By completing a one-year sequence in German (GER 101/102) at University of South Dakota, you will fulfill both your Goal #4 (Humanities) and #7 (Cultural Diversity) general education requirements at the same time. By completing four semesters of German, you will fulfill the language requirement established at the College of Arts & Sciences for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Completing just 18 hours (including the first two years) will grant you a minor in German. Completing 36 hours will grant you a major in German.

Strong Roots

German-speaking countries of Europe have made a vital contribution to Western civilization. At present, German is spoken by approximately 90 million people in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as in other countries of East Central Europe. German is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Community. In addition, German immigration, culture, and language have very strong roots in the U.S., particularly in the Upper Midwest. Germans constitute the second largest ethnic minority in the U.S., and Germany is a major international trading partner of South Dakota after Canada.