national organizations. One such organization BGSU partners with is SRAS. It offers programs in countries neighboring the Russian Federation. Search “sras” on BGSU’s Education Abroad program search site.
#1 university in Ohio – big or small, public or private – students would choose again
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The world languages and cultures program with a specialization in Russian is part of the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.
Updated: 12/04/2025 09:58AM