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.
Students are required to declare their major at least two semesters before their expected graduation date. Please visit our Undergraduate Advising page for more information.
Required Courses
33 Total Credits
Completed at least 1 of the following
3000-level Electives
Earned at least 12 credits from the following
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)
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
German MAJOR REQUIREMENTS 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.
German Minor
Required Courses
15 Total Credits
Third-Year CourseComplete at least 1 of the following
GERM3040 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
GERM3060 Grammar and Reading (3)
Complete at least 1 of the following
GERM3550 Introduction to German Studies (3)
GERM3560 Introduction to German Speaking Cultures (3)
Upper-Division
Earned at least 9 credits from GERM 3000 - 5999, excluding
Minimum Minor Hours
15 Total Credits
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
A wide range of exchange programs exists for between the University of Utah and Germany. Discover learning abroad opportunities in Germany!
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 Scholarships | Fulbright 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
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
InternXchange
Summer program in Berlin for American journalism and communications students with
advanced-intermediate German.
Application deadline: Late January
Paper Submissions
Green Talent Competition
Join the Competition and get the chance to visit the hot spots of sustainability research in Germany.
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.
Faculty
Tenure-Line Faculty
Career-Line Faculty