German
- Degree Type Bachelor of Arts
- Department German
- Academic Division The College
- Offerings Major Minor
German at Washington and Lee is one of the most dynamic and growing programs on campus. Studying the German language and culture at W&L gives the student unique access to a vibrant culture and the strongest economy in the European Union.
German
An MIT study published in The Economist in 2014 describes the “earnings premiums” language learners accrue over a lifetime, with German being the most lucrative language.
We offer a major and a minor in German that most students pair with courses in economics, business administration, accounting, natural sciences and others. We offer a mix of cultural opportunities through our active German Club and study abroad options in Berlin and Bayreuth, Germany, and Graz, Austria.
All German Department courses help satisfy foundation and distribution requirements, and we have many course offerings in English that are open to students who may not be studying the German language. No previous knowledge of German is necessary to be a minor or a major.
Both the German major and minor allow you to explore a broader context by taking courses from across the curriculum that will count toward your degree in German, in fields that include law, art history, philosophy and digital humanities.
Awards, Prizes and Scholarships
The Jim Stump Prize honors a devoted alumnus of the Class of 1953. It is awarded annually at the discretion of the Department of German and Arabic to an undergraduate of exceptional achievement in German.
The James S. Wood Prize in German is awarded annually to honor an alumnus of the Class of 1965 who was killed in Vietnam.
The Rising Star Award is given to a student at the beginning of his or her academic career who promises to shine in the future as a German major or minor.
The Craig Hinkel Prize was established in 2000 in memory of Otto and Ruth Craig Hinkel and is awarded annually to a student (or students) who has (have) a dual interest in English and German literature.
The Stephenson Scholarship is awarded every year at Commencement to a rising junior German major of great promise. It was established in honor of Buford S. “Steve” Stephenson, an alumnus of the class of 1942 and longtime professor and chair of the department.
Dickens-Youngblood Award was established in recognition of two retired members of the German Department, David B. Dickens and Robert Youngblood. It is awarded to a high achieving German major in either their junior or senior year.
Experience in Germany
- Two Spring Term abroad programs, “Layered Berlin” and “Traces of Empire,” are total-immersion academic programs directed by W&L faculty in Berlin and Graz, Austria, respectively.
- A semester-long program with the University of Bayreuth in the spring/ summer semester (April-July)
- Paid, three-month long internships with multi-national corporations in Germany through the German-American Exchange Internship Program, as well as other opportunities sponsored by the Woolley Fellowship and Johnson Opportunity Grant Program at W&L
External Scholarships & Fellowships
- Fulbright Scholarships and Teaching Assistant Scholarships in Germany and Austria
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
- Congress-Bundestag Young Professionals Program
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Summer Scholarships
- Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowships
Outcomes
Recent graduates have gone on to graduate school at institutions like Harvard and the University of Texas. Those who have chosen the working world are enjoying exciting and varied careers around the world in areas such as international commerce, finance, law, international banking and education.
Office of Community-Based Learning Announces 2026-27 Faculty Collaborative
This year’s collaborative includes 16 faculty members representing a variety of disciplines.
W&L Announces New Fixed-Term Faculty, Fellows and Assistant Coaches
Twenty-eight new faculty and staff members are joining the university this year.
Jackson Flower ’25 Publishes Paper in the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal
The article is based on a capstone paper Flower wrote for his minor in law, justice and society at W&L.
W&L’s Margaret Schweppe ’26 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Schweppe is looking forward to developing her German language and teaching skills in an immersive environment before joining PricewaterhouseCoopers as a management consulting analyst.
W&L’s Molly Biggs ’26 Earns Fulbright to Germany
Biggs is looking forward to teaching English in Germany, where she can build on previous youth leadership experiences and develop important skills for a career in the climate sector.
Ammar Alhajmee ’26 to Receive the Global Learning Leadership Award
The accounting and German double major from Iraq will be presented with the award at the Center for International Education awards ceremony on May 26.
W&L’s Dax Citron ’26 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Citron is looking forward to returning to Vienna, where she spent a semester abroad, and further developing her German language skills.
W&L Introduces New Language Partner Program
A new student-initiated program at Washington and Lee invites the campus and wider Rockbridge area communities into informal world language practice.
W&L’s Grayden Holliday ’26 Earns Fulbright Research Award to Austria
Holliday will work on computational protein design at the Graz Institute of Technology before pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Washington.
W&L’s Nona David ’26 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
An aspiring educator, David looks forward to combining her love for education and language-learning.
Meet Spratt Allison ’26
As a leader of the Peer Connections program, Allison hopes to help other students feel at home.
W&L Hosts 18th National Symposium of Theater in Academe
“Emotion, Pathos and the Human Condition in Theater and Film” will feature a dynamic lineup of creative workshops, presentations, discussions and stage performances March 26-27.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
Debra Prager
Department Head, Associate Professor of German
On Sabbatical Winter 2026 to Winter 2027
- P: 540-458-8830
- E: pragerd@wlu.edu
Roger Crockett
Professor of German
Crockett teaches courses on German literature and business.
Paul Youngman
Dean of the College and Professor of German
Youngman teaches courses on German literature and language. His research focuses on the German cultural reception of various technologies. Youngman is also a U.S. Army veteran and the recipient of the Bronze Star with “V” device.