OU teaches first, second, and third-year Russian language courses each semester (RUSS 1115, 1225, 2113, 2223, 3323, 3423). In addition, we offer a wide range of courses in Russian studies in rotation.
Spring 2025:
Fall 2025:
OU Russian majors Sam Korty and Emily Jenkins with Sooner.
The Romanoff Center Student Paper Prize Competition. Each spring the Romanoff Center awards prizes for the best papers written by OU undergraduate and graduate students on topics connected with Russian studies. Papers may not have been previously published and should have been written for a regularly-scheduled OU class or as an OU Honors thesis/MA thesis; dissertation chapters are also eligible. Papers should be 7-40 pages long, and may be written in either English or Russian. The deadline for submissions is March 12. To submit, send a PDF or Microsoft Word copy of the paper and a cover letter listing your name, email, phone number, postal address, the class for which you wrote the paper, and the semester in which you took the class to romanoffcenter@ou.edu. Winners will be announced in April at the Romanoff Center’s spring reception.
The Romanoff Center Student Scholarship Competition provides scholarships of $1,000 to OU undergraduates and graduate students who are completing programs (majors, minors, MA programs, or dissertations) that focus on the study of Russia. Students completing the Russian and East European Studies major and minor in the College of International Relations, the Russian major and minor in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, or graduate programs in fields such as history and IAS that include a substantial focus on Russia are all eligible. Students may not apply for this award in the spring in which they expect to complete their undergraduate/graduate program. Applications should be submitted through the CASH system (https://www.ou.edu/sfc/scholarships/cash) each year. Requirements: 1 letter of recommendation from an OU faculty person, a one-page essay that describes the student’s commitment to the study of Russia and plans for using the award, demonstration of financial need, and the general information collected by the CASH system. Awards will be announced at the Romanoff Center’s spring reception in April. Depending on available funds, more than one scholarship may be awarded. Romanoff Center scholarships may not be used to fund study abroad.
OU has an exchange program with the University of Daugavpils in Latvia. For more information on this Russian-immersion program, contact OU Education Abroad (ea@ou.edu).
OU students also regularly study abroad through the following programs:
U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS)
The U. S. Department of State’s CLS Program provides fully-funded intensive summer language instruction for seven to ten weeks for U.S. citizen students from all academic disciplines. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period and apply their critical language skills in their professional careers. Please consult with faculty about your essays for this competitive scholarship. https://clscholarship.org/ Applications are due in the fall.
Project GO:
Fully-funded summer domestic and international language immersion programs for ROTC cadets and select other military personnel. https://www.rotcprojectgo.org/. Deadlines in January/February.
Boren Scholarships/National Security Education Program (NSEP): https://www.borenawards.org/
Provides funding for summer, semester, and academic year study abroad programs for students in all majors. Offers a special summer program for STEM majors. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. The NSEP Service Requirement stipulates that an award recipient work for the federal government for at least one year after graduation. Federal Deadline: February 2023.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/
U.S. State Dept. program for Federal Pell Grant recipients. Sends U.S. citizen undergraduates to study abroad. Award amounts vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being approximately $4,000. Recipients are eligible for an additional $3,000 Critical Need Language Award for a total possible award of up to $8,000. Students can apply for and receive both Boren and Gilman scholarships, and the final award cannot exceed the program cost.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/
Apply to spend an academic year teaching English or performing research in a foreign country. Fully funded by the federal government! Current seniors and recent graduates are eligible to apply. Students should apply through OU’s Fulbright Advisor. You can learn more here: https://www.ou.edu/cis/scholarships-opportunities/fulbright-us-student-program/applying-for-fulbright
OU Deadline: September 2023; Federal Deadline: October 2023
Peace Corps:
Volunteers receive a living allowance, complete medical and dental care, airfare, loan deferment and possible loan forgiveness; and at the end of their service, $10,000 (before taxes), and preference in applying for Federal jobs as Federal Employees. http://www.peacecorps.gov/
U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program (paid and unpaid): Intern in Washington, D.C. or abroad. https://careers.state.gov/interns-fellows/student-internships/.
NSA Summer Language Program. Complete this paid internship program in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Russian and Turkish for 12 weeks beginning in the summer after your sophomore year. Apprentice with language analysts. You must be a U.S. citizen, able to get a security clearance, with a minimum 3.0 GPA (3.5 GPA or higher preferred). Deadline: October 2023. NOTE: the NSA has many other internship/student programs as well.
https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/icstudents.html?Agency=NSA
Intern at the Kennan Institute, The Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/opportunity/kennan-institute-research-assistantships
The Kennan Institute offers paid research internships for undergraduate, graduate, and prospective graduate students. Each intern works with a scholar in residence at the Institute over a period of three to nine months. Applicants should have a good command of Russian or Ukrainian and the ability to conduct independent research. This internship offers a flexible schedule of 15 hours per week and a metro subsidy for conducting off-site research.
CASH. Be sure to apply through OU’s scholarship portal each year in January! https://www.ou.edu/sfc/cash.
Work Assistance Tuition Waiver. If you are working more than 25 hours/week, OU wants to help you to work less. https://www.ou.edu/sfc/scholarships/current-students.
CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program: https://www.cia.gov/careers/jobs/undergraduate-scholarship-program/ Deadline: June 2023.
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship:
Financial support for a 2-year MA program for students interested in a career with the State Department. Emphasis on encouraging students from underrepresented groups to enter the State Department. Deadline: around September 2023. https://pickeringfellowship.org/ Dr. Brian Johnson in the Honors College can help you apply for this award: bjohn@ou.edu.
Truman Scholarship: Provides funding for graduate school for students in a wide variety of fields with a commitment to public service. You apply as a junior. https://www.truman.gov/.
Dr. Brian Johnson in the Honors College can help you apply for this award: bjohn@ou.edu.
