Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Unique semester and year-long options allow students to choose the program that is right for them. In partnership with the UW-Madison, the American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR), a non-profit educational association and academic exchange organization, offers the opportunity to study the Russian language and area studies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Vladimir for a semester or year and in Moscow or St. Petersburg for the summer. The programs, which are designed to maximize linguistic and cultural immersion into Russian society, emphasize the development of practical speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills as well as offering courses on contemporary Russian society and culture.
Students can experience the profound economic and political changes taking place in Russia firsthand. The largest of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia reaches from Europe to Asia. In Moscow, the capital city, discover the 850 year history of the city. St. Petersburg is largely regarded as Russia's cultural center. Vladimir, a city with 360,000 inhabitants, located south of Moscow, has all the amenities of a small city.
St. Petersburg is Russia's second largest city with 4.6 million inhabitants. It was modeled after a European city and consists of many historic baroque and neoclassical buildings, bridges and canals. St. Petersburg is located far North, on the Gulf of Finland, so that during the summer there are "belii nochi" or white nights in which there is twilight all night. St. Petersburg serves as an important political and cultural center for Russia. There also many museums, including the Hermitage, which holds a collection of European art and is set in the former palace of Catherine the Great. There is also the Russian Museum which has a collection of solely Russian art. Like Moscow, St. Petersburg also has many theaters, including the Marinski Theater, known for its aesthetic value and great operas and ballets.
Getting to Your Program
ACTR holds a mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington , D.C. -- which is also where the mandatory group flight departs.
Visa
A student visa is required. U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program. ACTR will provide you with visa information.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
ACTR holds a mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington , D.C. -- which is also where the mandatory group flight departs. An orientation session held upon arrival helps with adjustment to the new surroundings.
Housing
In St. Petersburg, after an initial orientation and adjustment period, students have the option of living with a host family or remaining in a university dormitory. The majority of participants choose the host family option. Living with a Russian family introduces everyday Russian life, increases contact with Russians, and exposes students to contemporary language and culture in informal social settings.
Excursions and Activities
Students travel to local cultural, historical, or social sites one day per week. Students are required to attend at least eight excursions on the semester and year-long programs. The program also includes a 7-10 day trip outside of the host city, but still within the Russian Federation.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
U.S. resident director and local staff
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Program Handbook (Spring - 2012-13)
American Councils Handbook (Summer - 2012-13)
Returned Student Network
Click
here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
Blogs
Read about current & past students' adventures.
Kaylie-Spring 2013
Participate in one of three language program options in one of three cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg or Vladimir. The Regular Academic Program gives students the option of enrolling at Moscow International University (MIU), Herzen University in St. Petersburg, or Vladimir's Cora Russian Language Center.
Moscow International University, located in central Moscow, prepares specialists in economics, finance, management, ecology, sociology, and foreign languages. The American Council places students in the MIU's Department of Russian as a Foreign Language.
Herzen University, located in central St. Petersburg, is one of the leading education institutions in all of Russia. The American Council enrolls students in the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language.
Vladimir's CORA Russian Language Center is located in the historic city of the "Golden Ring" of communities that have played a significant role in Russian history. The program offers undergraduate-level language programs, combined language training, and subject-area coursework in cooperation with a specialized "CORA" language training facility. Offices and classrooms are located at the Vladimir branch of the Moscow University of Small Business Management.
The second language program option is the Business Russian program which combines a specially designed curriculum for business Russian and a ten to twenty hour per week internship with a U.S. or Russian business in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Students will attend classes at partner universities, either Moscow State University or Herzen University in St. Petersburg, and take part in an internship on some afternoons and one full day per week. This program requires prior knowledge of the Russian language (typically six semesters, although four may be sufficient). Note that all internship placements are subject to availability.
The third language program is the ACTR Russian Honors program for students who have very advanced Russian language skills and prior academic experience in Russia. The Honors program allows students to attend two regular university classes in their field of interest at the host university in addition to the program's advanced grammar and conversation classes.
Each program location site has a U.S. Resident Director and local staff to provide assistance to participants.
Program Web Page(s)
www.acrussiaabroad.org
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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