The Department of Germanic Studies is one of the largest and most diverse departments in the country, combining traditional coverage and breadth with new interdisciplinary and theoretical approaches. The undergraduate and graduate students receive a comprehensive introduction to the languages, literature, and cultures of the Germanic-speaking countries and to the increasingly multicultural, transnational, and global contexts that define these cultures today.

The department is committed to providing all students--those who fulfill their language requirement in the courses, undergraduate majors, and graduate students--with a deeper understanding of languages and the importance of cultural literacy in an increasingly global world.