Undergraduate: Home | Prospective | Current | Research | Contact Us
German
311 Burrowes Building
814-863-0589
Visit Us
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The German major is designed for students who want to study the language, literature, and culture of German-speaking nations in order to broaden their horizons and meet an increasing demand for foreign language skills and intercultural relations. The Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages offers both the bachelor of arts and the bachelor of science degrees. The bachelor of arts degree consists of options in German literature, German studies, and teaching. The teaching option requires a combination of courses in German and education.
The bachelor of science degree includes options in German business and engineering. The German-business option develops basic German business communication skills as well as fundamental knowledge of German economics. The German-engineering option requires overseas study and has an internship component. The department also offers a German minor for students enrolled in other academic majors.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
An important complement to German at Penn State is the opportunity to participate in one of the Education Abroad Programs at the German universities in Marburg and Kiel. Qualified students can live and study in the cultural context of Germany and take courses in business, German literature, language, and culture. In addition, students can increase their knowledge of and contact with Germans and German culture through the Foreign Language Interest House, German plays, lectures, and readings by distinguished visitors.
CAREER DIRECTIONS
The German major opens for its graduates employment opportunities with such federal agencies as the Departments of State, Commerce, and Labor, and the National Security Agency. Employment opportunities also exist in the military services, in American and German firms with branches in Germany, the United States, Switzerland, and Austria, commercial correspondence, and professional translating and interpreting agencies. Some occupations in which German graduates are employed include foreign service officer, foreign trade administrator, import/export executive, immigration officer, intelligence specialist, international attorney, journalist, public relations director, teacher (bilingual), translator, and travel agent.
Students who combine the German major with appropriate education courses will be prepared to teach in the elementary and secondary schools. German provides a good undergraduate background for students who go on to graduate school to study for careers in music, art, history, philosophy, comparative literature, economics, and the social and natural sciences.