These opportunities prepare our students to understand both changing approaches to cultural studies as well as the changes in European and world affairs that will affect our ways of life in the next century.

Since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, Germany's growing economic and political influence has manifested itself worldwide. Unified Germany is one of the driving forces of European unification, a process that will be a central factor in world economics and politics in the next century. The study of German history and culture will therefore be a major asset to students considering careers in many fields as well as in further study in graduate school.

Language courses in the Department of German Studies are culturally motivated from the beginning, stressing an integral approach to building language skills and to understanding the German cultural environment. Ample conversation practice is provided, along with exposure to a variety of texts, including literature, film, music, and German television. In addition, German-language sections of courses in other departments are periodically offered, such as History, Political Science, and History of Art and Architecture. At times, we are able to offer German for Reading Knowledge, aimed at graduate students who need to satisfy a language requirement (check the Course Announcement). Furthermore, the Department also offers courses in the Swedish language.