German Major & Minor | Luther College

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Go beyond grammar, verb conjugation, and vocabulary. Major in German to master the language and expand your world!

Why Study German?

Studying German allows you to express your ideas and identity in another language. It lets you explore the various cultures of Germany and the German-speaking world. By majoring or minoring in German, you’ll not only learn to speak German—you’ll develop your identity as a citizen of the world. Speaking German will open doors and expand your job possibilities. A German major is also a perfect complement to a major or minor in international studies, data science, or biology.

Why Study German at Luther?

German at Luther provides lots of opportunities! Luther’s program:

Has a very flexible and consistent curriculum. You can coordinate your German courses with any other major or minor you pursue.
Doesn’t require high school experience in German. You can start with 101 and finish a major in four years.
Includes faculty that will work with you to create a study plan that accommodates your interests.
Offers courses that challenge the traditional understanding of classroom language learning. Beyond literature, you’ll encounter topics like history, entertainment, immigration, and more.
Provides opportunities to lead research projects, study abroad, play board games, and intern. We even offer a course where students write, direct, and act in a movie—all in German!

Study Abroad

German majors and minors must study in a country where German is the official language. You can choose from various opportunities to meet this requirement. Consider our Münster Program, one of Luther’s oldest study-abroad programs. Live with a German family and immerse yourself in German culture while earning Luther credits. Two scholarship funds are available to help make study abroad more accessible.

Henkel Corporation Internship

Pursue a six-month paid internship at the Henkel Corporation Düsseldorf headquarters. Henkel is a global consumer products company known for brands such as Loctite, Persil, and Dial. You will work with a supervisor to develop a specialized work plan and become part of the Henkel team. Luther-Henkel interns have described the experience as “life-changing.”

Become a Fulbrighter with German

Many of our students successfully apply for Fulbright English teaching assistantships in Germany and Austria.

What You’ll Learn

As a German major or minor, you’ll graduate with the ability to:

Speak German at the intermediate-high language proficiency level
Connect and communicate with people from German-speaking cultures
Understand the practices and perspectives of German-speaking cultures
Analyze the cultural production of and diversity within the German-speaking world
Use your intercultural knowledge and skills to reflect on your own cultural identity

Language immersion experience

German majors must complete at least one semester of academic study in a country where German is an official language.

For German minors, we require at least one January Term (or a similar program) of academic study in a German-speaking country.

You’re encouraged to complete courses in German during your final semesters at Luther. This will help you maintain and advance your language skills.

Curriculum

Careers and Outcomes

Luther German alumni find success in both language-based and language-related careers.

In language-based careers, graduates generally use their German every day. These careers include:

Translating/interpreting
Teaching
Software/technology localization (adapting software/technology for a specific country)

Living in a German-speaking country also turns any career into a language-based career.

In language-related careers, our graduates put their intercultural competency to work. Language-related careers include, but are not limited, to:

International politics and policy
Development work
Tourism/hospitality
International education
Working for any of the 3,500 German-majority-owned businesses in the US!

Knowledge of German can also be an advantage in many other occupations:

Librarian
Linguist
Journalist
Practitioner of international law
Theologian
Any position in the publishing industry

Finally, Germany is a powerhouse for research, especially in the sciences. Graduate work in Germany is very affordable, but requires proof of language skills. Why not develop them at Luther College?

At Luther College, I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to Europe for a semester and for two J-Terms. I have found that traveling fosters open-mindedness, empathy, self-confidence, and enhances one's personal development.

Amy Webb '24

International Studies and German Major, Fulbright Scholar

Read Amy's Story

A degree in German provides more opportunities than most people might think...Even if you don't intend to use the language after graduation, a language degree still catches the eyes of employers because it shows commitment and adaptability.

Paul Fritzell '18

Our Latest Fulbright Scholars

Luther alumnus Robert Clower ’23 and senior Amy Webb ’24 were selected as Fulbright English Teaching Assistants to Germany for the 2024–25 academic year. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected based upon leadership potential, academic achievement, and record of service.

Split portrait of Robert Clower in a shirt and tie and Amy in an olive green shirt.

Join a National Honors Society

The German program at Luther College is the Sigma Kappa chapter of the National German Honor Society, Delta Phi Alpha, one of only five chapters in Iowa.