Russian majors and RCEES concentrators generally study in Russia or Central and Eastern Europe for a semester during their junior or senior year. Students work closely with faculty and program advisors in assuring that their academic experience abroad is integrated into their on-campus curriculum. Each semester, the department holds an informational session for students which features faculty and students returning from off-campus programs who discuss their programs, and answer questions from students preparing for study abroad. The Russian Department sponsors several approved programs, all of which guarantee the transfer of course credit. The department also considers programs not on our approved list, and works with students who are interested in pursuing these and other options. At present, we support programs in Moscow, Petersburg, and Vladimir, Russia, and in Krakow, Poland. Students in recent years have studied as well in Yaroslavl and Kazan, Russia, and in Prague, Czech Republic. We are currently exploring options for students to study on programs in other cities in Russia, as well as in Central Europe.
The Russian Department and RCEES concentration have a long and rich tradition of engaging educational exchange with Russia and the nations of the NIS, as well as Central and Eastern Europe. Student and faculty from both sides have enjoyed more than three decades of learning from and teaching each other. For a list of alumni who have studied abroad in the region, see: Grinnellians in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, 1975-2004 http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/russian/offcampus/grinrussia
For some general history of the department and its many interesting connections with Russia over the years. readers will be interested in "Russia and Grinnell" http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/russian/offcampus/article written by Professor John Mohan in the Summer 1995 issue of The Grinnell Magazine.
