The German program affords students the opportunity to begin or continue their study of German and/or Dutch.
German
Knowledge of German provides access to a culture that for more than a millennium has been central to the history, economy, arts, and sciences not just of Europe but of Western civilization as a whole. In the contemporary world, German-speaking countries have Europe's strongest economies and are playing an increasingly important role in world affairs. More Americans claim German ethnicity than any other, and German-speaking immigrants and their descendants have had an enduring impact on the history and culture of the United States. UW–Madison has been a leader in the field of German studies for more than a century. The university's libraries are remarkable for the depth and breadth of their German-language holdings.
Dutch
Knowledge of Dutch provides access to a culture that has been an important force in world history since the Middle Ages. The language of more than 20 million inhabitants of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch-speaking Belgium), Dutch is also spoken in Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. It is also an important second language in Indonesia. As major economic powers, Belgium and the Netherlands play a leading role in shaping the European Union. World-class research in the sciences and humanities is conducted at Dutch and Belgian universities, and both countries can boast of a cultural life in which art, music, and theater are all flourishing.
Study Abroad
The German program works closely with International Academic Programs to provide a range of opportunities for study in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. The program also cooperates with the School of Business, which maintains study abroad programs in Germany and Austria open to all qualified undergraduates, not just business majors. Finally, the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offer study abroad programs in Germany for qualified students in these colleges.
Other Opportunities for German Students
UW–Madison students interested in international internships should visit the website of the International Internship Program.
The German-language residential learning community, Stockwerk Deutsch, is located within the ILC, in the Lakeshore residence halls. Undergraduate students live and speak German together with a resident native speaker of German.
Other regular student activities include film screenings and lectures as well as informal, conversation-oriented Kaffeestunde, Stammtisch, Dutch Table, and the German Club.
Offerings in Dutch Studies
Course offerings in Dutch include five semesters of language instruction as well as courses in the literature and culture of the Low Countries. Courses in Dutch language satisfy the L&S Language requirement, while courses in Dutch literature and culture carry literature and humanities credits, respectively. Dutch literature is also offered under Literature in Translation.
A major in Dutch studies is not yet established at UW–Madison, but interested students are encouraged to pursue an individual major in the field. In addition to the study of language, literature, and culture, this could entail coursework in art history, geography, history, sociology, and so on. Courses taken in the study abroad program in Utrecht can also be applied to an individual major in Dutch studies.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, see Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | Students must complete one of the following groups of prerequisite courses prior to declaring the major: Group 1
Group 2
|
| GPA requirements to get in | None. |
| Credits required to get in | 9 credits of German language coursework at the third-year level (language courses after GERMAN 204). |
| Other | Third-year German language courses (GERMAN 249, GERMAN 258, GERMAN 262, GERMAN 285) are not sequenced; they may be taken in any order and/or simultaneously. |
Students who have completed the prerequisite coursework may declare the German major at any time by consulting with the German program’s undergraduate advisor.
Students declared in the German certificate may not be declared in the German major at the same time. Students who do wish to declare this major must first cancel their declaration in the certificate.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).
This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
| Communication | Complete both:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Complete both:
|
| Ethnic Studies | one 3+ credit course with the Ethnic Studies designation |
| Language | the third unit of a language other than English |
| Mathematics | Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement. |
| L&S Breadth: Humanities | Complete 12 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation, which must include at least 6 credits with the Literature designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Social Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Natural Sciences | Complete 12 credits, which must include both:
|
| Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Coursework | at least 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework | at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | at least 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience |
|
| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
27 credits in the major, as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 6 | |
| Advanced Composition & Conversation | ||
| Advanced Seminar in German Studies 1 | ||
| Electives 1 | 21 | |
| Literatur des 20. und 21. Jahrhunderts | ||
| Introduction to German Linguistics | ||
| Topics in German Linguistics | ||
| Topics in German Literature | ||
| Study Abroad in German Literature | ||
| Study Abroad in German Culture | ||
| Study Abroad in German Linguistics | ||
| Topics in German Culture | ||
| Honors Seminar in German Literature | ||
| Kultur des 20. und 21. Jahrhunderts | ||
| German Literary Movements Since 1750 | ||
| Letterkunde der Lage Landen | ||
| Cultuurkunde der Lage Landen | ||
| History of the German Language | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis-First Semester | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis-Second Semester | ||
| Senior Honors Seminar in German Literature | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Cognate Courses as Electives
Up to 9 cognate course credits may count as electives within the German major. These are courses with German-related subject matter that are taught in English, either in the German program or in other departments. Cognate courses taken in the German program may be at the Elementary, Intermediate, or Advanced levels; those taken in other departments must be at the Advanced level only. Any questions about which courses may be counted as cognate courses may be directed to the undergraduate advisor. Currently the cognate list includes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bascom Course | ||
