Russian Language Flagship

The Russian Language Flagship at Bryn Mawr College was created under the auspices of the National Security Education Program (NSEP)/National Flagship Language Program (NFLP) to address the critical need for U.S. professionals to use Russian at the highest levels of functional proficiency. It is the one of eight Russian Language Flagship programs in the U.S. and is the only one of these eight to be located at a women's liberal arts college. The ultimate goal of the program is for all students to reach the "superior level" (ILR level 3) of proficiency in Russian according to ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

The program is open to undergraduates of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges (Tri-Co) who are U.S. citizens and committed to attaining professional level language proficiency through an intensive language and culture training program tailored to their professional interests and academic specialization.

Tri-Co Undergraduates who join the Language Flagship track are not required to major in Russian, although many choose to major or to double major in Russian and another content area (math, science, history, literature, etc.). 

Those who have had previous Russian language training in high school or who have a heritage language background in Russian can enter the Flagship track at their current proficiency level, in accordance with the results of a proficiency exam.

The Language Flagship brings with it the possibility of financial support for intensive summer domestic and overseas study.  Program graduates are highly sought after by non-government and government organizations, as well as international corporations and professional firms. 

If you have questions about Bryn Mawr's Flagship program, please contact Billie Jo Ember, Assistant Director of the Bryn Mawr Russian Domestic Flagship, bember@brynmawr.edu.

Please also take a look at The Language Flagship Russian site for more information including pre-recorded webinars to get a better understanding of the program.

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The Language Flagship is a public/private partnership sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) of the Department of Defense and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Government or IIE and no official Government or IIE endorsement should be inferred.