Russian Language & Literature
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Types of Degrees Russian Language & Literature Majors Are Earning
Those studying Russian Language & Literature can earn degrees at several award levels.
| Award Level | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Certificate | 1 |
| Associate’s Degree | 7 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 265 |
| Master’s Degree | 41 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 1 |
What Russian Language & Literature Majors Need to Know
Programs in Russian Language & Literature build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Russian Language & Literature graduates commonly enter.
Knowledge Areas
According to O*NET, a major in Russian Language & Literature emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
- English Language — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
- Education and Training — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
- Foreign Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
- Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
- Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*
Skills
Skills emphasized by a Russian Language & Literature program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
- Speaking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
- Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
- Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
- Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Instructing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
Abilities
Innate abilities most relevant to Russian Language & Literature careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:
- Speech Clarity — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
- Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
- Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
- Written Expression — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
- Written Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
Common Job Activities
Day-to-day, Russian Language & Literature graduates report doing:
| Activity | Frequency / Importance |
|---|---|
| Training and Teaching Others | 4.3 / 7 |
| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | 4.1 / 7 |
| Thinking Creatively | 4.0 / 7 |
| Working with Computers | 4.0 / 7 |
| Getting Information | 4.0 / 7 |
| Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | 4.0 / 7 |
| Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others | 3.9 / 7 |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems | 3.9 / 7 |
| Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work | 3.9 / 7 |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | 3.9 / 7 |
Technology Skills Used on the Job
Most frequently-cited tools used by Russian Language & Literature professionals:
| Tool / Software | Category | In-Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | — |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software | — |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | ✓ |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | ✓ |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | ✓ |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | — |
| Blackboard software | Data base user interface and query software | — |
| Moodle | Computer based training software | — |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | — |
| QuarkXPress | Desktop publishing software | — |
| Course management system software | Computer based training software | — |
| Collaborative editing software | Word processing software | — |
Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*
Sample Job Titles
Real job postings for Russian Language & Literature graduates include:
- Hebrew Teacher
- Teacher
- ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor)
- Spanish Teacher
- Language Teacher
- Language Arts Teacher
- Language Instructor
- French Teacher
- Bilingual Teacher
- Swahili Teacher
- Italian Teacher
- Arabic Professor
- Hebrew Professor
- Instructor
- Spanish Language Lecturer
Education Typically Required
Across the occupations open to Russian Language & Literature graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:
| Education Level | Share of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Who Is Earning a Degree in Russian Language & Literature?
Gender Distribution
This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 48.9% women and 51.1% men among Russian Language & Literature graduates.
| Gender | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 154 | 48.9% |
| Men | 161 | 51.1% |
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Russian Language & Literature graduates is as follows:
| Race / Ethnicity | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 244 | 77.5% |
| Asian | 7 | 2.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 22 | 7.0% |
| Black or African American | 6 | 1.9% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 1 | 0.3% |
| Two or More Races | 14 | 4.4% |
| Race Unknown | 8 | 2.5% |
| International Students | 13 | 4.1% |
See minority definition below.
How Much Do Russian Language & Literature Graduates Earn?
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Russian Language & Literature graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,240 |
| 4 years | $66,679 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Is a Degree in Russian Language & Literature Worth It?
On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Russian Language & Literature graduates earn a median of $66,679 four years after completion — roughly 75% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).
ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.
Related Programs
You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:
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References
The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
More about our data sources and methodologies.