German language, major, minor
Willkommen!
Major in German!
- Graduate ready for careers in STEM, business, diplomacy, and beyond with the cross-cultural edge to set you apart.
- Germany's economy is the fourth largest in the world. German companies and institutions are leaders in science, technology and the arts. And Germany is a political leader in Europe. For these reasons and more, being able to speak German can open doors to jobs in a number of fields.
- The flexibility of Ohio State’s German major makes it easy to combine a second major with German, such as history, engineering, international studies, journalism, political science, business or another foreign language.
- Many graduates use their liberal arts preparation as a stepping stone to advanced study or professional preparation in fields such as foreign service, medicine, law, international business and education.
Look for current courses and course descriptions
For a German major you'll complete the prerequisite language series (German 1101-1103 or equivalent), followed by 30 credit hours in the categories listed below.
Up to 15 transfer/EM units are allowed.
Note that students may complete the GE language sequence by participating in our Dresden Study Abroad Program!
The German Major at Ohio State
⇒ Prerequisites /12 credit hours :
- German 1101 German I or equivalent
- German 1102 German II or equivalent
- German 1103 German III or equivalent
- Students can complete their GE language requirement by enrolling in our German language sequence.
German Placement Chart (opens in a new window) - In-person / Hybrid classes are: German 1101.01 / 1102.01 / 1103.01
- Online classes are: German 1101.02 / 1102.02 / 1103.02
- Textbook Information
- Students may complete the GE language sequence by participating in our Dresden Study Abroad Program!
Want information about beginning German language classes?
contact Dr. Budimka Uskokovic (.2)
⇒ Core Requirements /12 credit hours :
- German 2101 Texts and Contexts I: Contemporary German Language, Culture and Society
(3 ch; prerequisite German 1103 or equivalent; taught in German) - German 2102 Texts and Contexts II: 20th –Century German Language, History and Culture
(3 ch; prerequisite German 2101 or equivalent; taught in German) - German 3101 Texts and Contexts III: Historical Perspectives
(3 ch; prerequisite German 2102 or equivalent; taught in German) - German 2350 Introduction to German Studies
(3 ch; taught in English) - German 3689 Words Across the World
(3 ch; GE Theme taught in English! )
⇒⇒ Mid-level Requirements (choose three classes = 9 credit hours) :
The prerequisite for all 3000-level topics courses is German 2102
- German 3102 News and Views: Conversations about Current Issues in the German-Speaking World (3 ch; taught in German)
- German 3200 Topics in German Literature, Art and Film
(3 ch; taught in German) - German 3300 Topics in German Culture Studies, Social and Intellectual History
(3 ch; taught in German) - German 3600 Topics in German Language and Linguistics
(3 ch; taught in German) - Either German 3602 German for the Professions 1 OR German 3603 Translation 1
(3 ch; taught in German)
⇒⇒⇒ Advanced Requirements / 6 credit hours :
- German 4xxx– Choose two from this group; one must be in German
- German 4x00 Senior Seminar in German (German) (3 cr.; prerequisite German 3101 and one further 3000-level course or permission of instructor, sr. standing; taught in German):
- German 4200 German Literature, Art and Film
- German 4300 German Culture Studies, Social and Intellectual History
- German 4600 German Linguistics/Language
- German 4602 German for the Professions 2
- German 4603 Translation 2
- German 4x50 Senior Seminar in German Studies (English) (3 cr.; prerequisite jr. or sr. standing; taught in English):
- German 4250 German Literature, Art and Film
- German 4350 German Culture Studies, Social and Intellectual History
- German 4650 German Language and Linguistics
→ Electives / 6 credit hours :
- You may fulfill your 6 credit-hour elective requirement by completing TWO of the courses listed below.
- Only one of your selections may be a course taught in English (E).
- Courses with GE designation can be used to fulfill either the elective category or the GE category, but not both (for single majors only).
