German Studies

Successful students in German studies come from a wide variety of backgrounds and skills. Verbal and musical learners are especially likely to succeed in German. However, students with a background in engineering also have found great success. A student who is curious about other cultures, enjoys reading, is interested in traveling and experiencing the world, or can see theselves living and working abroad for some time, should consider majoring in German studies.

The Department of German Studies takes advising seriously. Our undergraduate director, Professor Kelley-Thierman, is available to speak to all students interested in German language instruction, in a German major, or in a German minor. In addition, students are invited to meet with any of our faculty members, all of whom hold regular office hours.

We encourage students to develop a relationship with our undergraduate director as soon as they enter the major. With careful planning, many students are able to include a study abroad experience in their course work. While earning their degree in German Studies, they are also able to acquire additional expertise through a certificate or major in another program.

To find out more, stop by the Department of German Studies office in 733 Old Chemistry, or contact the department's administrative assistant, Bob Randale at 513-556-2752.

Students in the UC College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tristate location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

The German studies program at UC provides students with a solid background in the German language and all aspects of German, Austrian and Swiss culture. We have special strengths in film studies, German-American studies and contemporary German literature and culture. We have strong study-abroad programs in Germany  and work closely with other programs, such as European Studies and the international co-op program. We work with our majors and minors to customize their course of study to their needs and goals.

Study Abroad
The Munich program is a five-week, intensive-immersion language and culture course during the summer. There are three hours of intensive language instruction each day, Monday through Friday, plus a daily program of conversation classes conducted while visiting cultural and historical sites in and around Munich, and weekend excursions, all under the direction of a professor from UC's Department of German Studies the Munich program may be used to satisfy some core requirements for the German major and minor; see the undergraduate director for details.

The summer field trip to Berlin is an interdisciplinary course taught in English for undergraduate students from across the University of Cincinnati. The variety in the background and interests of the participants assures the vitality of the experience, one focused on Berlin’s material culture, past, present and future. Students finish the course with an individual project completed in the autumn semester.

German-American Studies Certificate
Students pursuing a degree at the university may also earn a certificate in German-American studies, which requires introductory courses on the German-American experience and German culture as well as an extensive independent project.

If a student declares the minor, then it will appear on their application for graduation. Application for graduation as the same as it would for a bachelor’s degree.