German and Russian
Program Offerings
Academic Division: College
Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Arts
Academic Programs: Course Offerings:
Example Career Outcomes
- Academia
- Business
- Education
- Foreign Service
- Journalism
- Law
- State Department
The mission of the German and Russian Department is to provide students a high level of all four language skills and an understanding of literature and culture through a broad-based humanistic education, in which students make comparisons to and connections with other cultures. In doing so they gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of their own society and values and expand their world view. In studying the language, literature and culture of German- and Russian-speaking countries, students are encouraged to use their skills in the community and beyond.
Program Highlights
- The German and Russian Department offers a wide range of language and literature courses taught in the target language as well as literature courses in English for a broader audience. We offer small, interactive, learner-centered classes at all levels.
- Students learn language, literature and culture using the most up-to-date technologies offered by the Tucker Multimedia Center.
- The Department offers a major and a minor in German and provides the language and literature courses for the Russian Area Studies major and minor.
- The Department strongly encourages every major and minor to study in a country where the target language is spoken. Partnerships with the Universities of Bonn and Bayreuth facilitate spring-term and full-semester foreign study for German students. Russian students regularly study in Moscow or St. Petersburg.
- Our students are encouraged to apply for grants to continue their international experience after graduation. German majors have been awarded postgraduate Fulbright teaching assistantships and research grants at a rate much higher than the University average for the past decade.
- Students have a wide range of summer internships at their disposal through our partner universities and international agencies. Majors and minors participate in faculty-directed full-length drama productions in German and Russian, performed annually in the University theater.
- German majors may become certified for secondary school teaching in Virginia.
- Native Teaching Assistants from Germany and Russia interact with undergraduates in and out of the classroom, lecturing on current topics and directing extracurricular cultural activities.
- Outstanding students are encouraged to earn Honors in German or Russian Area Studies by writing an Honors Thesis in their senior year.
