German, M.A.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers programs leading to the Master of Arts in German. It is also possible to pursue a dual Master of Arts in German and Political Science, History, French, Spanish, or Music History, as well as other disciplines.

The graduate programs in German are flexible enough to meet a variety of student needs and career goals, including in education, government service, and the private sector. Students interested in teaching can work on obtaining teacher certification while earning a master’s degree. Students can pursue a Ph.D. preparatory program with a strong concentration in literature, film, and culture, or focus more on pedagogy and language acquisition. The department also has a writer-in-residence program.

M.A. students ordinarily fulfill part of their degree requirements in Salzburg, Austria, through the department’s academic year abroad (AYA) program. Students usually spend their first year of study in Salzburg and complete their degree on the main campus the following year.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, students in the German program are expected to be able to:

• Attain “Advanced Mid” or higher (following ACTFL guidelines) proficiency in German;
• Demonstrate understanding of the aesthetic qualities and socio-historical contexts of a set of representative texts from German culture;
• Utilize advanced intercultural and international competence - compare and assess cultural, political, historical, economic or other similarities and differences between North American and a German speaking country;
• Be able to employ different interpretive approaches to cultural, historical, political, or economic text;
• Demonstrate ability to interact in professional contexts with German native speakers;
• Demonstrate ability to analyze and solve real life professional problems collaboratively in a professional setting in a German speaking country. 

Admission Requirements

Documents required:

• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Writing Sample

International applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Successful completion of ELS 112 will also be accepted for this requirement. 

Additionally, Duolingo test scores will be accepted for applications through Summer 2025. Applicants of the Graduate College who have completed a previous degree (associate, bachelor’s master’s or doctorate) from a U.S. college/university or are from a country (click here for a complete list) in which instruction was delivered in English (and attended the university for at least two years) are exempt from providing these test scores.

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements