German

Major and Minor

The importance of Germany in Europe and the world has increased tremendously in recent years. For students interested in German language, literature, history and culture, Knox offers coursework at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Off-campus opportunities exist both with our well-established exchange program with the Universität Flensburg, and with programs in Berlin, Freiburg, Tübingen, Munich, and Vienna.

In-depth work in German literature and culture is especially challenging. Courses at Knox are designed to build students' confidence in their language skills, and an understanding for the cultures of the German-speaking countries. The goal is a facility with language that opens up new worlds, seen through the eyes of another culture to an extent not possible through the study of literature in translation.

Working with literature, film, and other cultural products, students engage with the wider political, social, and historical aspects implicit in every reading, and gain a practical understanding that is crucial for a wide variety of business-oriented pursuits, as well as for careers that involve advanced study in language.

The Program
The major in German requires 11 courses, including 19th, 20th, and 21st century German culture, history, literature, and film; three electives in upper level German; two courses in allied fields; and a senior project written in German. Independent study courses can be designed to match individual student interests. The minor in German focuses on linguistic competencies in reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

Resources
The newly equipped Dorothy Johnson '39 and Richard Burkhardt '39 Language Center offers a state of the art classroom space located in the heart of George Davis Hall. Seymour Library's collection of literature and films of the German-speaking countries as well as scholarly writings is constantly being updated. Also, seven German periodicals are available in Seymour Library, and many publications can be accessed electronically.