Why study German at the University of Kentucky?
German is the most widely spoken language in the European Union and second only to English as a second language in Europe. Germans are the second largest foreign investors in Kentucky and one of America’s most important trade partners. German design and industrial products are in demand worldwide. German immigrants helped to shape modern America, and 25 percent of today’s Americans have German ancestry. German intellectuals are of central importance to Western thought: Kant, Hegel, Marx, Weber, Mannheim, Nietzsche, Freud and Einstein to name a few. Students majoring in German are encouraged to combine their study of the language, literature and culture of the German-speaking countries with another field of interest — from art history, history, music and philosophy to economics, geography, political science and sociology to education, engineering, journalism and mathematics. The joint degree program in Foreign Language and International Economics with a focus on things German is one example of such a course of study.
What skills does studying German develop?
- ability to communicate successfully in a German-speaking environment
- familiarity with major works of German literature, film and art
- ability to identify and explain important developments in German history
- critical understanding of similarities and differences between German-speaking cultures and American culture
- ability to function effectively in an intercultural environment as expected by many of today’s top employers
Undergraduate education requirements:
German Studies:
http://www.as.uky.edu/German/
Foreign Language and International Economics–German:
http://www.uky.edu/AS/FLIE/german.html
Career Opportunities
Recent German majors have gone on to do graduate work in German literary and cultural studies, German language pedagogy leading to certification as teachers, library science, divinity studies, law, business, economics and international diplomacy. Others have moved immediately to jobs in the business world with ties to Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Graduates work in a variety of professions and organizations, including education, law, business, network technology, airlines, non-governmental organizations, translation, libraries, government and international relations. Specific career options include employment at the United Nations, World Bank, World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization.
For more information about careers, go to the following:
German-American Chamber of Commerce
http://www.gaccny.com/index.php?id=82&L=15
Going Global
http://www.goinglobal.com/
United Nations
http://www.un.org/
For more information about career opportunities, contact career counselor Nicole Keenan at nicole.keenan@uky.edu or (859) 257-4023.