Russian studies is a field of study first developed during the Cold War. It is an interdisciplinary field crossing history and language studies. It is closely related to Soviet and Communist studies. This field has become increasingly common throughout our nations universities and knowledge of Russian language is also becoming increasingly common.
In university, a Russian Studies major includes many cultural classes teaching the student about Russian customs, traditions, superstitions, and common opinion. Additionally, Russian literature and art is explored, giving insight to many of the worlds writers, poets, absurdists all the avant guard of Russian art. Mysticism and folklore is commonly studied, describing how paganism remained strong within Russia throughout its introduction to Christianity in 980 by Vladimir I all the way to the present day when in isolated rural villages still ward off the unclean spirits and are wary of intelligence as a sign of something out of the ordinary.
For an example see: