Bachelor’s in Russian Literature, Culture, and Translation

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Literature, Culture and Translation provides a basis for the development of professional-level proficiency in the Russian language, as well as comprehensive understanding of Russian literature and culture, including television and film. Additionally, students are introduced to basic skills for translating a variety of pragmatic texts from Russian into English. Students explore the language and culture of the pre-revolutionary Russian empire, the Soviet Union and contemporary post-Soviet Russia.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the B.A. in Russian Literature, Culture and Translation are not being accepted starting with the spring 2026 admission term.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Perform tasks at intermediate-high and advanced-low levels of proficiency as described by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Proficiency, in ACTFL terms, is understood to describe a range of qualities rather than an absolute norm and will vary according to task type, language function, topic, skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and so forth.
2. Contribute to most informal and some formal conversations with sufficient accuracy, clarity and precision to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion.
3. Read a variety of texts written for native speakers of Russian and not edited or adapted for non-native speakers.
4. Compose routine social correspondence and write cohesive summaries, narratives and descriptions of a factual nature in Russian.
5. Demonstrate a historical knowledge of Russian history and culture and understand the diverse nature of culture throughout the ages.
6. Discuss cultural differences, distinguishing between fact, opinion and stereotype.
7. Communicate effectively and sensitively to diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
8. View concepts, issues, events and themes from the perspectives of diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
9. Maintain an ongoing assessment of their own cultural values and behaviors.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who fulfill the language requirement in fewer than 14 credit hours as a result of starting their Russian studies in a course higher than RUSS 22202 will complete remaining credit hours with general electives. Students with previous Russian study or background knowledge should take the Russian Placement test and consult with a Russian faculty advisor for placement. Students lacking in sufficient major-level proficiency to take the first major course (RUSS 22201) can reach it by taking courses in the prerequisite sequence (RUSS 12201 and RUSS 12202). Students with sufficient Russian to place into higher semesters are not allowed to take RUSS 12201 or RUSS 12202.

²

Students must earn a minimum C grade in one course to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

³

Students planning to earn teaching licensure and declared in the Education minor should take MCLS 30420.

Graduation Requirements

• All Russian Literature, Culture and Translation majors must take the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview, ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test and the Russian Outcomes Assessment Test prior to being cleared for graduation. Information about the exams can be found on the ACTFL website and the Language Testing International (LTI) website, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL. B.A. in Russian Literature, Culture and Translation candidates should consult with their designated Russian faculty advisor for more information on arranging to take the proficiency exams.

Program Note

• Some courses in the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies are offered on a rotating basis, and course availability may change at any time. Please see the program coordinator or your academic advisor for course planning.

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.¹
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options²:

1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
2. Elementary I and II of a second language
3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:

• Intermediate I of the same language
• ARAB 21401
• ASL 19401
• CHIN 25421
• MCLS 10001
• MCLS 20001
• MCLS 20091
• MCLS 21417
• MCLS 21420
• MCLS 22217
• MCLS 28403
• MCLS 28404

¹

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

²

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Applications to the B.A. in Russian Literature, Culture and Translation are not being accepted starting with the spring 2026 admission term.