Explore your interests in Russian at Lawrence.


Academic advising at Lawrence seeks to empower each student to craft and pursue a transformative liberal arts experience that prepares them for impactful and personally fulfilling lives. Faculty advisors support students in planning and achieving their educational goals, facilitate connections to campus resources and communities, and guide students to make informed decisions as they pursue their academic interests and aspirations. 

Course Planning for New and Exploring Students

Students interested in exploring the Russian Studies major could start either by taking the first-year Russian language sequence (RUSS 101, 102, 201) or pursuing a class taught in English translation. English translation classes are 300-level, but they are open to anyone, including first-year students. In 2023-2024, we offer:

  • RUSS 325: Russian Folktale (Fall)
  • RUSS 300: Nineteenth-Century Literature in Translation (Winter)
  • RUSS 335: Women and Gender in Russian Culture, D (Winter)
  • RUSS 340: Slavic Science Fiction, W (Spring)

Language Placement

If a student has prior experience with Russian, students should take a language placement assessment to determine an appropriate stating point in the language sequence. There will be a proctored placement exam offered during Welcome Week in the fall and before Advance Registration in spring.  

Declare a Major/Minor

All students are expected to declare a major before the end of sophomore year. Ideally, sophomore students will declare a major (and switch to an advisor in the major) before advance registration advising begins in spring term.

Major Advising

All students will transition to a major advisor upon declaration. The major advisor will help students plan their coursework to satisfy requirements for the major, select courses in other areas to complement the major or satisfy personal interests, and prepare for their Senior Experience. Prospective Russian Studies or Russian Language and Literature majors can consult with any of the following Russian faculty about serving as a major advisor:

Add a Major Advisor

Need help identifying an advisor in the major? Students can contact advising@lawrence.edu for assistance with advisor matching.

Minor Advising

Students do not need an official advisor for the Russian minor. Instead, Russian minors are encouraged to consult with the department chair or other Russian faculty for advice on course selection and satisfying minor requirements.

Additional Student Resources

If you still have questions about advising support related to the Russian program, we invite you to contact the department chair. 

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