Cornell appears to be an amazing school with its Physics program, however I am confused if it offers a Russian major or not? Collegeboard says they do (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search), but on majors listed it doesn’t have Russian listed as either a major or a minor. May someone help me understand if Cornell offers this major?
If you look at the college board website more closely, it says Cornell offers a graduate degree in Russian studies, but not an undergraduate degrees. The Cornell website doesn’t even list the graduate degree, however, so I don’t know if thats correct. Regardless, always trust the school’s website over a third-party website.
Looks like it’s only a minor:
@guineagirl96 Thanks. Now I am unsure if I want to ED to Cornell anymore. Would they find it weird if I convey my passion for Russian culture in my essays and I apply there when they don’t even offer a major/minor for that there?
EDIT:
I just found Russian Language & Literature offered as a Bachelor’s under the category Foreign Language, Literatures & Linguistics (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/cornell-university)
@ZucchiniSoup Look at the Cornell website, not the college board site. Cornell is the authority on cornell degrees offered. Looking at the russian department’s website, they only offer a minor.
Russian is only offered as a minor.
http://as.cornell.edu/academics/major-minor/majors-detail.cfm?customel_dataPageID_2518=237229
I suggest you call the school directly. Ask your questions about Russian language, it will show interest on your part and you will get the most correct information.
Powercropper is very sensible - with such a minority-interest major contacting faculty is a good way to proceed…
Is it possible they used to offer a major but dropped it? They don’t seem to have many faculty members - maybe someone retired and they couldn’t offer enough courses for a major to be sustained, or not enough interest from students?
The Russian major was cut a few years ago.
http://cornellsun.com/blog/2010/05/06/russian-program-faces-upheaval/
It’s too late to not ED right?
@DrGoogle I am confused by your question. I am thinking about EDing to Cornell for the class of 2020.
@skieurope @Conformist1688 Its not possible that they could ever reinstall it, even if they have very few prospective students who desire to major in it? Would they find it weird if I convey my passion for Russian culture in my essays and I apply there when they don’t even offer a major for that there?
I think Powercropper’s suggestion that you contact a faculty member in Russian and ask them what the situation, prospects and opportunities are to study Russian at Cornell is a good idea.
It’s doubtful; Cornell cut several language programs over the last couple of years due to budgetary constraints. However, you can certainly contact them and ask for suggestions.
Zucchini, Ah I see, thanks for clarification.
@monydad found this interesting link: http://russian.cornell.edu/index.cfm?MainFrameURL=Testimonials.cfm&Section=studyinrussia&LinkID=Testimonials
It appears there is still some funding for Russian at Cornell, am I correct? This question may appear quite naive, but how much would funding need to be increased for Russian to be a major when they really only (apparently) need a small faculty and are all ready funding trips to Eastern Europe?
IMO you can bet that whatever trips to Eastern Europe, etc. there may be are not being funded out of the same pocket that would pay the salaries and overhead of the additonal faculty & support they cut when they dropped the major just a few short years ago. A reinstated major is not something I would count on happening if i were you. Whether the minor would meet your needs is up to you.
If you want to get a better prognosis for what Russian Studies/offerings might be like there during the term you would be attending, suggest contact one the professors from that link.
It’s a darned shame, the unversity used to be prominent in the field. But, with the end of the cold war, interest waned. Evidently.
@monydad Sounds like its best I contact them. But beware a new Cold War II is on rise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War_II)
No need to send me the link. Perhaps send it the the new president of the university, the current dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and every member of the board of trustees.
Quite simply, it’s not going to happen, at least not in the timeframe of your undergraduate career. While it is a shame that Cornell no longer offers a Russian major, if that is a “must have,” I’d suggest using your energy in crafting awesome essays and applications to those universities that actually do offer the major.
@skieurope’s right.