German Studies (BA)

College of Arts and Sciences

Program Website

Program Description

Majors pursue individual interests in courses addressing literature and philosophy, culture and society, aesthetics and media, as well as critical and political thought. The course work emphasizes close analysis of texts and artifacts guided by thoughtful reflection on the concepts contributing to thorough inquiry. Seminar-style classes develop skills in critical thinking and the articulation of cogent, rhetorically effective arguments in oral and written communication. Majors also have the opportunity to study abroad with the "Berlin Consortium for German Studies." The department encourages double majors and makes every effort to accommodate prospective majors with a late start in German. Students interested in the major should consult with the director of undergraduate studies, Gunhild Lischke (gl15@cornell.edu, G75 Goldwin Smith Hall, 607-255-0725).

Admission to the Major

By the end of their sophomore year, prospective majors should have successfully completed one course at the 2010-2499 level. The options are: GERST 2020, GERST 2040, GERST 2060, or equivalent.

Advanced Standing

Students with an AP score of 4 or 5 can be granted 3 credits in German depending on placement test results. Students with an AP score of 4 or 5, an SAT II score of 690 or higher, an IB of 6 or 7, or an official B1 Goethe Institute Certificate, must take the CASE exam for placement in GERST courses. Students coming to Cornell with advanced standing in German and/or another subject are encouraged to consider a double major or minor and to discuss the options with the director of undergraduate studies as early as possible.

Honors

Honors in German Studies are awarded for excellence in the major, which includes a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, an overall major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and completion of the honors thesis. Students are awarded Honors in German Studies based on the honors advisors’ evaluation of the level and the quality of the work completed toward the honors degree. The honors will be noted on the student’s official transcript and will also be indicated on the student’s diploma.

Prerequisites for admission

Students must have upper-class standing, an overall major GPA of a B or higher, and a major GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students must first consult with the director of undergraduate studies in German Studies regarding eligibility for the honors program.

Procedure

Students who wish to be considered for honors ideally should apply to the director of undergraduate studies no later than the second term of the junior year. Students who are off campus in their junior year must apply by the third week of classes in the first semester of their senior year. Students should secure the consent of a faculty member to serve as the director of both the reading course (GERST 4530 Honors Research) and the writing of a thesis (GERST 4540 Honors Thesis ). With the help of their thesis advisor, students choose an area of special interest and identify at least one other faculty member who is willing to serve on the honors committee. An oral thesis defense concludes the process.

The Honors criteria described here will start for all graduates in the 2026-2027 academic year.

First-Year Writing Seminars

Consult the John S. Knight Institute for course times, instructors, and descriptions.

Certificate in German Language Study

The Certificate in German Language Study is issued to recognize substantial language study beyond the GERST 2000 Germany: Intercultural Context level in the Department of German Studies. It is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, Level B2+. Students are awarded the certificate after passing three German Studies courses held in German with a grade of B or above. Two of these courses must be at the 3000-level or above. No more than two of the three courses can be taken with the S–U option. Applications for the language certificate may be picked up in the Department of German Studies (183 Goldwin Smith Hall) in early April.

Internships

The department is affiliated with the USA–Interns Program to provide summer internships to qualified students with German companies and agencies. Interested students should contact the language program director, Gunhild Lischke (gl15@cornell.edu, G75 Goldwin Smith Hall, 607-255-0725). The deadline is October 31 every year.

Study Abroad in a German-Speaking Country

The Department of German Studies strongly supports study abroad as an opportunity for students to live and study in the German cultural context. The experience of living abroad promotes enduring personal growth, provides new intellectual perspectives through cultural immersion, and opens up academic and professional opportunities.

Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to consider the Berlin Consortium, of which Cornell is a member. The program is run in conjunction with the Free University of Berlin and is of very high caliber. Six weeks of an intensive proseminar course on “German Discourse and Culture” held at the Berlin Consortium center are followed by one or two semesters of study at the university. Participants enroll in regular courses at the university. Assistance in finding internships between semesters may be available to students staying for an entire academic year. A 3.0 language GPA and one upper-intermediate level course in German (GERST 2020 Literary Texts and ContextsGERST 2040 Perspectives on German CultureGERST 2060 German in Business Culture) are the prerequisites for participating in the program; an additional course on the 3000-3209 level is encouraged. In addition, the Berlin Consortium offers a block-seminar fall program (September – December) designed for international students with pre-set course offerings as well as a spring program with English content courses and one German language course. Please consult with the language program director.

Students interested in this or other study abroad options in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland should consult the language program director, Gunhild Lischke (gl15@cornell.edu).