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German

German Program

Learning German introduces you to the lands of ideas and diversity. Germany has Europe’s strongest economy and plays a central role in current issues such as the environment, politics, migration, and 21st-century globalization.

Germany is a leader in innovation and creativity and a major force in international business, engineering, and science. German speakers have played a prominent role in literature, art, music, and philosophy. German is one of the world’s major languages and is the most widely spoken language in the European Union after English.

 

German Major

Our degree will provide you with the linguistic proficiency, critical-analytical skills, and cultural knowledge to help you succeed in a global, changing world! 

German is an official language of five European countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein) and serves as the lingua franca of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a commonly spoken language in many other areas and has growing numbers of learners worldwide, notably in Brazil, China, and India.

The German major offers two emphases, each designed for a certain student population. The Society and Culture Emphasis is for students who come to the U without any background in German and must start language classes at the 1010 level. 

The Advanced Language, Literature and Culture Emphasis can still be completed if you start at the 1010 level at the U, but it will take more time to complete than the Society and Culture Emphasis. The Advanced Language, Literature and Culture Emphasis is designed for students who start at a higher language level at the U and wish to acquire a higher language proficiency level.

If you declared your German major prior to Fall 2021, you have the option to either finish the requirements you have, or re-declare the major in one of the two emphases described above if you would rather complete the requirements associated with them instead.

Students should declare their major as soon as possible. Declaring a major locks in course requirements so students do not have to worry about requirements changing. To graduate, students must apply through the Graduation tile on their CIS Student Homepage by the graduation application deadline in the term they wish to graduate (and have all their requirements completed or in progress at that time). Please visit our Undergraduate Advising page for more information. 

For students who declared BEFORE Fall 2021

You may re-declare the german major if you would like to fulfill the new requirements in either the society and culture emphasis or the Advanced language, literature and culture emphasis instead. Email wlc-advising@utah.edu

33 Total Credits

ONE of the following

WLC2010 Introduction to the Study of Literature and Culture (3)
WLC2020 Language in Society (3)

ONE of the following

GERM3040 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)

BOTH of the following

GERM3550 Introduction to German Studies (3)
GERM3560 Introduction to German Speaking Cultures (3)

At least FOUR of the following for 12 credits

GERM3050 Topics in German Culture (3)
GERM3600 Intermediate German Conversation (1)
GERM3750 From Grimm to Disney - The Birth of the Modern Fairy Tale (3)
GERM3900 Special Topics (1 - 3)
GERM3903 Cultures & Languages Across the Curriculum: German (1)
GERM3940 Community Engaged Learning (3)
HIST3190 Modern Germany (3)
CLCS3700 Holocaust and Remembrance (3)

At least TWO of the following for 6 credits

GERM4060 Advanced German Grammar (3)
GERM4900 Special Topics (.5 - 3)
HIST4130 Early Medieval Social and Cultural History (3)

World Languages & Cultures Practicum
ONE practicum option for 3 credits

Upper-division Learning Abroad Course or Internship
Community Engaged Learning Course
Undergraduate Research
Local, National, or International Hinckley Internship
Consult with faculty for more options


Society and Culture Emphasis

40 Total Credits

ALL of the following

GERM1010 Beginning German I (4)
GERM1020 Beginning German II (4)
GERM2010Intermediate German I (4)
GERM2020 Intermediate German II (4)
GERM3040 Topics in Literature & Culture (3)

ONE of the following

GERM3050 Topics in German Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)

BOTH of the following

GERM3550 Intro to German Studies (Usually offered in Fall) (3)
GERM3560 Intro to German Speaking Cultures (Usually offered in Spring) (3)

ONE of the following

WLC2010 Intro to the Study of Literature and Culture (3)
WLC2020 Language in Society (3)

At least TWO of the following for a total of 6 credits

GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)
GERM3600 Intermediate German Conversation* (1)
GERM3750 From Grimm to Disney** (3)
GERM3900 Special Topics (3)
GERM3940 Community Engaged Learning (3)
GERM4900 Special Topics (3)
HIST2100 Nazi Germany** (3)
POLS3410 European Politics** (3)
POLS5420 European Union** (3)

