About half of UI Russian majors don’t declare their major until the semester following their freshman or sophomore year. Don’t worry, you still have plenty of time to study abroad! In fact, because the Russian language is so tough to learn, it’s highly advised that you complete Third-Year Russian I and II before travelling to Russia. Generally, the summer after your junior year, your senior year, and any time during the your first post-graduate year are ideal times for you to study abroad.

Freshmen

Your first year is best spent fulfilling general education requirements and language prerequisites.

Sophomores & Juniors

Depending on your language level, study abroad during your sophomore or junior year is possible. If you are unsure whether you are at the right language level for study abroad, check with your major advisor in the Department for Asian and Slavic Languages.

Seniors

Assuming you’ve completed three years of language study at the college level, senior year is an excellent time for study abroad. Just double check that all of your course requirements will be met for graduation upon your return. Refer to the Fulfilling Academic Requirements [1] section of this MAP for suggestions for coordinating your study abroad experience with your major requirements [2].

Post-graduation

If you can’t seem to fit study abroad into your time at the U of I, consider studying abroad post-graduation! For more information about post-graduate study abroad options, contact Peggy Mills [3].