German Program Overview
Temple University’s German program provides broad linguistic, cultural, and practical experiences to prepare students to participate meaningfully in the German-speaking world, be it in graduate school, government, research, or business. Our German students develop skills in reading, writing, and oral communication as well as intercultural competencies and cultural empathy. At all levels of language instruction, students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences as language learners and as participants in a global community of German speakers and learners.
We are an interdisciplinary program with strong emphasis on:
- Cultural Studies
- Language Acquisition
- Gender & Sexuality
- Central European Studies
Through our courses, students discover the ways that language, identity, history, and culture are intertwined as they engage with the German language through literature, cinema, media, arts—and even grammar! German majors complete the program with an in-depth understanding of the history, cinema, art and culture of German-speaking peoples in transnational and global contexts.
A Temple Community
One of the advantages of studying German here at Temple is that the program is small and gemütlich (‘cozy’). Students have close contact with faculty members and access to a community of students who are interested in German language and culture. Outside of class, students have the opportunity to explore German language and culture through the Temple University German Society (TUGS), which also maintains close ties with the local community and regularly participates in events with the German Society of Pennsylvania. Because our students have such close contact with faculty members, they are able to receive individual support even beyond the classroom, from letters of recommendation to mentorship and guidance through applications.
We also offer several study abroad options, including semester-long stays in Hamburg or Tübingen and group summer programs in Leipzig (focus on language and culture) or Berlin (courses taught in English).
Whether you are abroad or in Philadelphia, our goal is to help you develop your full potential in German both on a personal level and in terms of your career path.
German Major
Our program is student-centered—from our pedagogical philosophy to the way that our degree offerings are designed. Our degree options offer the flexibility you need to help you to achieve your goals.
