Languages, Literature, and Cultures
German Minor
Engage in German-speaking culture from day one and will keep improving your language skills until graduation and beyond. Expand your pathways — and potential — in a wide range of rewarding career fields.
Your Four-Year Journey
Understand the basics of language and culture. You can start from the very beginning if German is new to you or if you've studied German before. We'll ensure you start in a suitable class to make the most of what you already know while building a solid foundation for the coming years.
Your second year is a great time to reach out to the German-speaking community on campus. If you haven't already, apply to live in the German house in the Max Kade Wing, where you'll speak German all the time and have a native speaker for a roommate. Don't forget to declare your German major or minor before the end of the year!
By now, you'll be advancing your language skills and gaining rich knowledge of its culture. Nothing helps you do that more than studying in a German-speaking country. Most German minors go abroad in their third year. Visit the Global Education Office about your options and talk with your advisor to ensure you don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime immersion opportunity!
By now, you've had an unforgettable time abroad, speaking German comes easy to you, and you might even have a bit of reverse culture shock when you return home to Allegheny! For most students, the Senior Comp is the defining feature of their major in the fourth year. You'll start by choosing a topic related to Germany. Then, a professor will work with you to refine, research, and develop it. Finally, you'll write an extensive thesis in German in the spring semester!
Why study German at Allegheny?
Put your language skill to work.
Because, as a German minor, you'll have a major in another discipline, you'll have a head start at putting your language skill to work in your chosen field.
Get more "talk time."
Allegheny's small classes mean you have more time to practice the language in class.
Join a close-knit community.
You'll get to know other language students and be part of a community of students who love language in and out of the classroom.
Career Outcomes
93
of Allegheny graduates are employed, in grad school, or in full-time service within six months.
80
Acceptance rate to graduate and professional school for Allegheny students
90
of US employers need multilingual employees
Alumni Careers — A Sampling
Brian Capron, Alumnus
Environmental Science Major/German Minor, Class of 2019
“ I can’t imagine a better way for a student to be challenged, humbled, and enriched than to go through the experience of being a foreigner. … I’ve started to see knowledge of a foreign language as being more than merely a tool or just a marketable skill because it’s also a way to change your perspective on the world. ”