What is German Language, Literatures, & Cultures?
The study of German entails not only the attainment of a
high level of proficiency in the language itself but the critical
engagement with the peoples who speak or who have
historically spoken German and with the cultures, nations,
and civilizations these peoples have produced. Such study is
by its nature interdisciplinary; study of German can overlap
with, extend, reinforce,
and sustain study in the humanities,
social sciences, and natural sciences.
Study of German at Washington University Offers
Multiple Courses of Development
- achievement of proficiency in speaking, writing, listening, and reading German
- literary and media study in historical and social context
- the study of nations and cultures over time
- the study of the language system and language acquisition
- cross-cultural comparison, both contemporary and historical
- acquisition of technical language for business environments
Why Study German?
In the 21st century, no ambitious student can afford to
graduate without knowledge of a language and a culture
other than his or her own. To do so would be to impair one’s
ability to prosper in a global economy and a global culture of
interrelatedness. The study of German language, literatures,
and cultures helps prepare students intellectually and
psychologically to transcend provincial thinking and the
politics of particularity, to negotiate differ
ence, and to become life-long learners capable of adapting productively to change.
- The U.S. and German-speaking worlds have deep
and sometimes troubled historical, political, and
cultural ties. Waves of German-speaking emigrants
have shaped American values, cultures, and
institutions.
- Knowledge of German creates opportunity in an
increasingly international job market:
- 24 percent of the residents in the European Union speak German as their mother tongue;
68 percent of all Japanese students learn German.
- Germany awards approximately 2,000 grants
every year to American professors and students.
- Germany is one of the top
three nations in the
research
and deve
lopment of high-tech products.
- Germany is the most powerful
country in Europe
politically, financially, and economically.
- Germany is the 5th large
st trading partner of the
U.S.
- German is the second language in cyberspace
after English.
- German is the second
language in many former east-block countries.
- Study of German can enhance a student’s study in
his or her home discipline — whether it be in the
humanities, social science, or natural sciences — by
refining techniques of historical, cultural, literary,
and film analysis, by introducing students to the
principal creative minds in their home academic
disciplines, and by making possible experiential
learning through study, internships, or lab
assistantships abroad. German scholarship and
German cultural production are of critical
importance to the fields
of, to name a few, music, art
history, film studies, architecture, politics,
anthropology, comparative literature, history,
religion, social thought and
analysis, psychology,
technology, medicine, alternative energy, and
environmental studies.
German and Your Future
Our majors have pursued careers in a variety of areas in
which they use their knowledge of German language and
culture directly in their work. Some majors have used their
study of German to pursue their careers or study in a
German-speaking country. Examples of careers our majors
have chosen:
- Law
- Secondary and Post-Secondary Teaching
- International Affairs
- Economics
- Medicine
- Journalism
- History
- Jewish Studies
- Public Relations
- Publishing
- Banking
- Anthropology
- Biochemistry
- Advertising
- Fund Raising
- Art History
- Architecture
The German program at Washington University aims to
make life-long learners of its graduates. The work you do
here is the platform on which you will continue to
acquire knowledge of German language, politics, and culture, be it
for career purposes, recreation, or as a citizen of a global
world.
The Study of German at Washington University
Faculty
The German Department faculty is internationally recognized
for its scholarship on German literature and culture.
Members have won many teaching and mentoring awards at
Washington University and are committed to offering
undergraduates a stimulating and challenging course of
study and to fostering their intellectual grow
th both in and
outside of class.
Study Abroad
- Summer Abroad in Göttingen
- Spring Semester or Year Abroad in Tübingen
- Semester in Koblenz (through the School of Business)
The Major
The program in German offers multiple points of entry.
Students with previous German take a placement test to
determine where to begin their study; students with no
previous German have a choice of a regular or accelerated
track.
A major in German requires 24 hours of credit on the 300
and 400 levels. German majors are strongly encouraged to
study abroad.
Our graduating majors have won year-long fellowships from
the German Academic Exchange Service, Fulbright, and the
Kongreß Bundestag for study in a variety of fields in
Germany and Austria.
Honors Program
Students majoring in German can earn honors in German by
writing a thesis during their senior year. Students choose a
topic with the help of a faculty thesis advisor from the
department. Students whose thesis proposal has been
accepted present their thesis approximately one month
before the conclusion of their final semester at the
university.
The Minor
Many students who recognize the value of German for
enhancing other areas of study choose to minor in German.
The German minor requires 15 units of study
on the 300 and
400 levels.
Departmental Awards
- David Bronsen Prize
- Achievement in German Prize
- Elizabeth Hospes Celis Scholarship for Study Abroad
Extracurricular Activities
- Weekly Kaffeestunde (coffee hour)
- Monthly Undergraduate Social Meeting (Pizza Pause)
- Film Series
- Delta Phi Alpha (national honorary)
- Readings by contemporary German, Austrian, and Swiss authors
Swedish
At Washington University you have the opportunity of learning
yet another Germanic language. We offer two years of Swedish
language study.