German

The German major offers courses in literature, culture, and language within a setting that stresses frequent and informal interaction of students with faculty and with visiting German students on campus. Students can study literary greats from Goethe to Kafka, examine fairy tales or popular song texts, and learn about the latest developments in the European Union. Honors students and students who are merely interested have deciphered letters written by 19th-century German immigrants; and all are welcome at weekly informal gatherings where our local German students often form bonds with visiting students from Germany.

The student experience is often expanded by study abroad either at Paderborn or Bonn University. A new major and minor in European Studies offers an expanded context for the study of German.

Why Study German?

Germany is the most influential, most central member of the European Union, and German the most widely spoken native language within that dynamic and important entity.

Despite its reputation for difficulty, German is in many ways more closely related to English than most other languages. It provides an access to studies in philosophy, history, music, literature, and many other academic fields. Mastery of German can be important for those whose interest in business focuses on Europe. It is a language spoken not only in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but also in neighboring countries, especially to the east, where it has a tradition as a lingua franca.

Learning German provides access to many fields of study and activity. Though to some it is the language of a parent or grandparent, German has become a language of choice for many, valued for its expressive and conceptual qualities.

Related Skills

• Ability to adapt to other cultures
• Good writing and speaking ability
• Understand cultural diversity, different cultural values and habits
• Critical reader
• Ability to translate carefully
• Strong interpersonal skills

Being Successful in the Field

• Research and Investigation -
  The search for specific knowledge, from controlled laboratory experimentation to detective work, from scholarly endeavors to investigative journalism.
• Organize: Information Management -The arrangement and retrieval of data and knowledge, from cataloguing to accounting, from computer programming to inventory control.
• Communicate: Communications and Persuasion -The exchange, transmission, and expression of knowledge and ideas, from sales to film news writing to illustrating, from teaching to performing.
• Emphasize: Humanitarian Service -The attention to physical, mental, or social needs of people, from medicine to social work, from labor relations to play therapy.
• Administer: Organization Management -The direction and guidance of a group in the completion of tasks and the attainment of goals, from politician to minister, from industrialist to school principal.
• Imagine: Design and Planning -The conceptualization of the future and description of a process for creating it, from the city planner to artist, proposal writer to architect.

Related Fields

Industry and Commerce

• Overseas sales representative
• Overseas manager
• Overseas researcher
• U.S.-based import/export officer or investment specialist
• Interpreter
• Translator
• Technical writer/translator

Academic and Professional

• International lawyer 
• Medical researcher 
• Health care professional
• Academic researcher 
• Librarian 
• International researcher 
• UNESCO project worker 
• Translator 
• Interpreter 
• Foreign language/Bilingual teacher 

U.S. Government

• Agency for International Development (AID)
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Immigration &Naturalization Service (INS):
• U.S. Customs Service
• National Security Agency (NSA)
• Immigration/Customs official 
• Staff /Faculty at overseas U.S. school 
• Foreign Embassy staff 
• Overseas broadcast staff 
• State Department staff/ Armed forces staff 
• Translator 
• Interpreter 
• Intelligence Agent 

Arts, Media, Entertainment

• Journalist 
• Foreign/overseas correspondent 
• Film producer 
• Art dealer 
• Overseas manager 
• Translator/interpreter 

Service

• Employee of overseas non-governmental organization
• United Nations agency and project employee
• UN translator/interpreter
• Overseas medicator agricultural worker
• Peace Corps volunteer
• Missionary

Travel and Tourism

• U.S. based travel agent 
• U.S. hotel staff 
• U.S. tour guide for foreign visitors 
• Writer of tourist literature 
• International airline employee 
• International hotel staff 
• International tour guide
• Agency for International Development (AID)
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Immigration &Naturalization Service (INS):
• U.S. Customs Service
• National Security Agency (NSA)

Education

Approximately 100,000 people in this country work in the field of foreign language teaching. Over two-thirds teach in Jr. & Sr. High Schools, and the rest in colleges and universities, elementary schools and commercial and government-operated language schools with the greatest number teaching Spanish. In addition, a substantial number teach English to those who speak other languages as their native tongue. The teaching of English to speakers of other languages also offers expanding opportunities for employment abroad in government, academic & volunteer programs.

Career Industry Liaison

Internship Coordinator

Applying to Illinois State

Applying by our priority deadline is encouraged for best consideration for your academic program and for scholarships. Start your application today!

Applying to Illinois State

Applying by our priority deadline is encouraged for best consideration for your academic program and for scholarships. Start your application today!

Minimum GPA

2.00

Middle 50% GPA

2.96 - 3.67

Required Courses

None

Recommended Courses

To find the course equivalencies at an Illinois community college, please review our Course Articulation Guides.

• Foreign language equivalent to Illinois State’s 115 level or higher
• Introduction to psychology (PSY 111)
• Introductory-level composition (ENG 101)
• Introductory-level speech (COM 110)

Academic Advising

Minimum GPA

2.00

Middle 50% GPA

2.96 - 3.67

Application Period

Applications are always accepted.

Application Information

Current students can use the Apply to Your Program tool on My.IllinoisState.edu.

Academic Advising