Willkommen!
Major in German!
- 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 33 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!
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.
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
⇒ 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)
⇒⇒ Mid-level Requirements (Choose three classes / 9 credit hours) :
The prerequisite for all 3000-level topics courses is German 2102
- 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) - German 3102 News and Views: Conversations about Current Issues in the German-Speaking World (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 II
- German 4603 Translation II
- 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 following 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 2451 (E) Hollywood and Germany: Exiles & Émigré (GE)
- German 3102 News and Views: Conversations about Current Issues in the German-Speaking World (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) The Development of Contemporary Germany (GE Theme) *Study Abroad
- German 3353H (E) German Intellectual History: Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud (GE)
- 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) Berlin, Then and Now: People, Places, and Experiences (GE Theme) *Study Abroad
- 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