At a Glance

Carthage offers a major and a minor in German, with a program that challenges you to move beyond vocabulary and grammar and think critically about German culture, history, literature, and more. You’ll master the German language with guidance from Carthage’s Target Language Experts — native German speakers who bring energy and authenticity to their classes. Majors also study in Germany for at least a semester.

Major

  • German

Minor

  • German

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You’ll be immersed in German culture and language from the first day of your first German course. Led by dedicated professors and Target Language Experts, the lively courses stretch beyond vocabulary and grammar to explore literature, architecture, art, politics, film, economics, and everyday life so you’ll develop a critical understanding of the nation’s past and present.

Many students combine German with a major or minor in another field, allowing them to combine their interests and prepare for various futures — even some they might not anticipate.

Courses You’ll Take

All classes in the major are taught in German. Here’s a sampling of required and elective offerings:

  • German Conversation
  • German-Speaking World: Social, Political, and Economic Issues
  • German-Speaking World: Cultural and Intellectual Life
  • German Theatre
  • Cultural Awareness

German Course Descriptions

RETROACTIVE CREDITS

If you test into a course and then earn a “C” or better, you can earn up to 12 free retroactive credits. That’s three times more than you’ll get from any AP or college-level class that offers college credit!

 

Beyond the Classroom

Study Abroad

German majors at Carthage are required to spend a semester in Germany. Study abroad options ranging from a few weeks to a full year are available to all students. Thanks to its popular J-Term, Carthage is a top-ranked institution in the country for short-term study abroad. In recent years, professors in religion, theatre, communication, and history have led study tours to Germany.

More about studying abroad

Student Organizations

German Club and Stammtisch (the German lunch table) give students more chances to build cultural and linguistic fluency. Top students can also join Alpha Mu Gamma, a national honor society for foreign languages.

More Student Opportunities

 

 

AFTER CARTHAGE

Some Carthage students go on to become teachers at the high school or college levels or to further their interest in German with graduate degrees. Others have careers in business, the arts, law, government, and nonprofit organizations with employers such as:

  • Apple
  • Goethe House Wisconsin
  • Chase Bank
  • John Deere
  • U.S. Department of State
  • Anveo Group (Germany)
  • U.S. Air Force
  • Jensen, Scott, Grunewald & Shiffler law firm
  • OneSource Regulatory
  • Curo Group LLC

In addition, Carthage’s German alumni are unusually successful in receiving prestigious grants such as Fulbrights, which allow them to teach or conduct research abroad after graduation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT German CAREERS