Certificate in German-American Studies

German-American Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences leading to the awarding of a certificate. It aims to familiarize students with all aspects of the history and heritage of the German immigration to the U.S., German-American culture, and the immigrants' contributions to the American way of life. It examines the time when immigrants left their countries in Europe, what they left behind, and what the found and how they contributed to the United States.

Students pursuing another degree at the university may earn a Certificate in German-American Studies, which requires 6 credits in an introductory course on the German-American Experience, 6 credits of Independent Work, and 18 credits in approved electives from the following departments: Anthropology, Architecture, Art History, Geography, German, History, Judaic Studies, Music History and Philosophy.

Every student is assigned a faculty advisor from the program. The advisor aids in the planing of a meaningful course of study designed to meet the particular needs of the student. Advisors are responsible for monitoring the student's progress, as well as advising on course selections.

The Certificate in German-American Studies is open to all students who meet the admission requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences, as described in the "College Outline" and in the University's Undergraduate General Information Bulletin. There is a $20 application fee for the program.

The German-American Studies Program at the University of Cincinnati is the only one of its kind in the U.S. The Library resources, based on the private library of Dr. H.H. Fick, who was head of the German bilingual program in the Cincinnati Public Schools before World War I, are outstanding. The German-Americana Collection, which is housed in Blegen Library, is one of the major collections of its kind. The published catalog of the collection provides access to 5,000 items of printed and unprinted sources, and is a major resource for students. It is especially strong for materials pertaining to history, literature, and culture of the German influence in the Midwestern states. Supplementing these library holdings are several libraries in the Greater Cincinnati area.

If you have questions, please contact the Department of German Studies:
Manfred Zimmermann
University of Cincinnati
German Studies Program
P.O. Box 210113
Cincinnati, OH 45221