Department Website. Degree Requirements. German Four Year Plan. Russian Four Year Plan. Now more than ever, a knowledge of Russian is vital to global affairs and security, and I feel more than prepared to tackle the challenges that face us moving forward. The Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures—as a department of foreign languages, literatures and cultural studies—prepares its students for life and careers in an increasingly global world.
Their programs in German, Russian, and Nordic Studies enable students to combine language training with an interdisciplinary look at the regions where their language is spoken. The cultural legacies of the Germanic and Slavic countries continue to shape fields such as literature, art, music, film, philosophy, and political science. The major in German Studies is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the study of the German language, its manifestations in history, and its usage in the current cultural and social context.
You will study the literary, artistic, and philosophical aspects of German culture in the past and present, as well as the major historical events and developments in Germany and its neighboring countries.
You will develop an understanding of the current political institutions and dynamics in Germany within the broader European framework. The Russian major equips you to understand Russian society, culture and history and gain competence in Russian language. Beyond basic communication skills, you will develop the ability to read non-fiction and fiction in Russian, to appreciate how culture is expressed through language, and to respond to literary texts as works of art.
The Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures contains a number of research areas stretching across the different programs , including comparative literature; cultural studies and international affairs; history; film studies and art theory; gender, race and migration politics; and philosophy.
