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The Central Eurasian Studies Summer Institute (CESSI) is an eight-week summer intensive language program for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and professionals. Language courses are supplemented by a rich program of cultural events including a dynamic weekly academic lecture series.
Course offerings for CESSI 2025, which will be held in a synchronous, online format June 16-August 8, are dependent on student interest and enrollment. Typical course offerings include Kazakh, Tajik, Uyghur, and Uzbek. Languages are generally offered at the beginning and intermediate level, although advanced level courses may be offered with sufficient student interest. Additional languages, such as Kyrgyz or Azerbaijani, may also be offered with sufficient interest.
CESSI was founded in 2011 by a consortium of international and area studies centers at major U.S. universities. Since its creation, CESSI has been hosted by the Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia (CREECA) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
CESSI is part of the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI), which offers training in more Less Commonly Taught Languages than any other university in the U.S. For more information, meet the program advisors and visit the WISLI website. Sign up to receive information from WISLI here.
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CESSI Consortium Member Institutions
Columbia University: Harriman Institute
Harvard University: Davis Center for Russian & Eurasian Studies
George Washington University:
Michigan State University:
The Ohio State University:
Stanford University: Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
University of California-Berkeley:
- Institute of Slavic, East European, & Eurasian Studies
- Institute of East Asian Studies
- Tang Center for Silk Road Studies
University of Kansas:
University of Pittsburgh: Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies
University of Washington:
University of Wisconsin-Madison: