
Bachelor of Arts in in Russian and Eurasian Studies
Fairfax, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2024
TUITION FEES
USD 4,897 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for International student | Domestic student is 1st of February
** in-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 16,980 - out-of-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 1,803 - mandatory student fee
Introduction
Russia and the countries of Eurasia have been and will continue to be, of paramount importance to U.S. national interests. This region is the source of world-class literature and some of the finest traditions in the visual and performing arts. Immigration from this region has brought to the U.S. outstanding artists, dancers, musicians, writers, scientists, athletes, and entrepreneurs, whose innovative influences reach deep into American cultural life.
In this major, you will take courses with professors who are recognized experts in their fields. You will study the Russian language, spoken worldwide by some 250 million people, while also acquiring a foundational knowledge of the history, culture, literature, politics, sociology, economics, and geography of the region. Mason’s degree program is notably flexible, enabling you to focus your interests on one of three concentrations: Russian Studies, Russian Language and Culture, and Eurasia Studies.
Mason’s proximity to Washington, DC makes it a great place for you to study Russia and Eurasia. Mason students have held internships in several agencies and organizations, including the Department of State, Institute of World Politics, Library of Congress, American Councils for International Education, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
We encourage our students to apply for competitive scholarships to support study abroad and have had many receive prestigious scholarships, including the Critical Language Scholarship, Fulbright-Hays awards, and the Boren Scholarship.
- The Russian Language and Culture concentration emphasizes courses in the Russian language, literature, culture, and civilization, with a small number of courses required in history and the social sciences. This concentration offers four years of Russian and is designed for students whose primary focus is on developing advanced proficiency in the Russian language.
- The Russia Studies concentration emphasizes courses on the history, culture, cinema, politics, and sociology of Russia and the former Soviet Union, and requires fewer courses in the Russian language.
- The Eurasia Studies concentration emphasizes courses on the history and politics of the countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus region, and the countries of Eastern Europe. The language requirement in this concentration is similar to Russian Studies but allows the option of substituting a relevant Eurasian language for Russian.
Program Outcome
- Demonstrate a general knowledge of area studies approaches to understanding the Russia/Eurasia region. This knowledge will include but is not limited to literature and culture, history, and social sciences approach to the study of the region.
- Write logically, clearly, concisely, and correctly in English in a variety of area studies fields related to the Russia/Eurasia region.
- Analyze critically a variety of written, visual, and performance media related to the Russia/Eurasia region including but not limited to: primary and secondary historical sources, literature, visual arts, film, social science source material, etc.
- Demonstrate oral language mastery at a minimum Level 2 (Intermediate Low) or in the Russian Language and Culture concentration a minimum level of 2+ (Intermediate High) on the proficiency scale developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) in speaking Russian or another Eurasia-related language.
- Demonstrate reading language mastery at a minimum Level 2 (Intermediate Low) or in the Russian Language and Culture concentration a minimum level of 2+ (Intermediate High) on the proficiency scale developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) in reading Russian or another Eurasia-related language, a level sufficient to make use of original language materials (journals, newspapers, and so forth) for acquiring information and general research purposes.
- Demonstrate written language mastery at a minimum Level 2 (Intermediate Low) or in the Russian Language and Culture concentration a minimum level of 2+ (Intermediate High) on the proficiency scale developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) in writing Russian or another Eurasia-related language.
Career Opportunities
This major prepares you for a wide range of career options in the private sector, government, and education. Our graduates are employed in U.S. firms that sell goods and services to Russia, in political consulting firms, technology companies, environmental organizations, and in many agencies of the U.S. government. Other graduates have continued their education in graduate school or law school.
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
Students pursuing this degree complete the requirements for one of the available concentrations.
Concentration in Eurasia Studies (EURS)
The Eurasia studies concentration is designed to provide students with interdisciplinary training in the study of Eurasia, with a special focus on Central Asia and secondarily on Russia/the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Students will develop a high degree of competence in the history, politics, and culture of Eurasia and basic competence in a relevant language.
Russian or Other Eurasian-Related Language
- Select two courses in Russian or another Eurasian-related language 6
Total Credits 6
Courses used to meet this requirement may be in the same language that is used to meet the college language requirement, in which case the student needs to complete 6 credits beyond intermediate proficiency (beyond courses numbered 210 at Mason). With the approval of the director, courses used to meet this requirement may be in a Eurasian-related language that was not used to meet the college language requirement at a level approved by the director.
Social Science Courses at the 300- and 400-Level
- Select two social science courses at the 300- and 400-level 6
Total Credits 6
Courses used to fulfill this requirement must focus primarily on Central Asia and Eurasia and may be in any social science discipline (ANTH, ECON, GGS, GOVT, SOCI).
History Courses at the 300- and 400-Level
- Select two history courses at the 300- and 400-level 6
Total Credits 6
Courses used to fulfill this requirement must focus primarily on Central Asia and Eurasia.
Literature or Film Courses at the 300- and 400-Level
- Select two literature or film courses at the 300- and 400-level 6
Total Credits 6
Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be related to Eurasia.
Courses at the 300- and 400-Level
Students choose from courses that focus predominantly on Eurasia. The courses used to meet this requirement may be in any field of study including special topics courses and other courses that deal primarily with the geographic areas covered in the Russian and Eurasian studies major. To use a special topics course or other courses with variable content to meet this requirement, students should seek the advanced written approval of the director. (Special topics courses may be repeated for credit when the topic is different.) The following courses when the topic is relevant, among others, may be used to meet this requirement.
Select three courses at the 300- and 400-level from the following: 9
- ARTH 386 The Silk Road (Mason Core)
- HIST 328 Rise of Russia (Mason Core)
- HIST 329 Modern Russia and the Soviet Union (Mason Core)
- HIST 387 Topics in Global History (Mason Core)
- HIST 388 Topics in European History
- HIST 462 Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core)
- HIST 499 RS: Senior Seminar in History (Mason Core)
- GOVT 338 Government and Politics of Russia
- GOVT 340 Central Asian Politics
- GOVT 345 Islam and Politics
- GOVT 444 Issues in International Studies
- GOVT 447 Revolution and International Politics
- RUSS 470 Topics in (Post) Soviet Film
- GGS 326 Geography of Eastern Europe and Russia
- ECON 380 Economies in Transition (Mason Core)
- Any 300- or 400-level CONF course
Total Credits 9
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in Russian and Eurasian studies may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing RUSS 302 Russian Conversation and Composition, RUSS 325 Major Russian Writers (Mason Core), or RUSS 407 Russian Drama and Theater.
Upper-Level Requirement
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.
Additional Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.
College Level Requirements for the BA Degree
In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college-level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).
- Philosophy or Religious Studies
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Foreign Language
- Non-Western Culture
Mason Core
Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.
Foundation Requirements
- Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
- Oral Communication 3
- Quantitative Reasoning 3
- Information Technology and Computing 3
Exploration Requirements
- Arts 3
- Global Understanding 3
- Literature 3
- Natural Science 7
- Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
- Western Civilization/World History 3
Integration Requirements
- Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
- Writing-Intensive 3
- Synthesis/Capstone 3
Total Credits 40
Admissions
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English Language Requirements
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