Germanic Studies

Overview

The Department of Germanic Studies offers classes in six different languages, as well as multiple study abroad and scholarship opportunities.  The department offers a major in German, a minor in GSD (German/Scandinavian/Dutch Studies), and a certificate in German.

Germanic Studies at UT is also the home of the Texas German Dialect Project. Check out this video about it!

Languages

Visit the links, below, to learn more about the languages taught in the Department of Germanic Studies: Danish, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Swedish, and Yiddish.

Danish

Learn about Danish at UT.

Hear Danish student testimonials.

Read more about Danish at UT.

Dutch 

Learn about Dutch at UT.

Hear Dutch student testimonials.

Read more about Dutch at UT, and if you are interested in exploring more about Dutch, you might enjoy the BBC's Guide to Dutch.

German

Learn about German at UT.

Hear German student testimonials

Read more about German at UT, and if you are interested in exploring more about German, you might enjoy the BBC's Guide to German.

Norwegian

Learn about Norwegian at UT.

Hear Norwegian student testimonials.

Read more about Norwegian at UT.

Swedish

Learn about Swedish at UT.

Hear Swedish student testimonials.

Read more about Swedish at UT. 

Yiddish

Learn about Yiddish at UT.

Hear Yiddish student testimonials.

Read more about Yiddish at UT.

Study Abroad

• Annual, faculty-led summer program at the University of Würzburg. 
• Study for a Semester or Year in Oslo, Norway.
• Year-long studies in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Norway

Additional opportunities for study abroad in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland can be found through UT's Study Abroad Office.

Scholarships

• Robert LaB. Van Dusen Endowed Scholarship 
• Helen B. Green Endowed Scholarship in Germanic Studies
• Lassen Boysen Scholarship
• F. and Marian Michael Scholarship
• Texas-Exes- Mary and Renate Carter Scholarship for Germanic Studies
• Swedish Studies Excellence Endowment

Summer 2023 Course Offerings

German

GER f506 FIRST-YEAR GERMAN I-WB (First session)
German 506, a first semester German course, assumes no prior knowledge of German. (Note: If you have prior knowledge of German, you must take a placement test before taking classes at UT.) German 506 introduces students to the language and culture of the modern German-speaking world. Every effort is made to present opportunities to use the language: for self-expression in everyday situations, for basic survival needs in German-speaking language communities, and for personal enjoyment. To this aim, lessons center on linguistic, communicative, and cultural goals.

GER s507 FIRST-YEAR GERMAN II-WB (Second session)
German 507, a second-semester German course, continues instruction begun in German 506. (Note: If you have prior knowledge of German and did not take GER 506, you must take a placement test before taking classes at UT.) By the end of German 507, students will be familiar with most basic structures of the German language and will have developed basic cultural knowledge about the German-speaking world. As vocabulary and grammar sophistication grow, students will become increasingly proficient at expressing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on a variety of subjects related to everyday life. To this aim, each lesson centers on linguistic, communicative and cultural goals.

GER n612 ACC SEC-YR GER: REA MOD GER-WB (Nine week session)
German 612 is an intensive intermediate German course that builds on language abilities acquired in German 506-507 (or equivalent). With a content-based approach to language instruction, the course helps students not only to review and expand their German language abilities, but also to develop these within a meaningful context that supports the development of specific content knowledge.. Besides the textbook, authentic texts representing a number of genres (especially popular film) will be used to enrich students’ developing content knowledge of the German-speaking world.

GER n312L SEC-YR GER II: HMN/SOC SCI-GER (Nine week session)
Restricted to students in the University of Wuerzburg Summer Program. Class meets June 1-July 22. Faculty-led Abroad Program taught in Wuerzburg, Germany. Students must consult with department as travel and orientation dates may be in addition to these dates. 

GER n379 CONF CRS IN GER LANG/LIT-GER (Nine week session)

Supervised individual instruction course in which students engage in special studies necessary to expand their acquaintance with any subject in Germanic languages or literature. Restricted to students in the University of Wuerzburg Summer Program. Class meets June 1-July 22. Faculty-led Abroad Program taught in Wuerzburg, Germany. Students must consult with department as travel and orientation dates may be in addition to these dates.

 

Summer 2021 Course Offerings

• GER 506 Thinking of studying a language over the summer? Check out this video for why you should choose the most widely-spoken language in Europe!

• GER 507 If you’ve taken German 506, check out this video to see what German 507 holds in store over the Summer semester.

• GER 612 This video is an introduction to accelerated second year German. Offered over the long Summer session with Mr. Matt Sherman.

• GSD f331C/EUS f347/CL f323 This video gives an overview of the work of one of the greatest filmmakers of the past hundred years, and an introduction to the study of films in general. These films will be viewed in the contexts of the director’s life, Scandinavian culture, and issues of film theory and aesthetics. Offered in the first Summer 2020 session with Dr. Lynn Wilkinson.