Warum Deutsch? / Why German?

Studying German can do more than fulfill a language requirement—it can open doors for you, too, whatever your field of study! Many of our graduates have successfully found either jobs in Germany or positions where German was advantageous. Our graduates have been awarded prestigious teaching and research fellowships.

Global Careers

If you are competent in the German language and in intercultural communication, your job opportunities in the United States and abroad increase significantly. Germany is the world’s third largest exporter, the world’s fourth largest economy (and the biggest in Europe), one of the top three nations in research and development of high-tech products, and the world leader in wind and solar power production. The American and German trade and transnational connections abound. More than 2000 American companies conduct business in German-speaking countries, and more than 1000 companies based in German-speaking countries have subsidiaries in the U.S. (American-German Business Club). German companies are the fourth largest foreign employer in the United States. According to Forbes, the three foreign languages employers demand most are Mandarin, Spanish, and—you guessed it—German. 

Cultural connections between the United States and German-speaking countries are widespread and diverse, limited not only to tourism and exchange programs for students, but to cultural programs and institutions as well. The German Federal Foreign Office and the Goethe Institut founded the initiative “Wunderbar together” for the year of German-American Friendship 2018/19, and the initiative continues to host cultural programming in support of German-American friendship and exchange. 

Metropoles such as Hamburg, Munich, and Berlin have long been magnets for creatives from all over the world. In recent years, Berlin has emerged as a hotspot for creative and tech startups. 

Research and Innovation

Whether you are interested in expanding your ability to access non-English research publications or are interested in a research career, learning German is a smart move. Did you know that German is the second most common scientific language? With an annual research budget of approximately 55.7 billion Euros, Germany is the third largest contributor to research and development. There are more than 750 publicly funded research institutions in Germany, not to mention corporate and industrial centers for research and development. 

The United States and Germany also have a long tradition of collaboration in science and technology. One recent important product of German-American collaboration is the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.