- Double and multiple majors, please consult with Dr. Spencer (.4)
→ An additional 3000-level course taught in German
→ An additional 4000-level course or seminar taught in German
→ One additional 4x50 seminar taught in English ~ (E)
- German 2193 Individual Studies
- German 2250 (E) Berlin: Stories, Languages, and Ideas (GE)
- German 2251 (E) German Literature and Popular Culture (GE Theme)
- German 2253 (E) Magic, Murder and Mayhem (GE)
- German 2254 (E) Grimms' Fairy Tales and their Afterlives (GE)
- German 2310 (E) Nature in Nordic and Germanic Literature (GE)
- German 2256 (E) Fan Fiction: From Homer to Harry Potter (GE)
- German 2350 (E) Introduction to German Studies (GE)
- German 2367 (E) German Literature and American Culture (GE)
- German 3102 News and Views: Conversations about Current Issues in the German-Speaking World (in German)
- German 3250 (E) Citizenship in the Age of Technology: Exploring Social Justice through Sci Fi in Germany (GE Theme)
- German 3252.01 or .02 (E) The Holocaust in Literature and Film (GE Theme)
- German 3253 (E) German Immigration in the US (GE Theme)
- German 3254H (E) Representations and Memory of the Holocaust in Film (GE Theme)
- German 3317H (E) Black Identity and Culture in German-Speaking Europe (GE)
- German 3351 (E) Democracy, Fascism, and German Culture (GE Theme)
- German 3352 (E) *Study Abroad
The Development of Contemporary Germany (GE Theme) - German 3354 (E) From Viking Saga to Climate Fiction: Nature in Nordic and Germanic Literatures (GE Theme)
- German 3689 (E) Words Across the World (GE Theme)
- German 3798.02 (E) *Study Abroad
Berlin, Then and Now: People, Places, and Experiences (GE Theme) - German 3999H Honors Undergraduate research project
- German 4191 Internship in German
- German 4252 Masterpieces of German Literature (E) (GE)
- German 4998 Undergraduate Research Projects
- German 4998H Honors Undergraduate Research Projects
- German 4999 Undergraduate Research Thesis
- German 4999H Honors Undergraduate Research Thesis
- German 5193 Individual Studies
- German 5797 Study at a Foreign Institute
- German 5798 Study Tour
Minor in German
⇒ Prerequisites /12 credit hours :
- German 1101 German I or equivalent
- German 1102 German II or equivalent
- German 1103 German III or equivalent
The Department welcomes students who are majoring in other departments and are also interested in completing a Minor Program in German.
The German minor consists of 15 credit units beyond German 1103 and can be designed according to your particular interest.
- Students can complete their GE language requirement by enrolling in our German language sequence.
German Placement Chart (opens in a new window) - In-person / Hybrid classes are: German 1101.01 / 1102.01 / 1103.01
- Online classes are: German 1101.02 / 1102.02 / 1103.02
- Textbook Information
- Students may complete the GE language sequence by participating in our Dresden Study Abroad Program!
Want information about beginning German language classes?
contact Dr. Budimka Uskokovic (.2)
Students who wish to minor in German must also complete:
- German 2101 (3 units), 2102 (3 units), and 9 units of Electives (of which one course taught in English is allowed).
- No more than 6 credit units can overlap between the GE and a minor.
- No more than 3 units of course work graded S/U may count toward the minor.
- A maximum of 6 units of transfer/EM credit is allowed.
For current German courses taught in English, check out our GE webpage!
For German majors who want an immersion experience, the Max Kade German House serves as a Living Learning Center for ten students and provides a very comfortable, informal setting for numerous extra-curricular activities, such as German Club, Kaffeeklatsch, discussion groups, conferences, and TV evenings. Opportunities to study abroad in German-speaking countries include a summer study tour to Dresden.
Students gain proficiency in German, discover the appreciation of other cultures, and learn to think critically. Our goal is to develop students’ intercultural competency and guide them to understand the skills that they develop so that they can express to future employers what they have to offer as multilingual, culturally and interculturally competent job candidates. Students work towards the degrees with classes, one-on-one interaction with faculty, study abroad experiences, conversation groups and clubs, and scholarly events. Honors study is another option.
Apart from our degree programs, the Department invites all undergraduates to make use of its offerings in the GE or as students in individually selected courses.
Reach out to our Academic Advisor, Dr. Spencer. You can make an appointment to meet with Dr. Spencer by emailing him, calling 614 292-8485, or by dropping by the advising office in 355 Hagerty Hall.