| Health and Hotels in Central Europe | ||
| Topics in Dutch Life and Culture | ||
| Culture in 20th Century Berlin | ||
| Introduction to German Cinema | ||
| Yiddish Song and the Jewish Experience | ||
| Yiddish Literature and Culture in Europe | ||
| Nazi Culture | ||
| God & Money | ||
| Kafka and the Kafkaesque | ||
| Special Topics in German and World Literature/s | ||
| Topics in German Culture | ||
| Yiddish Literature and Culture in America | ||
| From Grimm to Gryffindor: German Fairytales (Re)imagined | ||
| Topics in Dutch Literature | ||
| German-Jewish Culture Since the 18th Century | ||
| Topics in German Studies | ||
| Letterkunde der Lage Landen | ||
| Cultuurkunde der Lage Landen | ||
| Introduction to Middle High German | ||
| German Women Writers in Translation | ||
| Philosophy, Theory, Criticism | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| Environmental History of Europe | ||
| History of Europe Since 1945 | ||
| History of Germany, 1871 to the Present | ||
| Moral Philosophy and the Holocaust | ||
| Jewish Literatures in Diaspora | ||
| The Amish |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all GERMAN courses and all major courses
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits, taken in residence 2
- 15 credits in GERMAN, taken on campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the German undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.300 in all Advanced-level GERMAN courses
- Complete 29 total Advanced-level credits in German, 20 of which must be taken for Honors, to include:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GERMAN 337 | Advanced Composition & Conversation (for honors credit) | 3 |
| GERMAN 676 | Advanced Seminar in German Studies (for honors credit) | 3 |
| GERMAN 681 & GERMAN 682 | Senior Honors Thesis-First Semester and Senior Honors Thesis-Second Semester | 6 |
Footnotes
- 1
At least 3 of these credits must be taken on the UW–Madison campus (not through Study Abroad).
- 2
GERMAN courses numbered 300-699 are upper-level in the major, except: GERMAN 311, GERMAN 312, GERMAN 313, GERMAN 314, GERMAN 325, GERMAN 377, GERMAN 378, GERMAN 379, GERMAN 391, GERMAN 392, GERMAN 401, GERMAN 402, GERMAN 403, GERMAN 404, and any Dutch topic course.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate communication skills in German and integrate these skills to effectively exchange and evaluate ideas in written and spoken German. Recognize, interpret, and apply structural, pragmatic, sociolinguistic, and stylistic features of written and spoken German and how they the influence meaning, in order to share information and persuade, inform, or narrate for different audiences.
- Interpret and comprehend written, visual, and auditory texts in German representing a broad spectrum of genres, topics, time periods, and geographical regions. Recognize social, cultural, and linguistic diversity in spoken and written language. Identify key ideas, features, or themes of texts in a variety of genres and forms.
- Recognize and explain products, practices, and perspectives of the German-speaking world and the cultural, historical, social, and political context in which they were created. Demonstrate awareness of similarities, differences, and diversity by contrasting culturally situated beliefs and behaviors of the German-speaking world with those found in their own culture. Develop breadth and depth of cross-cultural knowledge and competence.
- Formulate ideas, plan, and conduct research on themes related to course topics and students’ particular interests. Collect and select relevant and credible sources in German (critical thinking and research). Formulate argumentative claims and support those claims using appropriate examples. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different ideas.
- Apply principles of ethical and professional conduct in each course and at all levels of instruction, thereby upholding the core values of academic integrity (personal responsibility and accountability).
- Engage with the German language and its users in and beyond the classroom, e.g. in their own community, virtual communities, or through immersion experiences at home or abroad in order to participate in local and global multilingual communities (engagement in the community).
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
Students considering a major in German should consult with the undergraduate advisor for German early to discuss how to complete their degree in four academic years.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GERMAN 101 | 4 | GERMAN 102 | 4 |
| Communication A | 3 | GERMAN/JEWISH/LITTRANS 279 (meets Ethnic Studies Requirement) | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | Biological Science Breadth | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 4 | Social Science Breadth | 4 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GERMAN 203 | 4 | GERMAN 204 | 4 |
| GERMAN 236 | 3 | GERMAN 275 | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 3-4 | GERMAN 267 (enroll in Communication B Section) | 4 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | Social Science Breadth | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GERMAN 249 | 3 | GERMAN 337 | 3-4 |
| GERMAN 258 | 3 | 300+ Level GERMAN Elective | 3 |
| GERMAN 262 | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| Physical Science Breadth | 3 | Electives | 7 |
| Elective | 4 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| 300+ Level GERMAN Elective | 3 | GERMAN 676 | 3 |
| 300+ Level GERMAN Elective | 3 | 300+ Level GERMAN Elective | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Electives | 9 |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
For advising questions related to the German major, contact the undergraduate advisor.
Language placement tests are advised for any student with previous knowledge or experience with German or Dutch. The German test is proctored through the University Placement Test program. The Placement Advisor for German is Jeanne Schueller.
The placement test for Dutch is a one-on-one appointment with a professor, with written, oral, and reading comprehension components. The Placement Advisor for Dutch is Jolanda Vanderwal Taylor. Please contact the undergraduate advisor to request placement.
For advising on careers related to languages, talk with the Language Directions Specialist in the Language Institute.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students