The program is composed of two elements: (1) Russian language courses taught in the Graduate School of Language and Educational Linguistics all in Russian and (2) courses on various aspects of taught in English in the Graduate School of International Policy Studies (GSIPS). 

Russian language courses at MIIS are unique in several ways.  Typically they are content-based courses, which means the student studies a subject matter, such as Russian politics, social and cultural scene, environment, and history of thought, while she/he develops conversational, listening, writing, reading, and analytical skills.  The differences between the way 300 and 400-level courses are taught consist of the number of assignments, the rate of progress, final products, such as research papers in Russian, and individual presentations in class as well as in public, as well as the level of difficulty in final examinations.  Another unique feature of our program is that professors do not design courses around one textbook but rather compile a reader composed of articles and publications reflecting Russia’s contemporary realities. 

For inquiry regarding the Russian Studies Program, contact: Professor Anna Vassilieva, Russian Studies Program Head, GSLEL (avassilieva@miis.edu).

Sample Courses:

RS 332 Sociological Overview of Modern Russia I (Fall 2007)
The objective of these courses is: to familiarize the students with the leading sociological research institutions in Russia and their findings about the most important social, economic, and political issues facing the population. Students' activities consist of reading and translating the results of different opinion surveys, presenting their findings in Russian, and developing skills to analyze a variety of surveys and applying the findings to a broader understanding of modern Russia. The reading materials are taken directly from the internet sites and publications of the most respected Russian sociological research institutions.

RS 335 Politics and Society in CIS Students will be working with authentic Russian language materials from different media sources in Russia and CIS. The course work has two distinct goals. The first goal is to significantly increase the scope of vocabulary related to politics, sociology, security and culture as well as the ability to read, translate and analyse the primary sources of information. The second goal is to be exposed to a variety of interpretations of current political, social and security related trends that are leading the media and governments's discourse on the most acute subjects - such as relationship of Russia and other near abroad countries, prospects of joining NATO and the EU by Georgia and Ukraine, energy ties and development of civil society.

RS 421 Russian Mass Media and Politics
Acquaints the students with the leading Russian publications, online reports, and TV programs. Offers a comprehensive picture of contemporary politics and society in Russia through the eyes of a newly emerging capitalist mass media.

RS 472 Reading Russian News
The objective of this course is to introduce students to a variety of Russian media sources and help them navigate hundreds of available internet information sites in Russian. Students will be reading, translating, and analyzing selected articles. The emphasis will be put on expanding Russian language vocabulary related to politics, social and economic issues. The course should enable students to work with Russian language electronic media on their own to support their research interests and supplement information on Russia available in English.

RS 474 Contemporary Eurasian Politics and Society (Fall 2007)
The goal of this course is to study the Russian language electronic media discourse on the most acute issues of politics and society in post-Soviet states. Students will read, translate, and analyze journalistic, analytical, and sociological overviews of such issues as forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia, corruption in post-Soviet states, migration, ethnic conflicts, CIS politics, and foreign policy of the Newly Independent States. Students will hone their public presentation skills, expand their vocabulary, and improve their skills in analytical writing. Special effort will be made to improve students' understanding of cultural and historical factors driving political changes in modern Eurasia.

RS499 Current Issues in Nonproliferation
This course is taught in Monterey model format. The Russian section of the course will deal with the most pressing issues related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the most important documents related to the current nonproliferation regime, and interviews with experts in the field. Students will gain the expertise and completely new vocabulary in this very important area of modern politics. They will make presentations and write research related to individually selected topics in Russian.