*Can be taken up to 3 times
**Taught in English

World Languages & Cultures Practicum
ONE practicum option for 3 credits

Upper-division Learning Abroad Course or Internship
Community Engaged Learning Course
Undergraduate Research
Local, National, or International Hinckley Internship
Consult with faculty for more options

German Proficiency Assessment

Graduating students must take the OPIc at L2TReC


Advanced Language, Literature, and Culture Emphasis

33 Total Credits

ONE of the following

WLC2010 Intro to the Study of Literature and Culture (3)
WLC2020 Language in Society (3)

ONE of the following

GERM3040 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)

BOTH of the following

GERM3550 Intro to Gertman Studies (Usually offered in Fall) (3)
GERM3560 Intro to German Speaking Cultures (Usually offered in Spring) (3)

At least THREE of the following for 9 credits

GERM3050 Topics in German Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)
GERM3600 Intermediate German Conversation (1)
GERM3750 From Grimm to Disney** (3)
GERM3900 Special Topics (3)
GERM3940 Community Engaged Learning** (3)

*Can be taken up to 3 times
**Taught in English

At least THREE of the following for 9 credits

GERM4060 Advanced Grammar (3)
GERM4900 Special Topics* (3)

*May be repeated. Topic varies every semester.

World Languages & Cultures Practicum
ONE practicum option for 3 credits

Upper-division Learning Abroad Course or Internship
Community Engaged Learning Course
Undergraduate Research
Local, National, or International Hinckley Internship
Consult with faculty for more options

German Proficiency Assessment

Graduating students must take the OPIc at L2TReC

Minimum Degree Hours

122 Total Credits

Minimum Major Hours

33 Total Credits

All classes must be passed with a C or better
Students must take at least 15 credits of the major in residence at the University of Utah
A maximum of 6 credits may be taken from HIST/CLCS

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS DECLARED BEFORE FALL 2021   major requirements society & culture emphasisMAJOR REQUIREMENTS ADVANCED LANGUAGE LITERATURE & CULTURE EMPHASIS   WLC PRACTICUM OPTIONS

Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level.

German Minor

Students are required to declare their minor at least two semesters before their expected graduation date. Please visit our Undergraduate Advising page for more information.

For students declared into the German minor BEFORE Fall 2020:

15 Total Credits

Third-Year Courses

Complete ONE of the following

GERM3040 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)

Complete ONE of the following

GERM3550 Introduction to German Studies (3)
GERM3560 Introduction to German Speaking Cultures (3)

Upper-Division

Earn at least 9 credits from GERM 3000 - 5999, EXCLUDING

GERM3040 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)

GERMAN MINOR WORKSHEET DECLARED BEFORE FALL 2020


For students declared into the German minor Fall 2020 or later:

18 Total Credits

Third-Year Courses

Complete at least 1 of the following

GERM3040 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)

Complete BOTH of the following

GERM3550 Introduction to German Studies (3)
GERM3560 Introduction to German Speaking Cultures (3)

Upper-Division

Earn at least 9 credits from GERM 3000 - 5999, EXCLUDING

GERM3040 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)
GERM3600 Intermediate German Conversation (1)

GERMAN MINOR WORKSHEETDECLARED FALL 2020 OR LATER

Minimum Minor Hours

15 TOTAL CREDITS (Declared before Fall 2020)
OR
18 Total Credits (Declared fall 2020 or later)

All courses must be passed with a C or better.
At least 6 credits of minor requirements must be taken in residence at the University of Utah

Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level. 

Student Opportunities

We encourage our students to take advantage of the many student opportunities offered through our program and our university, including learning abroad, internships and scholarships.

Learning Abroad

Learning abroad is the opportunity to live, study and intern abroad while completing your degree here at the University of Utah. Learning Abroad helps connect you to over 500+ program options in over 50 countries, many of which are great for improving your proficiency in another language. Learn more about Learning Abroad by visiting learningabroad.utah.edu and completing Learning Abroad 101

To get started, see below for program options for German. 

For questions, email Learning Abroad at learningabroad@utah.edu, call them at 801-581-5849, or visit in person at Union 159.


Faculty-Led Programs

The U partners with external organizations (Affiliates) to expand where you can go and what you can study on a learning abroad program. Affiliates offer programs at study centers, local institutions, or a combination of both in the host country. Programs are commonly structured around a particular theme or topic, such as "Language, Culture, and Society". Program options can also include internships, service learning & community engagement opportunities.


