German
Major in the College of Liberal Arts
The German major is designed to develop students' competence in oral and written communication; insights into language form, usage, and meaning; and knowledge of German literature, cultural history, linguistics, and contemporary life and society in the German-speaking world.
The program offers courses dedicated to the study of language, linguistics, culture, literature, and audio-visual media. The curriculum allows students flexibility to explore specific areas of interest, but also ensures that each student graduates with a solid foundation of knowledge about German culture, literature, and language.
Declaration Requirements
ShowProspective University of Texas at Austin students should visit UT Admissions to learn about the application process and how to declare a major.
How to Declare
ShowUndergraduates currently enrolled at UT who wish to declare a German major must first meet with a German advisor. There is no formal application process. For more information, visit the student affairs page on how to declare a major.
Required Courses
ShowVisit the German degree plan to see all required courses for the German major in the College of Liberal Arts. For additional information, view major requirements and German course descriptions.
Specializations
ShowThe German major does not have multiple specializations or tracks, but the degree plan allows for students to focus on areas of interests such as literature, culture or linguistics. Qualified students can also apply for departmental honors and write a thesis on a topic of their choosing.
Personality
ShowOur majors are typically engaged and enthusiastic learners. Many are involved in our diverse extra-curricular programs (including regular conversation hours, a spring German immersion weekend, a student-run weekly German radio program, and an active German Club). German majors are encouraged to use (and improve) their language skills by studying or interning abroad. In summary, there's a lot for an energetic student to do and contribute.
Skills
ShowThe German major prepares students to use German language skills, cultural knowledge, and analytical skills in a wide variety of contexts, including careers in education, business, industry, journalism, or international affairs. The major can also assist in the pursuit of graduate study in German and related fields (including literature, film, linguistics, applied linguistics, history). Finally, our majors gain an appreciation for literature, language, the arts, and society; the ability to think about cultural and social issues in their own society and the world from the perspective of another culture; and a critical understanding of cultural history and our global society.
