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Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures

Teaching slavic in the classroom

Gain a comprehensive understanding of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet Union.

The Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures focuses on the languages, literatures and cultures of the diverse and rich civilizations of Central Europe, Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe. The department offers one of the most comprehensive Slavic programs in the nation. In addition to introductory through advanced Russian language, we teach Polish, Ukrainian, Slovene, and Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian.

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Careers

By studying Slavic languages and cultures, you gain a more nuanced understanding of the world, as well as the skills and confidence to be successful in an increasingly global society. Our alumni have gone on to work for employers such as Amazon, Google, HBO, the National Endowment for Democracy, Rosetta Stone and Seattle Public Schools.

Career Paths

You can put your Slavic Languages & Literatures major to use as a(n):  

  • Director of emergency response
  • Executive officer
  • IT project manager
  • Attorney
  • Machine learning specialist
  • Nurse
  • Educator 
  • Rural advocacy coordinator
  • Social studies teacher
  • Foreign service officer 
Daytime panorama of Krakow, Poland, featuring Wawel Castle.

Explore the Slavic World

The University and the department offer exciting study abroad programs as well as independent study abroad opportunities, including recent offerings in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. If you plan to study abroad, be sure to consult with an adviser in the Humanities Academic Services Center.

More About Study Abroad

Find Yourself in Slavic Languages & Literatures

Deepen your understanding of Slavic culture and the human experience.

Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures Stories

Michael Biggins portrait

A Gift for Sharing Slovenia

Michael Biggins has cherished Slovenia for decades. A gift to Slavic Languages & Literatures ensures that others at the UW will experience Slovenia as well.

Marina Dunaravich

A Russian Reconnection

Marina Dunaravich reconnected with Russian language and culture years after leaving Russia as a child. A new scholarship celebrates her Russian heritage and family.

Helen Noyes at the CIA Memorial Wall

A Gift for Language

A love of languages and a long career with the CIA inspired Helen Louise Noyes (BA, 1969) to support UW students studying challenging languages.