Exchanges

The U partners with universities around the world to offer you the opportunity to complete coursework in an immersive university environment alongside local students. Coursework can be quite flexible with students oftentimes completing major, minor, and general education requirements. Additionally, the cost of an exchange program is the same as paying U of U resident tuition, which makes exchanges one of our most affordable options!

  • Christian-Albrechts University KielExchange Scholarship - CAU Kiel offers a 740 euro per month stipend to all eligible University of Utah undergraduate students who plan to participate in the U of U/CAU Kiel exchange program. Master’s students receive 800 euro per month and doctoral students receive 900 euro per month. This scholarship helps cover living expenses. Please contact Learning Abroad for more information.
  • Heidelberg University Scholarship - Heidelberg University (HU) offers two semester scholarships each year to University of Utah undergraduate students who apply to participate in the U of U/HU exchange program. This scholarship provides students with a 700 euro/month stipend and also covers the cost of a free preparatory language course. All students who apply on time to the Heidelberg University Exchange program, regardless of length of program, will be automatically considered for this scholarship.
  • Ludwig Maximillians University
  • MCI Management Center Innsbruck - Ernst Mach Scholarship for studying at an Austrian university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule). Students (Undergraduate/Graduate) looking to spend one or two semesters at Management Center Innsbruck during the 2020-2021 academic year are welcome to apply for this scholarship. The grant is EUR 1,050 per month. Please note that this is a grant offered by the Austrian government, not by MCI, and it is competitive. 

Affiliate Programs

The U partners with external organizations (Affiliates) to expand where you can go and what you can study on a learning abroad program. Affiliates offer programs at study centers, local institutions, or a combination of both in the host country. Programs are commonly structured around a particular theme or topic, such as "Language, Culture, and Society". Program options can also include internships, service learning & community engagement opportunities.

  • German focused affiliate programs: click here
  • University of Kiel Summer School Scholarship
    University of Kiel offers one scholarship each summer for a U of U student participating on their German Language and Culture program. This scholarship, which is typically due in March, includes free participation in all course activities, food (half-board) and housing. The scholarship is open to students from all fields and at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, PhDs), but you must have basic German language skills since all lectures are given in German. Students should have passed the CEFR level A 2.2 before they can participate in the Summer Course.
    *Note: This is NOT the U of U faculty-led program

Scholarships 

University of Utah Scholarships

The Department of World Languages and Cultures, College of Humanities, and University offer many Scholarship opportunities.

View and Apply for Scholarships

University of Utah Scholarships

2,000 grants are awarded to US students and professors annually to study and research in Germany. Go to DAAD and Fullbright for scholarship information.

DAAD ScholarshipsFulbright Scholarships

Internships

RISE- Research Internships in Science and Engineering

Summertime internships with German doctoral students at universities and research institutions--no German required!
Date for applying: Early December

Apply for RISE 

RISE Professional

Students about to complete their bachelor's or undergrads who are DAAD alumni can apply for these summer internships with German companies.
Application deadline: Late January

Apply for Rise Professional

InternXchange

Summer program in Berlin for American journalism and communications students with advanced-intermediate German.
Application deadline: Late January

Apply for InterXchange

Paper Submissions

Green Talent Competition

Join the Competition and get the chance to visit the hot spots of sustainability research in Germany.

Enter Green Talent Competition

Graduate Sooner

Announcing the following changes to the German major and minor to help you graduate sooner and make it easier for you to double-major! Changes include exciting new courses, expanded range of classes and schedule time slots, and more flexible ways to get German credit!

New Courses

GERM 3050: Topics in German Culture, with an emphasis on German film!
GERM 4060: Advanced Grammar
GERM 4900: Love, War, and Betrayal in the German Middle Ages
And many more!

Flexibility 

Take 1-credit German conversation course (GERM 3600) 3 times for 3 credits toward the major/minor! (can also be combined with 1-credit CLAC sections for major/minor credit)

Also choose from approved courses taught in English for German credit (Medieval History, Modern Germany, Holocaust and Remembrance, etc.)

Earn German Service Learning credits during our summer study abroad program in Kiel!

