Central Asian Studies guides students through the politics, geography, and history of a dynamic region while providing immersive Russian language study.

The five Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan offer the ability to study nomadic and settled societies, as well as colonization, communism, and early independence. Each country is a rich tapestry of ethnicities, religions, and linguistic groups. With its diverse set of local conditions and ever-shifting regional and global relations, Central Asia serves as a prime case study for issues that countries all over the world are grappling with today.

Based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, this program includes guided study trips to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, allowing us to compare and contrast these diverse countries’ cultural, historical, political, and economic systems.

There is no Russian language prerequisite for this program.

If you are interested in a summer program in this region, click here.

Semester Courses (Spring/Fall) & Syllabi

Other Language Electives

Travel and Cultural Program

Housing and Location

Research and Volunteering

Transcripts and Credit Transfer

Scholarships and Grants

Budget

Getting Started

2025 Fall
: 29 Aug 2025
: 21 Dec 2025
: 01 May 2025
: $16,500
2026 Spring
: 23 Jan 2026
: 17 May 2026
: 01 Oct 2025
: $16,500

Tuition, dormitory accommodation, visa and registration, pre-departure information, roundtrip airport transfers, cultural programming, travel in Central Asia as outlined, health and emergency insurance, and SRAS in-country support.

  • GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • 18 years of age at time of application