German

Program Description

Gain a deeper understanding of Germanic cultures through the study of the German language, literature, and society. In the German program at the University of Utah, you will gain a firm foundation in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in German. Students studying German take language classes in addition to courses on German history, literature, culture, and grammar. Upper-level culture classes introduce you to literature, film, podcasts, and legacy and social media from the German-speaking world.  The program provides a broad overview of German history, arts, and culture, equipping students with the linguistic proficiency, critical-analytical skills, and cultural knowledge to help them succeed in today’s global environment.  

The Student Experience

You will learn key skills and perspectives in German Studies while improving your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in German. You will develop critical thinking based on the interpretation of evidence and engage with central concepts, concerns, and debates in the German world. In addition, the program offers several academic enrichment opportunities both on- and off-campus. The professors in the German section work closely with the German Conversation Club to put on cultural events related to the German-speaking world once per month.

You will also have the opportunity to study abroad through a university-sponsored program, programs sponsored through the American Association for Teachers of German (AATG), through participating Goethe Institutes. Study abroad is highly recommended for you to experience German culture firsthand and make large gains in your language proficiency. With regard to academic and professional development, students have the opportunity to submit papers to national conferences, visit research institutions in Germany, or complete an internship or undergraduate research project to gain hands-on skills and deepen their knowledge. 

Career Opportunities

Humanities majors are well poised to be successful in many fields. Of the workforce in Washington D.C., 17% majored in the Humanities. Upon graduation, you will be prepared for careers in government, domestically or abroad, as a translator, linguist, diplomat, immigration or customs specialist, or journalist. Alternatively, with a double major in business, you can enter the world of international business as a supply chain manager, logistics specialist, or HR representative in a German-speaking country. Jobs also abound for speakers of German in travel and tourism—as an airline employee, travel guide, or translator. Engineers with German language skills have found work with Stadler locally and with the big three German automakers nationally.

Finally, students will be successful in careers in education in the United States or abroad through a Fulbright grant, e.g., in Germany or in Austria, and educational administration. Many of our students go on to graduate education to find employment as lawyers, librarians, curators, or, more broadly, in the medical field. 

More Info

• German Program
• Department of World Languages & Cultures
• College of Humanities
• Department Advising
• U Career Success

Catalog

• German BA
• German Minor

Exploratory Classes

• WLC 2010 - Intro to the Study of Literature & Culture
• WLC 2020 - Language in Society
• GERM 1010 (or above) - Beginning German I