About the Program

The German Program at Florida State University gives students a thorough grounding in the German language with courses ranging from basic German to advanced courses in conversation, composition, grammar, and linguistics. It provides an excellent introduction to literature, film, culture and civilization of German-speaking countries. German majors develop refined ways of analyzing information and communicating across cultures, they build important professional and interpersonal skills. With opportunities to study abroad and earn credits toward their major, students enhance their cross-cultural awareness, develop critical thinking skills and become aware of their own cultural practices and beliefs.

Considered a useful language in the study of literature, film, art, music, philosophy, history, archeology, science and business, the German language opens doors to jobs around the world. Our faculty teaches a wide-range of courses about the German language, culture and linguistics. We offer several scholarships and opportunities to study abroad in Germany. A degree in German will move you quickly towards bilingualism while gaining critical thinking and cross-cultural skills.

At the graduate level, our Masters degree students have been accepted into some of the best Ph.D. programs in the country. Several have pursued other professional careers in education, law, science or business. The expertise of our German faculty and affiliated members is wide-ranging and comprises literary studies from the eighteenth century to the present, German philosophy, history of ideas, memory studies and human rights, nationalism, gender studies, performance & folklore studies, film studies, and linguistics. The German graduate program encourages the pursuit of interdisciplinary interests and offers students ample opportunity to explore other intellectual disciplines.

Undergraduate

The program offers a major, a concentration in business, a co-major option with several of the other languages within the department, as well as a minor option.

Graduate

The program offers a two-year Master's degree program in German, which focuses on important aspects of modern German culture. The program requires a minimum of 30 hours, a substantial research paper and passage of a comprehensive exam.

Why Study German

Many great minds thought and wrote in German, among them Goethe, Freud, Marx, Nietzsche, Einstein, Walter Benjamin, Thomas Mann. German-speaking countries are famous for their music and art. Germany is the largest economy in Europe and fourth largest in the world. It plays a significant role in international business. German companies account for 700,000 jobs in the US. Germany is an economic and political power house in the EU. It is a leading science, engineering, and research nation.