Wesleyan’s interdisciplinary Russian, East European and Eurasian studies (REES) program provides students with an advanced level of fluency in Russian, and knowledge of Russian literature, politics, and history, and their cultural context. A minor is also offered.

REES majors have gone on to careers in academia, business, and law, as well as with philanthropic organizations.

What You'll Study

REES students can choose a major in Russian language and literature (a language and literature track) or Russian and East European studies (social science track).
  • Language and literature track majors must complete three years of college-level Russian, as well as five more courses, three of which must be in literature or culture, one of which must be in either politics and economics or history and religion, and one of which must be either a course or a full-credit tutorial conducted in Russian.
  • Social science track majors must complete two years of college-level Russian, as well as seven more courses, chosen in consultation with an advisor. These courses must include at least one in the category of politics and economics, one in the category of history and religion, and one in the category of literature and culture.
Majors are strongly encouraged to participate in either a summer or a semester program of study in the former Soviet Union.

Minor Requirements

The minor in REES consists of six courses, including two semesters of Russian language study at the appropriate level and four more REES courses, of which one must be taken in each of the three areas of politics and economics, history and religion, and literature and culture.