The Department of German at NYU has long been one of the most innovative and theoretically rigorous programs in German Studies. Drawing on a broad spectrum of expertise, its faculty teach German literature, critical thought, philosophy, political theory, the history of art, media theory, and the history of science from the early modern period to the present. The emphasis on theory in approaching the study of literature and culture distinguishes NYU’s German program and ensures students receive an excellent preparation for a wide range of careers.
Faculty. The department recruits highly distinguished faculty who are widely published and internationally engaged in scholarship that attracts the attention of colleagues and students across the disciplines.
Visiting Faculty. Internationally recognized scholars and thinkers play an active role in our department. Past visitors include Susan Bernstein, Hartmut Boehme, Rüdiger Campe, Jacques Derrida, Alexander García Düttmann, Werner Hamacher, Vivian Liska, Jean-Luc Nancy, Laurence Rickels, Marianne Schuller, Slavoj Žižek among others.
Currently, the Department welcomes Elisabeth Bronfen (Zurich) and Catherine Malabou (Paris/London) each fall. At least one more distinguished scholar joins us as Eberhard Berent Goethe Professor each year. In addition, the DAAD Chair for Contemporary Poetics brings a renowned literary writer in the German language to NYU each spring.
Departmental life is further enriched by the various international exchange programs, which enable our graduate students to spend significant time at universities in Europe, while also bringing international students and postdoctoral scholars to our community each year.
Deutsches Haus at NYU is an important locus for our departmental community offering a site of lively intellectual and cultural exchange. It offers a rich cultural program throughout the year which attracts a wide audience from the greater New York area. In cooperation with the NYU Department of German, Deutsches Haus hosts major international conferences, lectures and readings by distinguished writers, scholars, philosophers, and artists, as well as contemporary art installations and exhibitions.
Located in downtown Manhattan, New York City itself plays a major part in the intellectual and personal experience afforded by the program. Students can expect to get to know New York’s many academic institutions and to take part in the vibrant art and cultural scene the city has to offer.