LOCATION

The Notre Dame program in Russia is operated by the American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR) which is affiliated with theAmerican Councils for International Education. The Council has operated programs in Russia for a quarter of a century and has the unique option of offering three locations in Russia. The first is in the country’s capital, Moscow, at Moscow International University. The second option is at the Russian State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg, sometimes called Russia’s "window on the west." The third option is a new program in the ancient town of Vladimir (120 miles east of Moscow) at the regional campus of the Moscow University for Small Business Management.

The selection of which campus to attend should be made in conjunction with the Russian faculty at Notre Dame and the ACTR staff in Washington who can help the student to make the right choice in terms of curriculum and other factors.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

The fall semester generally runs from early September to mid-December. The spring semester begins in early February and finishes at the end of May. Besides a variety of Russian language classes selected on the basis of each student’s abilities in Russian, there are a number of area study courses dealing with contemporary Russian society, Russian history, literature and the arts, and the popular press in Russia. These are taught in Russian but will be aimed at students who are in the midst of developing their language skills. Students will be in groups of 5-8 people. Students who apply for the entire academic year can do an independent research project in the spring semester with an assigned university faculty member. A new tutoring opportunity provides each program participant with a Russian peer tutor for two hous per week of language practice. Classes meet five hours a day, four days a week. The fifth day is set aside for excursions.

Full-time American residential directors in St. Petersburg and Moscow monitor all aspects of the academic and cultural program. The directors assist participants with academic, administrative, and personal matters and coordinate activities with the host institution faculty.

Grading is according to the American system and course results are entered on the student’s records at the University of Notre Dame where they are included in the computation of the grade point average. The normal class load is equivalent to15 credits per semester.

The quality of a participant’s academic experience will depend on his or her ability to accept cultural differences gracefully, a willingness to participate earnestly in classes, and a desire to form productive, friendly relations with his or her instructors.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM

Sophomores and Juniors may participate with the approval of the chair of their major department and the dean of their college. Participants must have the equivalent of two years of college-level Russian with a grade of B or better. Normally only students with a GPA of 3.0 or above are admitted. Candidates must demonstrate adaptability to new situations, desire and motivation for residence and study abroad, and a satisfactory disciplinary record at Notre Dame. Students must attend the pre-departure orientation conference in Washington, D.C. and must travel to Russia with the rest of the ACTR group. Housing and meals are provided during the orientation.

Application deadline: Novermber 15th for the fall, spring, or year-long program.

COSTS

The charge for a semester’s program is determined by ACTR and the billing of that is handled by the Notre Dame Student Accounts office. Notre Dame adds a $500 administrative fee. The program costs cover the following: tuition, room, board, scheduled field trips, text books and copy packets, and the round-trip Washington to Russia airfare. Program costs also include coverage for medical expenses up to $50,000 after a $25 deductible per accident or illness.The students must pay for personal travel, food during the holidays, and incidentals.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

There is much more we can tell you — about this location, vibrant religious, cultural and recreational life of this community ... about the student housing, transportation, health care and much, much more. It is, after all, the details that make this program so appealing. Interested? Just click here for additional information.