Programs

The department offers seven areas of concentration:

1. German Literature: 5 courses in German department (no more than one at 200 – level); 3 cognates in related humanities departments and other disciplines such as philosophy and religion.

2. German Philosophy and Intellectual History: 6 courses in German department (at least 2 of which should be 300 – level) and 2 relevant cognate courses in history, European cultural studies, or philosophy.

3. Media and Aesthetics: 6 courses in German department (at least 2 of which should be 300 – level) and 2 relevant cognate courses from art and archaeology, music, European cultural studies, and the Program in Visual Arts.

4. Germanic Linguistics: Required to take Linguistics 201 Introduction to Language and Linguistics, Linguistics 214 Historical Linguistics, or another course in linguistics, and two graduate seminars (GER 505 History of the German Language, GER 506 Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy) and 3 courses in German literature and culture as well as one cognate course.

5. The Study of Literatures: 5 upper level -courses in German program and 3 upper- level courses in a second literature.

6. Joint Program in German Culture and Politics: 4 courses in the German department, 4 cognate courses in the Department of Politics (at least 2 on 300 level). One JP for German, one JP for POL. Thesis supervised in German department, but it may deal with any political topic acceptable to both departmental representatives. Upon completion of this program the two departments will issue a letter certifying completion of a program in German cultural studies with a concentration in politics.

7. Certificate in German Language and Culture: The program is open to undergraduates in all departments. Students should consult the departmental representative by the middle of the sophomore year to plan a program of study. In addition to meeting the departmental requirements, students’ work must involve aspects of German culture in one or more disciplines outside the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, for example, relevant courses or independent work in history, politics, culture, literature, music, and so on that deal in part with German-speaking countries. It is strongly recommended that students spend some time in a German-speaking country. This could be done through the Berlin Consortium for German Studies, Princeton’s own study abroad program, or through the Summer Work Program.

Language Requirements and Departmentals: For areas 1, 4, and 5, at least three, and for areas 2, 3, and 6, at least two of the departmentals should be taught in German.

For further information and for any questions, please contact Christiane Frey, the Department Representative.