The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a range of courses focusing on the language, history and culture of a fascinating country-Russia. Russian, which is spoken in Russia and throughout the former Soviet Union, in the now independent states in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, ranks fourth among the world's most widely used languages. Russia has a population of some 143 million and is the largest country in the world, geographically speaking. <br><br>In the Russian program you will learn first-hand about Russian civilization: its famed writers, such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, its innovative cinema, theatre and ballet, and many other aspects of Russian culture and the arts. <br><br>Canada and Russia share a northern identity and there are many joint initiatives, including Arctic and space exploration. If you wish to pursue a career in these fields, knowledge of the Russian language and culture is a great asset. Since the fall of communism, the Russian economy and Russian life in general have gained new vigour, presenting numerous opportunities for cultural, scientific and business projects.