BA in Russian in Columbus United States | Ohio State University

Russian ranks as the world's sixth most widely spoken language, boasting 164 million native speakers and an additional 114 million who speak it as a second language. These speakers reside not only in Russia but also throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and in diaspora communities worldwide. As the tongue of a globally influential culture, Russian has produced remarkable contributions to literature, arts, music, scientific advancement, technological innovation, and athletic achievement - all of which have earned international recognition. Moreover, Russia's historical legacy, domestic affairs, and international relations profoundly shape world events, prompting the U.S. government to designate Russian as a priority language. At the undergraduate level, the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures provides a Russian major with two specialization options: Russian language studies or Russian literature, culture, and film studies. Both programs equip students with Russian communication skills, cultural understanding, and enhanced analytical, interpretive, and writing abilities.