German Studies
Connect with a global community.
In Whitman’s German Studies program, you’ll do so much more than major in the German language. You’ll discover the literature, history, culture and traditions of the German-speaking world. In wide-ranging courses that draw from a variety of perspectives—philosophy, art, the environment, politics and more—you’ll learn to be an agile and global thinker who can understand and solve real-world problems. You’ll hear from both marginalized and mainstream voices. You’ll connect with other students and professors in challenging and lively conversations. And you’ll develop strong bonds and lifelong friendships. It’s why our motto is “Deutsch macht Spass!” (“German is fun!”)
3 Reasons to Study German Studies at Whitman
Prioritize Your Passions
Want to sing opera in Berlin? Double-major in German Studies and Environmental Humanities? Tutor kids in German? Or research your family roots? German Studies majors have done all that and more. This is a flexible, close-knit and inclusive program where you’ll find enthusiastic mentorship and support for your goals.
Careers Beyond Borders
German speakers are a global presence in business, politics, science, environmental action and the arts. A German Studies major at Whitman will prepare you for a career on a global stage. Get ready to take your place in a worldwide community of thinkers, creators, activists and innovators.
The Fast Track to a Fulbright
German Studies majors win more Fulbright teaching scholarships than any other major at Whitman. If traveling and teaching abroad is on your post-Whitman wish list, a German Studies major can give you the international experience, cultural competency and creativity to stand out from the crowd.
Interested in German Studies?
We’d love to send you information, including more on academic majors and student life at our beautiful campus in Walla Walla, Washington.
“The professors really make the major a positive experience. They are dedicated and excited about their material and really good professors in terms of support and knowing you personally as a student. … There’s also a lot of variety in what’s being taught because most of the professors are also in other departments and so have a variety of interests.”
Faculty
Courses in German Studies
See just a few of the fascinating courses you might take.
Elementary German
Launch your exploration of the German language and German-speaking cultures with this introductory course—no previous experience required! You’ll learn the foundations of German grammar while diving into topics from history, literature and film. These vibrant and collaborative classes will set you on the path to speaking, listening, writing and reading in German.
Ethics After Auschwitz
German language majors and others come together in this Philosophy crossover course to examine the moral challenge of what it means to be ethical after Auschwitz. Taught in English, with readings in the original German, you’ll use Hannah Arendt’s analysis of the concentration camp as a touchstone while you explore the works of Holocaust survivors, philosophers, historians, poets and filmmakers.
Conceiving and Re-Conceiving Race
Where did the idea of race come from? How was the Nazi invention of scientific racism indebted to the U.S. eugenics movement? And what do movements like Black Lives Matter look like in Germany today? This course incorporates both canonical and contemporary perspectives, including recent critical work by Black and Jewish authors, with some readings, writings and discussions in German.
The German Fairy Tale: From World-Building to Nation-Building
Fairy tales are not just for children. They show us how daily life becomes magical and how national changes effect fantastical ones. In this course, you’ll explore German folk and fairy tales from the Grimms to the Romantics to modern-day interpretations. Plus, you’ll continue you to grow your language skills, with a special focus on advanced reading and writing.
Migration and Identity in Contemporary Germany
This course explores one of the defining political questions of the 21st century: Is Germany an “Einwanderungsland” (“immigration country”)? The arrival of large numbers of refugees since the early 2000s has made this debate even more urgent. We’ll ask what it means to be German in the globalizing world and look for answers in texts by authors with an immigration background.
Hannah Arendt as Political Thinker
Hannah Arendt disavowed the title of philosopher, instead describing herself as a “political thinker.” We’ll explore what that means through selections from “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” “The Human Condition,” and “Eichmann in Jerusalem,” as well as her essays on cultural theory.
Amazing Experiences You Can Pursue
Study and work in Germany. Whitman connects German Studies majors with study abroad programs in cities like Berlin, Vienna, Munich and Freiburg. Some go on to in-country internships, summer jobs and young artist programs as well.
Live in Das Deutsche Haus. Immerse yourself in language learning while living in Whitman’s German-language interest house. With a tight-knit group of other German language students, you’ll help bring cultural events to campus, like Oktoberfest, Kaffee und Kuchen, German film nights, and cooking events.
Investigate your interests. Go after a Soden Scholar Award to support an original research project. Past winners have explored the revolutionary potential of techno music in ’90s Berlin, the co-invention of race by Germany and the United States, and the identities of Franz Kafka. Many go on to present their work at the Whitman Undergraduate Conference.
Your Questions Answered
German is one of the most widely spoken languages in Europe, with more than 96 million native speakers worldwide. Learning German can open up a world of art, business, literature, philosophy, politics, science and travel. And because it connects to so many fields of interest, it’s a natural double major or minor.
A college major in German Studies will give you valuable career skills, like critical thinking, communication, research and cultural competency. Graduates with a German degree have gone on to become writers, teachers, interpreters, diplomats and salespeople—or gone on to advanced study in graduate school.