For Majors

Either WLC 2010 (formerly LANG 2010) or WLC 2020 (formerly LANG 2020) now required for major, not both!

For Minors

Either GERM 3550 or GERM 3560 now required for minor, not both!

Career Opportunities - Why Study German?

Your possibilities are unlimited when you study German. “Made in” Germany, Austria, or Switzerland are labels that signal quality of products, design, and lifestyle. That reputation translates into business and career opportunities, intellectual achievements, and vibrant cultural exchanges. Learning German unlocks the door to many career paths.

  • Germany is one of the most important trading partners of the United States. German-American relations for the past 65 years have been, and will continue to be, the bedrock of transatlantic relations.
  • Germany is the third largest investor in the US, the fourth largest national economy worldwide and the largest in the European Union.
  • German companies, such as Adidas, BASF, Bayer, Bosch, Lufthansa, SAP, Siemens, T-Mobile or Volkswagen account for 800,000 jobs in the US (making them the third largest group of foreign employers in the country), and US companies have created approximately the same number of jobs in Germany.
  • The competitiveness and desirability of “Made in Germany” products are indicated by Germany’s substantial trade surplus—162 Billion Euros ($209 Billion).
  • Knowing German can boost your annual salary in the US by 4%, in Europe by even more.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of their course of study, students enrolled in the Emphasis in German Society and Culture will be able to:

  • Communicate in the German language at the Intermediate Level according to the ACTFL scale; specifically:
    1. Students can engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
    2. Students can understand and interpret written and spoken languages at the intermediate level on a variety of topics.
    3. Students can present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers used to non-native speakers on a variety of topics.
  • Gain knowledge and understanding of the culture, history, and society of the German-speaking countries; specifically
    1. Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of the various cultures of the German-speaking countries.
    2. Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products of the various cultures of the German-speaking countries
  • Connect with other disciplines and acquire information
    1. Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the German language.
    2. Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the German language and its cultures.
  • Develop insight into the nature of language and culture
    1. Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language though comparisons of German and their native language.
    2. Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of German and their native language
  • Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world
    1. Students use German both within and beyond the school setting.
    2. Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using German for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

The Learning Outcomes will be assessed using the following:

  • Students receive feedback in the form of exams, essays, quizzes, oral interviews throughout their course of study.
  • Students will take a nationally exit exam, the OPIc, developed by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages and administered through L2 TReC on the campus of the University of Utah.
  • We will track the achieved language levels of all students graduating with the Emphasis in German Society and Culture
  • We will track alumni employment through the Alumni Center at the University of Utah.

By the end of their course of study, students enrolled in the Emphasis in Advanced Language, Literature, and Culture will be able to:

  • Communicate in the German language at the Advanced Level according to the ACTFL scale; specifically:
    1. Students can engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions in all tenses, using a variety of advanced language structures.
    2. Students can understand and interpret written and spoken languages on a variety of topics.
    3. Students can present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers not used to non-native speakers on a variety of topics.
  • Gain knowledge and understanding of the culture, history, and society of the German-speaking countries; specifically
    1. Students demonstrate an advanced understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of the various cultures of the German-speaking countries.
    2. Students demonstrate an advanced understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products of the various cultures of the German-speaking countries
  • Connect with other disciplines and acquire information
    1. Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the German language.
    2. Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the German language and its cultures.
  • Develop Insight into the nature of language and culture
    1. Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language though comparisons of German and their native language.
    2. Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of German and their native language
    3. Students practice close critical analysis of cultural texts from the target culture and therefore gain stronger critical thinking skills, more nuanced cultural understanding, and greater ability to process complexity. They are therefore positioned to become better citizens of their own society and of a global world.
  • Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world
    1. Students use German both within and beyond the school setting.
    2. Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using German for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

The Learning Outcomes will be assessed using the following:

  • Students receive feedback in the form of exams, essays, quizzes, oral interviews throughout their course of study.
  • Students will take a national exit exam, the OPIc, developed by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages and administered through L2 TReC on the campus of the University of Utah.
  • We will track the achieved language levels of all students graduating with the Emphasis in Advanced Language, Literature, and Culture.
  • We will track alumni employment through the Alumni Center at the University of Utah.
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Last Updated: 7/14/23