German and German Studies
About German and German Studies
Our Program and Courses
German and German Studies at F&M seamlessly integrates the study of German language with culture. With small class sizes and close collaboration between students and professors, you will sharpen your German communication skills in a variety of settings — including in classroom discussions, informal conversations, formal presentations, interpretation, and writing — all while developing a rich understanding of German culture and issues that have shaped German society of the past and present.
A major or minor in German and German Studies follows one of three tracks:
German Literature and Culture
Students choosing to pursue German Literature and Culture typically have studied German prior to enrolling at F&M. Within this track, all your courses are taught entirely in German. You would develop an advanced proficiency in the German language and a thorough grounding in the major works and authors of the German literary tradition.
German Language and Culture
You can choose to pursue the German Language and Culture track if you haven’t studied German prior to F&M but are eager to begin. Within this track, all your courses are taught entirely in German. You will develop an upper-intermediate to advanced proficiency in the German language while you study German culture and the German-speaking world.
German Studies
Our German Studies track combines German courses with those taught in English on topics related to German culture. You will develop an intermediate proficiency in the German language and explore the German-speaking world from a blended lens of several disciplines.
By the time you graduate, you will:
- Have attained proficiency in German and be able to communicate effectively and cohesively through speech and writing.
- Be able to demonstrate a solid knowledge of relevant and current social debates through the news, art, history, film, music, and literature.
- Be able to present, connect, and analyze German films and texts in a wide variety of genres and discuss the perspectives they represent.
- Have learned modes of critical analysis that enhance and inform your own questions and interests.
- Be able to build linguistic, cultural, and cross-cultural competence.
German Language Placement Exam
If you’re admitted to F&M, have experience learning German and plan to continue your study of German at F&M, you must complete a language placement exam. You’ll take this brief test the summer before you arrive on campus.
Wondering what German courses are like? Take a look at our course catalog to explore what’s available to you.Learning Outside the Classroom
Our German professors are committed to tailoring your education to your interests and goals, and helping you discover research and study-abroad opportunities to broaden your understanding of the discipline.
Off-Campus Study
You’ll have many opportunities to apply your growing knowledge of German outside the
classroom. Our students have pursued advanced studies in the Heidelberg College program
in Heidelberg, Germany, as well as IES Berlin, Freiburg, and Vienna. The Peter and
Irene Seadle Award, which funds study-abroad opportunities, is available to students
of German who are active in the department.
Explore off-campus study at F&M
Research Opportunities
Every student at F&M has extraordinary opportunities to engage in independent or faculty-led
research. With faculty guidance, you can do a more in-depth dive into the German topics that
interest you most.
Explore research at F&M
Honors in German
High-achieving majors and minors may be inducted into the Delta Phi Alpha National German Honor Society. Acceptance to this society is based on overall engagement and academic excellence.
Success Beyond F&M
Understanding German language and culture offers advantages for any post-college plan. The interpretive skills and creative thinking abilities you gain by studying German at F&M opens up opportunities in a wide range of fields and in international pursuits — especially when visiting or working in the European Union. And, as the internet continues to grow and shape our perceptions of reality, it’s important to note that German is one of the top three languages used online, making it an in-demand skill.
Graduate School
Studying German at F&M provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of graduate programs. Recent German graduates have pursued advanced degrees in the U.S. and in Germany, studying education, law, business, German literature, and art history.
Career Paths
Recent graduates of German at F&M have pursued careers in teaching, law, business, and medicine and have used their mastery of the language to build careers in German-speaking countries. They hold positions such as:
- Associate Director of Business Development
- Assistant General Counsel
- English Trainer
- ESL Teacher
- Financial Advisor
- Healthcare Consultant
- Language Consultant
- Law Associate
- Librarian
- Oncologist
- Professor of German
- Psychiatrist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Translator
Event Spotlight
Tanzen!
Each year, the F&M German program hosts a German-American Day, an event that brings 250 high school students of German to F&M for a day of fun and educational German-themed workshops. Students have learned the steps to German traditional dances; practiced Scherenschnitte, a German paper-cutting art that dates back to the 16th century; studied Pennsylvania German imagery, folklore, and customs; and more.Alumni Spotlight
From German to Juris Doctor
Empowered by F&M’s liberal arts model, Alysse Danyi ’23 crafted a unique major that blended business, public policy, and German. Now she is pursuing a Juris Doctor at Villanova University. “F&M's rigorous liberal arts education prepared me well to critically analyze policy issues and formulate credible, convincing arguments…both of which are important skills for learning and applying the law,” she said.Read More »
Related Fields of Study
History
Embark on an enriching journey through time, exploring a vast range of geographic regions, topical themes, and time periods. By studying history at F&M, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of history and historical processes, and develop keen insight into how they have shaped the present and will influence the future.
International Studies
International studies is an innovative program that combines off-campus study in a non-English-speaking location with on- and off-campus coursework. As a student of international studies at F&M, you will develop a global perspective and immerse yourself in the languages and cultures of non-English-speaking countries and regions.
Philosophy
Learn to think clearly and creatively about the big questions: the nature of meaning, morality, justice, art, the mind, knowledge, language, and reality. By studying philosophy at F&M, you’ll search for understanding while discovering how to value the reason for an answer as much as the answer itself.
Explore German at F&M
April 29, 2025
Academics, Athletics & Adventure: Koa Kaliebe’s F&M Trifecta
At F&M, Koa Kaliebe '25 wasn't just a student-athlete; he was an explorer. While he competed on the Men's Varsity Soccer team, Kaliebe also dove into intramural volleyball and basketball, a custom major in business and environmental studies, and the culinary scene of Lancaster.
August 15, 2024
Success Beyond F&M: ‘I Was Drawn to F&M’s Unique Liberal Arts Approach to Business’
At F&M, Alysse Danyi ’23 studied business, public policy, and German. Now she is pursuing a Juris Doctor at Villanova University. “F&M's rigorous liberal arts education prepared me well to critically analyze policy issues and formulate credible, convincing arguments…both of which are important skills for learning and applying the law,” she said.
May 17, 2023
Dream Achieved: Williamson Medalist Nadya Ivanova '23
Nadezhda Senior Nadya Ivanova Wins the Williamson Medal, F&M's highest academic honor for students