Bachelor of Russian at Yale University

Yale University

United States of America, New Haven

University Rank:#21

International students can study the Russian at Yale University at its main campus in New Haven , United States of America. This Bachelor degree is available as a Full Time program delivered on campus in English. The program has a duration of 4 years and is offered at the university's main campus. Students can apply for the next intake starting on August 31, 2027.

About Bachelor of Russian

Directors of undergraduate studies: Claire Roosien; language coordinator: Irina Dolgova, HQ 538, 320 York Street, 432-1307; slavic.yale.edu

The major in Russian offered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures acquaints students with Russian literature and culture, develops students' appreciation of literary values and skill in literary analysis, and gives them a basic competence in Russian. For an area major in Russian studies, see Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.

Placement Procedures

Students who have previously studied Russian formally or informally are required to take the Russian placement exam. This brief oral exam helps determine which Russian course best fits each student's background. Contact the Russian language coordinator, Irina Dolgova, to schedule the oral placement exam or for information about preregistration. She may be reached via email or at 432-1307.

Students in the Class of 2023 With approval from the director of undergraduate studies (DUS), the following changes to the prerequisites and requirements of the major may be fulfilled by students who declared their major under previous requirements.

Students in the Class of 2024 and subsequent classes Follow the requirements as indicated.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite to the major in both programs is second year Russian, RUSS 140, 142, 145, or S140. The department offers three sequences of language courses to fulfill the prerequisite: either (1) RUSS 110, 120, 130, 140, or (2) RUSS 125, 145 or (3) courses for heritage speakers, RUSS 122, 142. Prospective majors should complete the prerequisites by the end of their sophomore year or accelerate their course of study by taking summer courses or studying abroad. While completing the prerequisite, students are encouraged to begin fulfilling requirements of the major that do not presuppose advanced knowledge of Russian by taking courses in Russian history and Russian literature in translation.

Requirements of the Major

In addition to the prerequisite, the major in Russian requires eleven term courses, which must include the following (some courses may fulfill more than one requirement):

Third-year Russian: RUSS 150 and 151.
Fourth-year Russian: RUSS 160 and 161.
Two terms of Russian literature in translation, one in 19th-century or earlier Russian literature and one in 20th-century or later Russian literature. First-Year Seminars and courses number 200 or higher fulfill this requirement.
One content course in which Russian is the language of instruction (RUSS 170-190).
One course in Russian, East European, or Eurasian history or social sciences.
RUSS 490 or 491. The senior essay is the intellectual culmination of the student's work in the major. All primary sources used in the essay must be read in Russian.

If the language proficiency is met without coursework, these course requirements must be fulfilled through additional term courses to bring the overall total to 11 term courses. A Yale summer program in Russian culture may be used to fulfill the requirements, with DUS approval.

Credit/D/FailCourses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.

Senior Requirement

All majors write a senior essay (RUSS 490 or 491), an independent project carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. By the end of the junior year, students should declare their general topic and arrange for a faculty adviser, in consultation with the DUS. Students planning to conduct summer research for the senior essay, especially if abroad, should contact the DUS early in the spring semester of the junior year and apply for fellowships. By the first day of the reading period of the term prior to the term of the senior essay (RUSS 490 or 491), majors submit a proposal to the adviser (up to two pages double spaced). A draft of at least ten pages of the text of the essay, or a detailed outline of the entire essay, is due to the adviser by the midterm of RUSS 490 or 491. The senior essay takes the form of a substantial article, no longer than 13,000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography. The final essay is due on the first day of the reading period of the term the student is enrolled in RUSS 490 or 491. A member of the faculty other than the adviser grades the essay.

Students pursuing two majors need to fulfill the senior requirement of both majors. If the second major allows, students may enroll in both RUSS 490 and 491 and write an essay longer than a single-term essay. In this case, students count the second term of the Russian senior essay as their twelfth course in the Russian major.

Advising

Courses in the Graduate School are open to qualified undergraduates with permission of the instructor and of the director of graduate studies. Course descriptions are available at the office of the DUS.

