German Studies

Humanities, Cultures & Languages  

Areas of Focus:

  • German Studies: BA, BA/MA, MA, PhD, Minor
  • Nordic Studies (Scandinavian): Minor
  • Russian Studies: BA, BA/MA, MA, Minor

  Department Website

The Russian Studies program at CU Boulder opened my eyes to the beautiful culture, people, and language of Russia. 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.​"

— Wyatt Ryder (BA 2016), Colorado Department of State

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. You will become familiar with the outlines of Russian culture from the Middle Ages to the present, including the major Russian artistic/ literary movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and their relationship with political, economic and social developments. 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.

The diverse faculty within the department include some with joint affiliations, such as with the Center for the Humanities and the Arts, the Department of Gender and Women's Studies, the Program in Jewish Studies, the Ethnic Studies department and the Film Studies program.

For the undergraduate students pursuing a degree from the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures and interested in research or scholarly work, there are a number of opportunities beyond just class work:

  • The experience of studying abroad can be invaluable for you as a student of Germanic or Slavic languages. Because the most satisfying way to learn a language is to live it, we strongly encourage you to consider study abroad. Students of German may be particularly interested in the full-year exchange programs at the University of Regensburg, or at the Free University of Berlin in Germany, or a summer intensive program in Berlin. Students of Swedish can study at Uppsala University in Sweden. For students of Russian, CU runs a global seminar in St. Petersburg during the summers, and students can choose from a number of summer, semester, and year-long programs run by other organizations. For more information, call the Office of International Education at 303-492-7741, stop by the office in the Center for Community or visit the study abroad website.
  • The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) offers students a chance to work alongside a faculty sponsor on original research. Learn to write proposals, conduct research, pursue creative work, analyze data and present the results. For more information, call UROP at 303-492-6802 or visit the UROP website.
  • You may also seek honors in German or Russian, which results in the designation of cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude at graduation. Honors work usually involves special coursework and a senior honors research project. Look into this program early because it involves securing a faculty sponsor and developing an individual project.

As a foreign language major, you will have the skills, information, and concepts that are relevant to careers in virtually every area. A knowledge of foreign language is extremely useful in business, industry, commerce, the civil or foreign service, law, library science, the media, the natural sciences, economics, public administration, government, the health professions, the social sciences, and teaching.

Students interested in German or Russian may consider a double major in order to increase their career opportunities. Prospective teachers might consider double majoring or minoring in Education, another humanities discipline, or foreign language, while those preparing for a career in government service or business should benefit from a combination of German or Russian and a social sciences major such as International Affairs, Political Science, or History.

Career Services offers free services for all CU Boulder degree-seeking students, and alumni up to one year after graduation, to help students discover who they are, what they want to do, and how to get there. They are the bridge between academics and the world of work by discussing major and career exploration, internship or job searching, and graduate school preparation. 

According to the 2017-18 College Salary Report by PayScale Human Capital:

  • the median salary for someone with a bachelor’s degree in German language and literature and 0-5 years of experience is $44,100;
  • the median salary for someone with a bachelor's degree in German and 10-plus years of experience is $72,900;
  • the median salary for someone with a bachelor’s degree in Russian and 0-5 years of experience is $48,700; and
  • the median salary for someone with a bachelor's degree in Russian and10-plus years of experience is $85,700.

The Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies has an extensive list of alumni, working in a variety of industries across the globe. Some alumni of the program include:

  • Heidi Obermeyer (BA German '12) is a German Chancellor Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations.
  • Ellysse Dick (BA German '16) is program assistant for the Women in Public Service Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Studying German unlocked a global network I would never have found otherwise while teaching me communication, critical thinking and creative problem solving skills. From fellow study abroad alums to multilingual mentors, having a second language in common has connected me to many interesting people in my personal and professional life."

— Ellysse Dick

  • Alex Becker (BA German '06) is co-founder and vice president of Real Estate Consultants of Colorado.
  • Kathryn Tisdale (MA German) is chief of staff to the chief financial officer at the University of Colorado Boulder.
  • Adam Littleton (BA Russian '07) is an instructor at the College of Business and Communication in Nagasaki (Japan). His debut novel, , was published in 2015.