The German department’s undergraduate program offers a broad range of courses in the language, cultures, and literature of German-speaking countries. We offer a major in German Literature and Culture, as well as a minor in German Language. One can also pursue a joint major in German and Linguistics.
Along with its German language program, the department offers interdisciplinary courses taught in English that address issues of German culture, history, philosophy, art, and literature for students who do not have German language skills.
The department sponsors a Free Pizza Freitag lunch series, semester parties, two student clubs, “Goethes Tisch” and “Immersion Club,” as well as a series of annual awards in recognition of outstanding achievement by undergraduate students in the study of German language and literature. Deutsches Haus, the German cultural center at NYU, provides a rich program of films, concerts, lectures, workshops, and exhibitions.
The Department of German emphasizes individual advising and active mentorship, maintains relatively small class sizes (15 or fewer students, on average), and offers space for socializing, studying, and holding informal meetings. Advanced courses and some basic language courses are taught by full-time faculty members, all of whom are also involved in student advising.