German Studies Undergraduate Program

The German Studies major provides a broad overview of the cultures of the German-speaking peoples. It prepares majors to think widely about the role of German material in the modern world as well as its impact on history and culture. Courses include expansive overviews such as Germany in 5 Words as well as focused courses on German language authors such as Nietzsche, Kafka, and Celan. All students are required to choose from a list of courses taught in German such as Fairy Tales and What is German Literature? as well as from some higher-level courses taught in both German and English such as Speaking Medieval and Technology and Culture.

Majors

The major in German Studies requires students to enroll in core literature and culture courses to follow a series of three (or two accelerated) intermediate-level German language courses, and to complete electives related to their specific interests in German topics in the department. In their senior year, students will complete a Capstone project under the supervision of a faculty member. At the end of the major, students tend to reach an Advanced Low/C1 proficiency in their spoken German. To support this goal, all language courses count toward the major. Also in the senior year, students participate in an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) through the language center to assess their speaking ability in German. The Proficiency Notation appears on the official Stanford transcript and provides evidence of both oral and written advanced-level language proficiency. In addition, successful students will also receive an official certificate from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). More information about Proficiency Notation.

German and Philosophy Subplan

Undergraduates may major in German Studies with a special subplan in interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of literature and philosophy. Students in this option take courses alongside students from other departments that also have specialized options associated with the program for the study of Philosophical and Literary Thought. Learn about Philosophy + Literature at Stanford.

Honors Program

The department's honors option offers motivated German Studies majors the opportunity to write a senior honors thesis. For more information, please visit the DLCL Undergraduate Honors page.

Minor

The minor represents an abbreviated version of the major. It is designed for students who are unable to pursue the major but seek an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of German literature and culture. Courses taken through Stanford in Berlin, in the Digital Humanities, as part of Stanford's Education as Self-Fashioning or Structured Liberal Education programs, or in other departments may be counted toward the minor pending approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Students may choose courses from an array of literature, culture, and intellectual history courses for their electives. Courses taught in German are designed for students to advance their German speaking, writing, and thinking skills. Courses taught in English offer those in the process of acquiring the language the opportunity to study German masterworks and historical and cultural moments in translation. Separate sections are frequently arranged for students who wish to read and discuss text in German and enhance their language skills alongside their coursework.

Declaring

To declare, students should complete a declaration worksheet (linked below) to the best of their ability before sending it to the department Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) for approval. Once signed, the DUS should send the worksheet to the DLCL Undergraduate Student Services Officer (SSO) via email, copying the student. Once the worksheet is filed, the student may then complete the final step by formally declaring the program in Axess, which will then be routed for approval by the SSO.

Download your 2026-2027 program worksheet

Resources

Collections in the Green Research Library have a central emphasis on language, literature, and history. The collections focus primarily on the culture, society, and politics of Germany, Austria, and the German-speaking Switzerland. The geographic scope of the collections also included the Netherlands, the Flemish-speaking areas of Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland.

The Bing Overseas Studies Program in Berlin affords undergraduates with at least three quarters of German language experience the opportunity to take advantage of the unique intellectual and visual resources of the city. Students are housed in the Haus Cramer which is the first Stanford-owned property outside of the continental United States. Fittingly, it is made of sandstone and has a red tile roof.

One distinctive feature of the BOSP campus in Germany is the Krupp internship program, which helps students find full-time internships after completing their studies in Berlin. In the past four decades, nearly 1,300 students have taken on paid placements in more than 500 German institutions, including organizations that specialize in medical research, education, new technologies, finance, the arts and community service, as well as the automotive and aerospace industries.

The program is structured to help integrate students into German culture through homestays, Berlin University courses, the Language Partners Program, research, internship, and public service opportunities, and by conducting some of the program's classes in German. Many courses offered in Berlin may count toward the fulfillment of requirements for the German major or minor. Students are encouraged to consult with the German undergraduate adviser before and after a sojourn in Berlin to ensure that their course selections meet German Department requirements. Detailed information, including program requirements and curricular offerings, may be obtained from the Bing Stanford Program in Berlin website, or at the Overseas Studies office in Sweet Hall.