German

Bachelor of Arts

(Faculty of Arts)

To study German is to study a culture which has been, and still is, a bellwether among western European cultures, a culture with a profound impact for both good and bad far beyond its national borders. Contributions from German cultures have touched virtually all fields of study: the visual arts; science and technology; history, politics or economics; philosophy, psychology, music and religion - many more could be named. If you study German, you will acquire a greater understanding of this culture; as your appreciation grows, you will create for yourself the potential for experiencing this culture from the inside out.

Becoming a student in our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in German program can open doors for you to study or work in a variety of fields abroad and at home; it can also be an important key to accessing wide-ranging professional opportunities in a variety of fields, such as international commerce, tourism, foreign service, radio and television journalism, publishing, education, library work, translation and interpreting. Even when knowledge and skill in German may not be directly required in these professions, your knowledge of German will often lead to unexpected opportunities for using it in interesting and rewarding ways.

An Honours degree is excellent preparation for advanced study, either in a graduate program in German or in a program leading to a professional designation, e.g. Information Science or Law. Through an Honours degree, you will acquire more depth of training, and you will demonstrate skill and ambition beyond that required by a usual university degree. You also work closely with a professor in your research work for the Honours project.

Co-op is also available for German students. Find out more.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission applicants are required to present appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.

Application/Document Deadlines

Why take this program?

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
German is spoken by approximately 120 million people and is the official language of Germany and Austria, one of several official languages in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and a language with special status in Denmark and Belgium. In Canada in 1991, German was the third main mother tongue after English and French; in Alberta in that year, German was the mother tongue for almost 73,000 people. The fact that the United Nations also recognizes German as one of its official languages clearly illustrates the significance of German in the international community. As a BA German graduate, you will come to appreciate the flexibility and usefulness of your degree because it allows you to move around the world with relative ease on your travels and gives you a competitive edge in a growing global society.

From the beginning
German language and culture have played key roles in numerous fields throughout history such as music, engineering, and philosophy. In recent times, German has become a medium for people in business, science and engineering to communicate within a unified Europe. Studying German can enhance our understanding in these specific areas, provide depth in our exploration of European history and its developments, and help us to identify the German influences that currently affect Western society.

Heritage and the root of learning
Students study German for a wide variety of reasons. Many have no previous contact with German culture and enroll in the program because they are fascinated with the language and culture, or because German can significantly enhance their expertise in a particular field. Others enter the program because they have German relatives, and are interested in reconnecting with family roots and history. Whatever the motivation may be, the benefits of a German education are the same for everyone. All graduates develop intellectual skills and cultural flexibility that can be applied in any situation.

What will I study in my first year?

According to your previous knowledge of the German language, you will begin your studies at a level that best suits your skills. These courses range from basic skills for those who have never studied the German language before to courses that examine German culture and analyze German texts.

You are encouraged to explore a variety of option courses in your first year that will compliment your studies in German. You are also encouraged to take courses from the faculties of Communication and Culture, Fine Arts, Science or Social Sciences. For example, you may wish to explore an interest in astronomy or compliment you degree by taking a course that looks at the political history of Germany. You could also take a Computer Science course to gain computer skills that employers appreciate seeing on students’ resumes.

What will I study in later years?

As a senior student, you will continue to hone your language skills through the study of German grammar and linguistics as well as developing a greater understanding of German culture through the study of German literature and film. Students wishing to solidify their language skills in an immersion setting may be interested in taking one of the two travel courses offered by the department

What can I do with this degree?

The great thing about studying a field in Humanities is that you’ll graduate with a number of marketable skills including:

• Analysis and synthesis of information
• Bilingualism: interpretation and translation skills
• Creative thinker
• Editing and revision abilities
• Interdisciplinary perspective
• Planning and organization skills
• Written and oral communication skills

Graduates from the German program have a number of career options available to them in a variety of industries. Here is what some U of C grads have done with their German degree:

• Advertising director
• Communications Specialist
• Community Affairs Coordinator
• Critic
• Human Resource Management
• Import / Export Coordinator
• International Banking Loan Officer
• Interpreter
• Publicist
• Volunteer Coordinator

To see a full list of potential skills, careers and industries available to you, visit the Career Services Career Profiles website (look under German, Slavic and East Asian Studies).

Additional Information

Department of Germanic, Slavic and East Asian Studies