German, Russian and East European Studies takes students beyond the headlines to gain in-depth understanding of some of the world's most influential nations and cultures. The department's interdisciplinary curriculum provides a wide range of intellectual experiences, whether your primary interest is in literature, film, visual culture, music, history, thought, or politics. For students who want to engage with German, Russian, or East European culture in a more substantive way, the department offers programs of concentration in German Studies and in Russian Studies.
The department sponsors lectures on topics related to German, Russian and East European society and culture, films, symposia, and other German- and Russian-themed activities. Students are encouraged to apply for living space in McTyeire International House in the German and Russian sections. German Studies majors with sufficient academic qualifications are invited to join Delta Phi Alpha, the national German honor society. Russian Studies majors with sufficient qualifications are invited to join Dobro Slovo, the national Slavic honor society.
Many students majoring in German Studies enroll in study abroad programs in Bremen or Freiburg, Germany. Less formal activities, such as a weekly Kaffeestunde or the Stammtisch at a local pizza parlor, are also open to undergraduates. For further information, please see as.vanderbilt.edu/grees.
The Russian and East European Studies program has a special commitment to undergraduate training in all aspects of Russian language and the cultures and histories of the larger region. Students have several possibilities for studying abroad in Russia, including summer-, semester- and year-long programs in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where they have the option of studying history, politics, economics and/or culture alongside the Russian
language. For further information, please see as.vanderbilt.edu/grees.