Programs in Central and Eastern European languages and literature teach people the spoken and written traditions of the region. Students learn how words began and languages continue to develop. They learn to speak and read modern dialects. They study stories, myths, and writings. The program includes the cultures of many Baltic and Slavic people who lived and moved throughout Europe and parts of Asia.

In the U.S., English is the primary language. But think of this: In an area smaller than U.S. - Central and Eastern Europe - more than 10 languages are the primary language, depending on which country you are in. Languages in this group include Albanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Croatian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian, and Ukrainian.

In Central and Eastern European languages and literature programs, you learn all about the culture and subcultures of Central and Eastern European society. You take courses from different fields of study, such as art and history. Most importantly, you read original literature and poetry and learn to speak at least one second language spoken in this region. Most commonly this is Russian, but can also include Polish and Hungarian, to name a few. You also learn how to read the language and often read important works of literature in their original form. Many courses also teach you translation techniques.

About 35 colleges and universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Central and Eastern European languages and literature. Some two-year colleges offer the first two years of study. Students can often transfer these credits to a four-year school. A master's degree typically take five or six years of full-time study after high school. Doctoral degree programs typically take three to five years after the master's degree. Most people with graduates degrees become professors.

Students who major in Central and Eastern European language and literature may be able to choose concentrations such as:

• Conversation
• Dialects
• Folklore
• Interpreting
• Linguistics
• Literature
• Specific Language Groups
• Teaching
• Translation