Welcome to the Department of German, Russian, and East European Languages and Literatures at Rutgers University!
Our department brings together the study of languages, literatures, cultures, histories, and intellectual traditions across a diverse and dynamic region. Through rigorous language study and interdisciplinary exploration, we invite students to engage deeply with the people, ideas, and cultural expressions that have shaped—and continue to shape—German-speaking, Russian, and East European worlds.
Whether you are beginning your study of a new language, pursuing advanced research, exploring literature and culture, or simply curious about the region, you will find a community of dedicated faculty, engaged students, and diverse perspectives here. We strongly believe that learning languages and encountering cultures across borders broadens our understanding of the world—and our place within it. We invite you to partake in this endeavor!
The study of language and literature is an essential form of intellectual inquiry: a means of entering other worlds, questioning inherited belief systems, and understanding the complex ways through which ideas, identities, and cultural traditions are formed. Our Majors and Minors work closely with faculty, develop advanced linguistic and analytical abilities, and encounter texts and archives, works of art, and cultural traditions that invite sustained reflection and critical thought.
We invite you to explore our programs, research, faculty, and community, and to discover the many ways in which the study of German, Russian, and East European languages and literatures can deepen our understanding of culture, history, and the world.
