At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
The German Studies certificate offered at Penn State Behrend is designed for students who wish to specialize in interdisciplinary German Studies by acquiring advanced German language skills and taking courses in culture, film, history, literature, music, or politics of the German-speaking countries. In-depth knowledge of the German-speaking countries prepares students for a global workforce and careers in international business, engineering, finance, politics, or the sciences.
What is German Studies?
German Studies is an interdisciplinary academic sub-field of the Humanities concerned with the languages, literatures, arts, and politics of German-speaking communities in Europe and across the world (e.g., Pennsylvania Germans). In pursuing each of these areas German Studies intersects with the related fields of linguistics, literary studies, visual studies, and history, respectively.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You’re interested in German language, culture, and history.
- You envision working in a German-speaking country or for a German company within the United States.
- You wish to study abroad.
- You plan to apply for fellowships or internships in Germany or Austria.
- You are an engineering student who wants to take advantage of Behrend’s relationship with Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences in Rosenheim, Germany.
- You recognize that speaking a second (or third!) language doubles (or triples!) your career options.
Entrance to Certificate
Students who have not reached the third level of German Language proficiency may need to take GER 1 and GER 2 first.
Program Requirements
To earn an undergraduate certificate in German Studies, a minimum of 16-17 credits is required.
Students must have a C or better in each certificate course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Language Courses | ||
| Required Language Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| GER 3 | Intermediate German | 4 |
| GER 201 | Conversation and Composition | 3-4 |
| or GER 301 | Intermediate Speaking and Listening | |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select nine credit hours from a program approved list: | 9 | |
German Culture and Civilization  | ||
| German Film | ||
| Twentieth-Century German Literature in English Translation | ||
| Contemporary German Culture | ||
| History of the Holocaust 1933-1945 | ||
| History of Fascism and Nazism | ||
| The World at War: 1939-1945 | ||
| Germany Since 1860 | ||
| An Introduction to Western Music | ||
| Government and Politics of Europe | ||
Certificate Learning Objectives
- Proficiency: Students will demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding German.
- Culture: Students will critically analyze contemporary issues using cultural and historical knowledge of the German speaking world gained through German history, film, literature, music, and politics.
- Diversity: Students will be able to compare and contrast the cultures of the German speaking countries and the student's native culture.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
Erie
Eva Kuttenberg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of German
49 Kochel
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6079
euk1@psu.edu
Career Paths
The certificate in German Studies can be pursued by students in most Penn State Behrend degree programs. Penn State Behrend has a comprehensive support system to help you identify and achieve your goals for college and beyond. Meet with your academic adviser often and take advantage of the services offered by the Academic and Career Planning Center beginning in your first semester.
Careers
Immersive education in German language and culture is a competitive advantage in many professions. Adding a certificate in German Studies to your Penn State Behrend major degree program permits sub-specialization and increases the number of internship and career opportunities available to you.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES WITH A CERTIFICATE IN GERMAN STUDIES
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Graduate study in German opens doors to more specialized careers. These might include translation, technical translation, German language education, English-language learning education, applied linguistics, and diplomacy.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Contact
Erie
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu
https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-humanities-social-sciences