Study Abroad

Students majoring in Russian are strongly encouraged to spend a summer or a term studying in the Russian Federation under the auspices of programs approved by the DUS. Language courses, as well as RUSS S241, S242, and S243, taken during the summer or during a term in Russia in approved programs may substitute for certain advanced Russian courses at Yale. Students interested in study abroad should consult the DUS well before their junior year. Students can apply for FLAS and Fox fellowships to support their travel.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR

PrerequisiteRUSS 140, 142, 145, S140 or placement exam

Number of courses 11 term courses beyond prereq (incl senior essay)

Specific courses requiredRUSS 150, 151, 160, 161

Distribution of courses 1 course in 19th-century or earlier Russian literature in translation, as specified; 1 course in 20th-century or later Russian literature in translation, as specified; 1 content course taught in original language, as specified; 1 course in Russian, East European, or Eurasian history or social sciences, as specified

Substitution permittedYale summer program in Russian culture (RUSS S241, S242, or S243) for electives

Senior requirement Senior essay (RUSS 490 or 491)

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Russian at Yale University

Entry Requirements

$80 application fee or fee waiver
Recommendations from two teachers and one counselor
School Report with transcript
Standardized test results (ACT or SAT) - not required for fall 2023 admission. (See below)
English proficiency test results - required for non-native English-speakers (See below)
Mid-Year Report & Final Report

See additional details about these required application components below.

Please note that if your application materials include any documents that are not in English, you must provide an official English translation in addition to the original documents.

$80 application fee or fee waiver

Applicants should pay the $80 application fee via the Common Application or Coalition Application website.

Applicants using the Common Application or Coalition Application may request that the application fee be waived. Learn more on the fee waiver page. The fee waiver scale is based on family size and income in US dollars but is applicable to all international students.

Recommendations from two teachers and one counselor

Request recommendations from two teachers who have taught you in core academic subjects (e.g. English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies) who know you well, and who have seen you at your best. It is preferable, but not required, that recommendations come from teachers who have taught you during your final or next-to-final year of secondary school.

Also request a recommendation from your school’s college counselor. If your counselor does not know you well, the recommendation may still provide helpful contextual information about your school and its academic programs. If your school does not have someone serving as a college counselor, please request a recommendation from a school administrator such as a house master, principal, or academic advisor.

School Report with transcript

Your counselor or other school official should submit a School Report with an official transcript that includes all your secondary school courses. If a question on the School Report form is not applicable to your secondary school, leave it blank.

Recommendations and transcripts should be submitted electronically through the Common Application or Coalition Application website. If necessary, teachers and counselors may also submit their recommendations and transcripts via mail or digital upload. Recommendations may be sent before or after you submit your application; materials that arrive before your application will be kept on file. The admissions office will make reasonable allowances for late school documents in situations where it is not possible for teachers and counselors to meet the application deadlines.

Standardized test results

In response to the extraordinary circumstances associated with the pandemic, Yale has temporarily suspended its requirement that first-year and transfer applicants submit results from the ACT or SAT. The change will be in effect during the 2022-23 admissions cycles for applicants who intend to matriculate in fall 2023.

More information on Yale’s test policies is available on the standardized testing page. Standardized tests are just one component of a student’s application and are viewed within the context of the student’s entire file. There is no minimum score required for admission, nor is there a score that will guarantee admission.

English proficiency exams

Yale requires that non-native English-speakers who have not taken at least two years of secondary education where English is the medium of instruction submit the results from any of the proficiency tests listed below.

The TOEFL requires pre-registration for available testing dates. Yale’s most competitive applicants have scores of at least 100 on the internet-based TOEFL.

The IELTS offers proficiency tests in locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have IELTS scores of 7 or higher.

Cambridge English exams are available at testing locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have Cambridge English scores of 185 or higher on the C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, or B2 First exams.

Applicants may submit the Duolingo English Test (DET), which combines an English proficiency test with a brief video interview. Duolingo’s technology and format allows applicants to complete the test at any time or place with internet access. Yale’s most competitive applicants have DET scores of at least 120.

InitialView provides live, unscripted video interviews that candidates may submit to colleges for consideration with other application materials. Interview times must be reserved in advance. There is no scoring associated with these interviews.

Mid-Year Report & Final Report

Students who do not receive new secondary school grades by February 1, including students who have already completed secondary school, are not required to submit a Mid-Year Report. This includes many international students. Applicants who receive new grades by February 1 should submit a Mid-Year Report.

Only admitted students are required to submit the Final Report, which provides final secondary school grades and examination marks. Admitted students submit the Final Report in the summer before fall matriculation.

If your secondary school provides predicted results for external exams such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate, and other international or national testing organizations, they should be submitted by your school alongside your transcript or Mid-Year Report.

Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Russian at Yale University

Application Fee 80

How to Apply for Bachelor of Russian at Yale University

All applicants for first-year admission must submit one of the following:

The Coalition Application with Yale-Specific Questions
The Common Application with Yale-Specific Questions
The QuestBridge National College Match Application

Yale will accept any one of these applications, without preference for one over another. Students should submit one—and only one—application per admissions cycle.

Bachelor of Russian at Yale University

Yale University

United States of America, New Haven