German Studies

Why take courses in this discipline?

The Department of German Studies offers a full range of courses on the German language and the cultures that speak it. In addition to teaching the German language at beginning to advanced levels, the department also offers courses on artistic expression (literature, film, creative writing, new media), intellectual trends, social phenomena, and the intersections of art and politics. Through close and frequent contact with faculty and students inside and outside the classroom, our majors graduate with fluency in the German language. Students can hone their German skills at the weekly German Table, at the weekly Kaffeestunde, and with the native German-language assistant. Students may further practice their skills by living together in German House. Students can take a short course each spring with a visiting German author and practice creative writing. We encourage both majors and non-majors in our classes to study abroad, most frequently at programs in Freiburg or in Berlin. Advanced students can pursue independent research projects in close collaboration with a faculty member in the department. Majors go on to graduate study and careers in education, translation, media, law, economic development, government, tourism, finance, and more.

How does this discipline contribute to the liberal arts?

Courses in German studies involve language study, writing/communication, and the study of human behavior and society.

What kinds of questions are asked in this discipline?

Beyond developing language fluency, our curriculum immerses students in different literary, artistic, and filmic traditions; it presents students with unfamiliar historical experiences and cultural values that cause them to question their own; it furnishes students with a deeper understanding of their native languages, making them better writers and communicators. Because our interdisciplinary courses link philosophical, sociological, political-scientific, and historical inquiry together with the study of literature, film, music, popular culture, and media, students are encouraged to think broadly, in the finest traditions of the liberal arts. The study of German deepens students’ engagement in their coursework beyond the department in the humanities, arts, and natural and social sciences.

How does a student get started?

Entering students who have previously studied German should take the placement examination administered online by the Department of German Studies during the summer prior to New Student Orientation. The department uses the results of the placement examination to recommend the appropriate starting point for each student.

The basic language sequence in German is Introductory German I (GRM 101), Introductory German II (GRM 102), Intermediate German I (GRM 221), and Intermediate German II (GRM 222). Students who place at a higher level begin with Contemporary Germany through Media (GRM 311). All courses emphasize spoken proficiency.

AP/IB Credit

A score of 4 or 5 on the AP German language exam, or a score of 5 on the IB German language exam, can count for GRM 101.

Courses in German Studies

All Courses in German Studies

Regularly Offered 200-Level Courses (taught in English)

Criminals, Outcasts, and (Con-)Artists in German Culture
German Cinema
The Holocaust Remembered
Race, Gender, Sexuality in Modern Germany

Regularly Offered 300-Level Courses (taught in German)

Contemporary Germany Through Media
German Culture from the Avant-Garde to Postmodernism
Weimar Culture
German Feminist Literature and Culture
Oldies but Goodies? Critical Approaches to the Canon
Creative Writing in German

Students may take up to 8 credits at the 200- and 300-level from other disciplines approved by the department. Students usually take courses in art history, history, music, philosophy, and political science.

Sample Four-Year Plan for a German Studies Major
YEAR	FALL	SPRING
FIRST	GRM 101	GRM 202
SECOND	GRM 221	GRM 222
THIRD	GRM 311 4 cognate credits	GRM 3XX optional: GRM 372 or Off-Campus Study
FOURTH	GRM 495 4 cognate credits	GRM 3XX, GRM 372 optional: GRM 499 (required for honors)

Off-Campus Study

Recommended programs: Berlin, Freiburg, Vienna, Munich, and Heidelberg.

Some courses taken off-campus might count toward the major. Courses taken in English might count as 200-level courses. OCS courses taken in German might count as 300-level courses toward the major.

Contributions to Other Majors/Concentrations

Courses in German studies contribute to:

Department Events and Opportunities

Scholarships, Grants, Awards, German Table, German House, Summer Language Course in Leipzig, Writer-in-Residence Program