The history of the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures began in 1942, when Ohio State University offered an intensive Russian course. Development for the department began in 1960, under the guidance of Leon I. Twarog, and was officially established in 1962 as the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. A doctorate program was first offered in 1965. Later in 1965, the United States Office of Education helped develop a Language and Area Center for Slavic and East European Studies at Ohio State University. In 1968, the department became the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures; this allowed for the department to expand to cultural studies along with linguistic studies. In 1996, the department faced issues when the College of Humanities considered cutting the entire department because of hostile relations in East Europe. The College decided to keep the Department, but required the department to abide by strict conditions. As of 2017, the name of the department was the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, offering both undergraduate majors and graduate programs.