As Russia's profile on the world stage grows larger, the University of Oregon's program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies (REEES) has grown to reflect that change. Students interact with native Russian speakers, perform in bilingual plays, and learn about the unique political foundations of the Russian Federation. REEES covers a wide array of subjects, allowing you to choose an emphasis in humanities or social science. Whether your interests in Russia, Eastern Europe, or Eurasia have roots in the literature of Dostoevsky and Pushkin or stem from a fascination with Russian zombie cinema, there is a place for you in REEES.
As a REEES major, you'll study the peoples living in the eastern third of Europe, throughout the northern steppes of Central Asia and across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean. Settled over a territory that spans half the earth's time zones, these peoples have been ruled by some of the most powerful empires in history–including the Byzantine, Mongolian, Holy Roman, and Soviet empires. This expansive history has created a complex mosaic of cultures, expressed in literature and art as well as in institutions and social forms.