Aerial view of Berlin

German

College of Letters and Science

  • Bachelor of Arts

Are you interested in learning a foreign language that will give you a powerful career advantage? How about reading some of the greatest works of literature ever written? German is the language of Goethe, Kafka, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven and the most widely spoken native language in Europe. Learning German not only introduces you to a different culture, it also expands your options on the job market. Germany is the largest economy in the European Union, the fourth largest in the world and home to numerous market leaders, such as Siemens, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Adidas and Lufthansa.

Major Requirements

As a German major, you'll choose one of three tracks of study: language and literature, area studies or culture and commerce. In the first track your studies will emphasize literary figures, movements and themes. If you have a broader interest in German history and culture, the area studies track allows you to select from courses in a range of departments (such as history, philosophy and economics) that deepen your understanding of the German-speaking world. The culture and commerce track focuses on functional language competency and is designed to enable students to live and work in a German-speaking environment. A key feature of this track is a work/study experience abroad.

Contact Information

Degree Outcomes

Careers

  • Academic Librarian
  • Academic Research Scientist
  • Automotive Engineering Intern
  • Project Engineer
  • Intelligence Officer
  • High School German Instructor
  • Study Abroad Coordinator

Graduate Study

  • Global affairs
  • International business
  • Philosophy
  • Art history
  • Economics
  • Linguistics

Alumni Employers

  • Emergency Department at John Muir Medical Center
  • Viticulturist
  • Transportation Security Administration
  • UC Davis Extension
  • Brown University
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