Russian Language and Area Studies Program of the American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR) is designed to improve students’ oral, listening, reading and writing proficiency in Russian language and to develop their knowledge of Russian history, politics, culture and society. The program is offered at one of three locations, St. Petersburg, Moscow, or Vladimir, with the final placement to be determined by ACTR. UI participants join a group of students from other U.S. colleges and universities. A full-time U.S. resident director provides ongoing logistical support and emergency assistance to participants. The program is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. UI students earn resident credit on this program.

Academic Program

For academic guidance, students should consult instructors and advisers in the UI Slavic languages department. Coursework from the Russian Language and Area Studies Program is reported on a Bryn Mawr University transcript and is applied towards specific UI major requirements according to outstanding requirements.

Summer:

This is an eight week, intensive language-immersion program. Excursions to local sights of social, cultural or historic significance take place weekly and are conducted in Russian. Two years of college-level Russian is required. Students earn 8 sh of language credit reported as two intensive courses, conversation and grammar.

Semester:

The program is offered for the semester or the academic year. The program entails twenty hours per week of in-class instruction in Russian grammar, phonetics, conversation, and cultural studies, with one day per week set aside for local cultural excursions. Peer tutoring, internships, community service, and a broad range of extracurricular activities offer students the opportunity to connect with Russian friends and actively engage in Russian daily life.

For More Information

Before or after mailing an application to ACTR, students should also consult with Study Abroad Adviser Maria Hope concerning UI registration, financial aid, and other procedures. To schedule an appointment, call the receptionist at 335-0353.

Current and complete information on the program, as well as an application to download, can be found at Study Abroad on the ACTR webpage here.

Moscow International

The Moscow International University serves as the host institution for RLASP participants in Moscow. Founded by G. A. Yagodin, Minister of Education under Mikhail Gorbachev, Moscow International is the first accredited private university in the post-Soviet Russian Federation. It specializes in the teaching of foreign languages, economics, finance, management, ecology, and sociology. American Councils places students in the university's Department of Russian as a Foreign Language.

Moscow

Moscow, once draped in Soviet symbols, has readily adopted the trappings of capitalism and is now replete with neon billboards and shopping malls. Decidedly the center of political and economic power, the capital now rivals St. Petersburg in culture and the arts.

Russian State Pedagogical University

The Russian State Pedagogical (Gertsen) University serves as the host institution to RLASP participants in St. Petersburg. Located just behind the Kazan Cathedral in downtown St. Petersburg, the Gertsen University is one of the leading educational institutions in all of Russia. American Councils places students in the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language.

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Russia's most western city, is a monument to the country's past imperial grandeur. A work of art in itself, St. Petersburg remains the center of Russia's artistic life.

KORA Center for Russian Language Study

The KORA Center for Russian Language Study hosts RLASP participants in Vladimir. Founded in 1991 by faculty from the Vladimir State University, the KORA Center for Russian Language Study has hosted American Councils students since the summer of 2000. All KORA faculty members are specially trained in the instruction of Russian as a foreign language and many have extensive teaching experience in the West.

Vladimir

Although only 200 kilometers from Moscow, the pace of life in Vladimir is leisurely. Residents of Vladimir have more time to spend with friends and family, and this is reflected in their warm hospitality. Vladimir has a population of 360,000 and is a regional capital, yet it retains its small-town charm; one of Russia's oldest cities, Vladimir is part of the historic "Golden Ring."

Travel Arrangements

Roundtrip airfare from D.C. to the site abroad is included in the program fee. Students make their own arrangements to arrive in D.C. for the mandatory orientation a few days prior to departure.

Costs

The Program Fee is charged on your U Bill. In addition to the ACTR program fee, it includes a UI administrative fee and the Iowa Regents mandatory CISI worldwide insurance coverage.

The Program Fee covers tuition, housing and most meals, international RT airfare from DC, excursions and in-country travel, health insurance, visa fees, and the UI administrative fee and worldwide insurance.

Additional costs include add-on airfare to DC, books and supplies, lunches, local transportation and personal expenses.

Summer: In addition to the ACTR fee, the UI administrative fee for 8 sh & worldwide insurance coverage will be approximately Residents $930, Nonresidents $1960.

Semester: In addition to the ACTR fee, the UI administrative fee & worldwide insurance coverage will be approximately Residents $1100, Nonresidents $2825.

How to Apply

Early in their program exploration, students are encouraged to discuss the steps to follow for earning credit towards their UI degree and for disbursal of scholarships and financial aid, if applicable, with the ACTR program adviser in the Study Abroad office. The program application is available at the ACTR program webpage here. UI students submit their complete application directly to the ACTR office in Washington, DC. As soon as admitted and well in advance of departure, students must complete a Credit Approval Form for Study Abroad with the UI Study Abroad office.

Acceptance materials from ACTR will include a Program Handbook with extensive information about life in your host city and program details.

A mandatory program orientation is held in Washington D.C. prior to departure for Russia.

All students also attend a general TIPS orientation for UI Students Studying Abroad. Additional individualized meetings address specific topics, as well as billing and credit procedures at Iowa.

There are no photos available for this program yet. Do you have any photos to share with us? If you do, please contact us at:

1111 University Capitol Centre
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802
USA

Phone: (319) 335-0353
Fax: (319) 335-0343
E-mail: study-abroad@uiowa.edu