Russian
Qualifications
Overview
Russian is an important world language, spoken by some 150 million people, and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Russian culture is especially rich and fascinating.
With the opening of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the world has become smaller. The most important parts of Russia industrially and strategically – East Siberia and the south-east Russian Far East, the regions closest to Aotearoa New Zealand – have opened up for independent trade, business, and cultural contacts with Russia's eastern and southern neighbours. For the first time, direct business contacts have become possible between Aotearoa and Russia. This new situation is a favourable development for the future of Russian studies in Aotearoa.
Many of the best western experts in Russian affairs started as Russian language and literature students; it is they who largely define western policies towards Russia in America, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. It is time our geopolitical region produced its own experts on Russia.
- UC is the only Aotearoa New Zealand university that offers a full major in Russian.
- In addition to the full suite of Russian language courses, we offer courses in Russian history covering its full extent from the middle ages to the present day as well as modules on Russian literature, film, and culture.
- Many of our non-language courses can be credited to other majors (eg, European and European Union Studies).
- UC takes part in a vibrant exchange arrangement with the School of Translation and Interpretation at Moscow State University (MSU), which allows senior students from UC's Russian programme to spend a semester studying at the oldest and largest university in Russia. In exchange, senior students from MSU spend a semester at UC.
No previous knowledge of Russian is required for the introductory Russian language course RUSS 130 Elementary Russian Language A.
UC offers a major and a minor in Russian as part of the Bachelor of Arts. You can also study this subject as a minor within the Bachelor of Commerce.
100-level courses
Studies in the Russian programme are of wide interdisciplinary interest and can be divided into two categories:
- Russian language acquisition: as an Indo-European language, Russian is no more difficult to learn than any other European language. The first-year language course requires no previous experience.
- Study of the culture, history of society of Russia, and the former Soviet Union: all UC courses in this area are taught in English and are a good complement to other European studies (eg, European and European Union Studies courses can be credited towards a Bachelor of Arts in Russian).
200-level and beyond
Students who complete RUSS 131 Elementary Russian Language B successfully may continue into the 200-level course, RUSS 230 Intermediate Russian Language A. They can then begin to build on the language foundation laid in their first year and will become more fluent in Russian.
Beyond 100-level, there are also courses on Russian and Soviet and post-Soviet history. In addition, several 200 and 300-level EURA courses (European novels and film adaptations, European city, and the Holocaust) include Russian modules.
Those who study Russian will find themselves well-equipped for positions in diplomatic service, international affairs, human rights, development work, public service, communication, publishing, travel and tourism, as well as teaching.
With the opening of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, those Aotearoa New Zealand students who acquire knowledge of Russian might find themselves in demand for translating, interpreting, and for consultancies in business, health, and legal matters (especially as many Russians do not speak English).
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Russian.
Contact us
Department of Global, Cultural and Language Studies
Phone +64 3 369 3377
Email artsdegreeadvice@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
4th Floor, Logie building – see campus maps
Postal address
College of Arts | Te Rāngai Toi Tangata
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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