Graduate Program

The German Department offers the M. A. or Ph.D. in German and, with the BMW Center for German and European Studies, the joint MAGES/Ph. D. in German.

The graduate program encompasses:

• Literary and cultural studies from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries
• Applied linguistics & second language acquisition

Particular strengths include contemporary literature and culture, issues of gender and sexuality, intersections of religious and literary traditions, curriculum development, and literacy studies.

The Department fosters a culture that prepares students for academic or non-academic careers by offering:

• Preparation for the highest level of scholarship in research and teaching
• An interdisciplinary approach to the study of German
• Financial support including health insurance benefits, research assistantships, summer stipends, and book purchases for all coursework
• Graduate exchanges in Germany with the Universities of Trier and Dresden
• Attention to non-native speakers in attaining high levels of ability in German
• Assistance for students in attending and presenting work at conferences

In the area of teacher preparation, the Department follows a carefully mentored and supervised sequence. All students acquire theoretical foundations in second language acquisition in two tiers of courses, gain extensive teaching experience in the department's nationally recognized undergraduate curriculum, and participate in materials and curriculum development. As appropriate, they are invited to help with course supervision and coordination and to teach self-designed upper-level undergraduate courses.