Study the peoples, histories and international roles of Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and the Russian language from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Your major or minor in Russian and East European Studies (REES) will be a sophisticated, interdisciplinary exploration of the Russian language and the Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian regions’ peoples, politics, cultures, histories and roles on the world stage.
You will take a variety of courses across The Claremont Colleges, including classes like Dostoevsky and Popular Culture; Stravinsky: His Milieu and His Music; Contemporary Central Asia; and World War II.
You are strongly encouraged to study abroad to immerse yourself more fully in the language and culture.
What You’ll Study
- Advanced Russian language study
- Courses in the arts, humanities and social sciences
- Study abroad in Russia
- Senior thesis
Learning at Pomona
The Divided Male Homosexual Community in the Post-Soviet Era
Laura M. Gonzalez Meriño ’19 explored the history of homosexual suppression in Russia and the resulting current divide of the homosexual community. She observed the way the divide has manifested in certain mediums of art, focusing on the experience of male homosexuals in Russia.
The Writings of Sholem Aleichem
Benjamin Cohen ’16 studied the Soviet-era, Russian-language publications of Ukrainian-Jewish author Sholem Aleichem, most famous in the U.S. for writing the short stories used to create “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Being a Russian and Eastern European Studies Major, and more specifically being a part of the always welcoming Russian Department, has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Having the freedom to explore my own interests within the discipline thanks to the flexibility of the major has allowed me to focus on the areas of Russian culture about which I am passionate.