Sir Winston Churchill called Russia “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
With Russian military forces surging through Ukraine in an unprovoked and catastrophic war that few in Russia or the West had predicted, as President Vladimir Putin threatens the annihilation of Ukraine’s statehood and the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons, now is the time to plunge into a study of that vast country and region. The world’s largest state is currently a pariah, but one that has also given the world one of its most glorious literary and musical canons. The Russian Area Studies program is based on the premise that the region is best explored through an interdisciplinary study of its cultures, histories, politics, and language. The program prepares students for a range of careers, including work in government, business, academia, and the arts.