Have questions about German courses, placement tests, or study abroad? Email German Language Coordinator, Petra Hundemer-Friedman (phf@bu.edu), to set up a Zoom meeting with a faculty member in the program.
The German program at Boston University offers a curriculum that appeals to a wide range of interests. Students acquire strong German proficiency along with an appreciation and critical understanding of the rich culture, thought, arts and history of the German-speaking world, with particular awareness of their deep connections to Europe, America and the rest of the globe.
Past BU German majors have gone on to careers in business, engineering, finance, law, government, media, medicine, and the sciences, as well as in education, arts and entertainment. Many students double-major, since the BA in German can be completed in 11 courses. The German minor draws students from all BU colleges as well as all branches of CAS.
Language courses are offered at all levels and are conducted in German from the beginning. After completing the first two years of language study (LG111-LG212), students select a third-year class (LG 303-309) that best aligns with their interests, such as Science and Culture, Modern Society and Culture, Food Culture in German-Speaking Countries or German for the Professions. One of these is offered every semester. Many students then go on to take a higher level 300 course (LG 310-350) such as Translation, German History Through Film, Music and Art in the German-Speaking Countries, German Media and Popular Culture or Introduction to German Literature. These open the door to any of our more advanced courses. German is the only WLL program in which, for many courses, readings and discussion as well as the seminar papers you write will be in the target language.
We also offer courses in English translation each semester which expect no knowledge of German. Among these are Masterpieces of German Literature, Introduction to German Linguistics, World Cities: Berlin, and The Faust Tradition.
A complete list of German language, literature and culture courses is available on the CAS Bulletin or on our all courses page.
German in the HUB