The Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies (REECAS) Program at the University of Washington, founded in 1947, is one of the oldest and most
distinguished programs of its kind in the US. In a period of continuing and unpredictable geopolitical change, REECAS defines as its mission the promotion of
in-depth interdisciplinary study of all major postcommunist subregions, in order to understand the legacies of the imperial and communist past as well as to
analyze the emerging institutions and identities that will shape Eurasia's future. This mission is strongly and actively supported by the UW administration. We
are able to provide a foundation for serious research on the region by offering regular instruction in 14 regional languages, including several that are often
unavailable elsewhere. This language instruction lies at the foundation of the REECAS-track in European Studies undergraduate major, our rigorous REECAS MA
program, joint Master's Degrees and BA, MA and PhD programs in disciplines with strong REECAS faculty representation.
Stephen E. Hanson, Chair