Degree Offered: Minor

Why Study German?

• Knowledge of German gives students improved qualifications in fields as diverse as arts, communication, media, sciences, research, technology and the humanities.
• German is one of the official languages of the EU.
• 42 million Americans can trace their ancestry to Germany.
• Germany is the most important trading partner for almost all European and many non-European partners.
• Knowledge of German will give you a better chance when applying to graduate schools.
• Read Goethe’s “Faust”, listen to Bach and Schubert, watch movies like “Live of the Others,” all in the original language.
• Read Daniel Kehlmann's The Director (German: Lichtspiel), listen to Kitschkrieg, Bach, Rammstein, and Schubert, watch movies like “Babylon Berlin” and “Barbara” (Christian Petzold), all in the original language.
• German is one of the most commonly used languages after English on the internet. Knowing German gives you an advantage for careers in: Business, Communication Studies, European Literature, History, International Relations, Journalism, Linguistics, Literature, Music, Psychology, Publishing, Sociology, Sciences, and many more.

Take a campus tour with German major Charlotte Ebel ’25, Student Athlete, University Scholar, and triple major in Women’s and Gender Studies; German Language, Literature, and Culture; and Communication Studies.

German Language Placement

All students who would like to take German are required to take a language placement assessment, regardless of previous exposure to or instruction in German.

Please note that the language placement assessment is designed to place you at the correct skill level. It is not a graded exam or a proficiency test but rather an assessment to match your skills with the appropriate language course at SU.

Information to navigate the assessments can be found at Language Placement Exams - College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University.

If you have any questions, please contact Professor Karina von Tippelskirch. 

Questions concerning fulfilling your program’s language requirement can be directed to the Department Chair at lllchair@syr.edu.

Kade Student Travel Awards for study abroad in German-speaking countries.

Download the PDF application for the Kade Student Travel Award.

German Major and Minor

The German Major and Minor

Students are admitted into the major through departmental approval and should consult the German Program Coordinator about their major as early as possible so that they may be sure to satisfy prerequisites and requirements within four years.

The Major

A Major in German requires a minimum of 27 credits beginning with GER 202 and above. Refer to the Course Catalog for specific major requirements. 

The Minor

The German Minor requires at least 18 credits; 12 of the credits have to be taken at the 300 level or above. Refer to the Course Catalog for specific minor requirements.

Classes

Refer to the Course Catalog for a list of classes.