German
Why Study German at W&L?
An MIT study published in The Economist in 2014 describes the “earnings premiums” language learners accrue over a lifetime, with German being the most lucrative language.
To start you on your path, we offer both a major and a minor in German that the majority of our students pair with courses of study in economics, business administration, accounting, natural sciences and others. We offer an engaging mix of cultural opportunities through our active German Club while in Lexington, and more still with our many study abroad options in Berlin and Bayreuth, Germany, and Graz, Austria.
About the Department
All German Department courses help satisfy foundation and distribution requirements, and we have many course offerings in English that are open to students who may not be studying the German language. No previous knowledge of German is necessary to be a minor or a major.
To situate your studies best, and in the great liberal arts tradition, both the German major and minor allow you to explore a broader context by taking courses from across the curriculum that will count toward your degree in German, in fields that include law, art history, philosophy and digital humanities,
Awards, Prizes and Scholarships
The Jim Stump Prize honors a devoted alumnus of the Class of 1953. It is awarded annually at the discretion of the Department of German and Arabic to an undergraduate of exceptional achievement in German.
The James S. Wood Prize in German is awarded annually to honor an alumnus of the Class of 1965 who was killed in Vietnam.
The Rising Star Award is given to a student at the beginning of his or her academic career who promises to shine in the future as a German major or minor.
The Craig Hinkel Prize was established in 2000 in memory of Otto and Ruth Craig Hinkel and is awarded annually to a student (or students) who has (have) a dual interest in English and German literature.
The Stephenson Scholarship is awarded every year at Commencement to a rising junior German major of great promise. It was established in honor of Buford S. “Steve” Stephenson, an alumnus of the class of 1942 and longtime professor and chair of the department.
Dickens-Youngblood Award was established in recognition of two retired members of the German Department, David B. Dickens and Robert Youngblood. It is awarded to a high achieving German major in either their junior or senior year.
Experience in Germany
- Two Spring Term abroad programs, “Layered Berlin” and “Traces of Empire,” are total-immersion academic programs directed by W&L faculty in Berlin and Graz, Austria, respectively.
- A semester-long program with the University of Bayreuth in the spring/ summer semester (April-July)
- Paid, three-month long internships with multi-national corporations in Germany through the German-American Exchange Internship Program, as well as other opportunities sponsored by the Woolley Fellowship and Johnson Opportunity Grant Program at W&L
External Scholarships & Fellowships
- Fulbright Scholarships and Teaching Assistant Scholarships in Germany and Austria
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
- Congress-Bundestag Young Professionals Program
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Summer Scholarships
- Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowships
After W&L
Recent graduates have gone on to graduate school at institutions like Harvard and the University of Texas. Those who have chosen the working world are enjoying exciting and varied careers around the world in areas such as international commerce, finance, law, international banking and education.
Sample Courses
German (Elementary-Advanced)
Elementary German emphasizes the spoken language, as well as grammar and reading. In Intermediate German, the emphasis is on listening comprehension and speaking, reading and writing, and some German literature and culture. Advanced German covers the written language through composition and a study of stylistics. Advanced conversational material is drawn from topics relevant to contemporary life in the German-speaking world.
German Literature: 1800-1850
This course is an introduction to German literature through close reading, analysis and discussion of key German texts written from the early- to mid-19th century. Students become familiar with the development, characteristics and themes of German literature in this period as well as methods and terms of literary criticism and interpretation (in both English and German). Conducted in German.
The Age of Goethe
A study of dramatic, expository, narrative and poetic works by the young Goethe, Schiller and their contemporaries. While emphasizing the historical and sociopolitical context of this aesthetically revolutionary period, this course examines Germany's turn toward Sentimentalism that culminates in the Sturm und Drang movement. Regular expository writing in German and performing in debates or scenes are required. Conducted in German.
Exploring Austria & Hungary
A four-week advanced language and culture class based in Graz, Austria, with a particular focus on the multi-national, polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire and its impact on modern Austria's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural identity. Language and culture classes take place in the University of Graz's language center, Treffpunkt Sprachen. Afternoon discussion classes focus on Austrian culture, supported by readings from the texts, film screenings and visits to important sites and events in Graz and its environs. During excursions to Vienna and Budapest, we compare the two rival imperial capitals of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, visit the opera houses and national art collections, and consider both the function of art in forging national and imperial identity, and the role of power in the construction of "taste."
Layered Berlin
Layered Berlin: German Culture and the Social Market Economy is a four-week course taught abroad that offers students a true immersion in German language, culture and business environment. In order to give students a complete understanding of contemporary Germany, we integrate a literary-historical analysis of the country's rich history from 1848 to the present day with an introduction to German social and economic system that focuses on stakeholder-centric business and sustainability principles. Through an exciting mix of literary fiction, historical readings and cases, film screenings, along with corporate and cultural site visits, students gain an understanding of the interdependence between "big C" Culture and business culture.
Anti-Semitism in German Culture
How is that the Jewish population, such a small minority in 1930s Germany, could occupy so much space in the German cultural imagination? This is an interdisciplinary course drawing on political, literary and theological texts. We begin our study in the 18th century and trace the development of antisemitism in Germany through the eliminationist version of the World War II era. Special emphasis is placed on antisemitism as a global phenomenon with an emphasis on France in the 18th century and at the turn of the 20th century, and the U.S. in the first half of the 20th century. No previous familiarity with the subject matter is necessary.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
