Throughout history, German writers and thinkers have played a central role in the development of world culture. Today, Germany's economy is the largest in Europe, ranking third in the world, and Germany is the world's leading export nation.
Students in OU's German program learn to read, write, and speak the language fluently. Not only do they gain insight into German, Austrian, and Swiss society through literature and culture courses, but they also discover the importance of German thought for understanding many other fields in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. These students are prepared for a variety of careers, including international business, translator, teacher or professor, and diplomat. In addition to study abroad, OU German students enjoy small classes and close contact with their professors, who regularly teach a wide range of courses.
A student majoring in German graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Most German majors are also double majors, combining language study with fields as diverse as business, chemistry, anthropology, and music. Students can go on to pursue Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, or Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
A student majoring in German typically has interests in foreign languages and world cultures and is eager to gain an understanding of how people know and experience the world. Many students also enjoy traveling and are able to adapt easily to different environments. While students who have had German instruction in high school may begin study at an intermediate level, many German majors have had no prior preparation in German before starting to study the language at OU.
Faculty members in the German program were educated at Harvard, Princeton, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Texas. They have been recipients of such prestigious awards as the Fulbright Fellowship and the National Humanities Center Grant. Widely published in their fields, OU German professors have also won prizes for their scholarly articles and their excellence in teaching.
OU is also home to the literary magazine World Literature Today, and students have the opportunity to meet with writers from countries around the world.
Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website to explore the median pay for jobs you can pursue with this degree.
OU Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
Phone: (405) 325-1549
Email: jsullivan@ou.edu
Website: modlang.ou.edu
