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German Language and Culture Minor

More than 130 million people speak German worldwide. Why not join the conversation at Drake?

College of Arts & Sciences | On-Campus

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What You'll Learn

Sprechen sie Deutsch? It helps if you want a career connected to the most powerful economy in Europe—or if you seek deeper insight into seminal works of physics, philosophy, or literature, or if you are simply curious about the cultures where German is spoken.

In Drake University’s German Language and Culture Minor, you’ll become competent at speaking, writing, reading, and listening to the language at the same time you connect with its traditions and influences. Each program in the World Languages and Cultures department emphasizes real-world applications; that means your classes weave in many aspects of life in German-speaking countries, from food to business to politics and government.

And because the minor is so flexible, you’ll be able to focus on the aspects of German that interest you most. One former student even developed his own major in Germanic Studies, combining language courses with history, politics, art, and other topics.

About the German Language and Culture Minor

  • Hone your communication skills through faculty-led travel seminars, J-Term classes, or semester or year-long exchange programs to Germany and Austria.
  • Start your studies at the right level using our computer-based, adaptive placement exam ahead of registering for classes.
  • Many German courses fulfill the Global and Cultural Understanding category of Drake’s Areas of Inquiry (AOI) requirement.
  • No specific application requirements. Open to students in any major.

Program Facts

  • On campus
  • 18 credit hours
  • 2-3 years to completion
  • Full- or part-time

Program Options

Like other language programs at Drake, a German Language and Culture Minor prepares you for meaningful academic, professional, and personal experiences while building intercultural awareness.

German Language and Culture Minor

In addition to 12 hours of language classes, you’ll choose six credits taught in English or German and focused on political science, history, philosophy, or other areas of interest. Electives include classes such as Art Since 1945, Heritage and Holocaust, and European Women’s History.

Meet the Faculty

Each faculty member in the World Languages and Cultures Department brings multiple perspectives to their work. They’re not just expert global guides but mentors who can help you unlock meaningful experiences at home and abroad.

Dr. Marc Pinheiro-Cadd

Dr. Marc Pinheiro-Cadd

Associate Professor, World Languages and Culture; Department Co-Chair, World Languages and Culture

Dr. Eduardo García-Villada

Dr. Eduardo García-Villada

Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition; Department Co-Chair, World Languages and Cultures

Dr. Inbal Mazar

Dr. Inbal Mazar

Associate Professor, Spanish

Chinatsu Sazawa Bachmann

Chinatsu Sazawa Bachmann

Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition

All Faculty Members

Outside the Classroom

Each of our language programs teaches you to communicate—a skill you’ll gain by getting out of the classroom and putting your skills to work through international study, internships, and other interactive experiences.

A historical building in Germany with the German flag in the foreground

Study Abroad and Exchange Opportunities

The best way to learn German—and about Germany—is by traveling to the source. Drake students have studied in many German-speaking destinations, including our partner school in Austria, Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt.

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Language Teaching Endorsement

Earn the credentials needed to teach German in Iowa schools through our joint program with the School of Education.

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Student Organizations and Cultural Events

Join Alpha Mu Gamma, a national honor society that promotes the study and awareness of language learning both in Des Moines and beyond, or participate in on-campus events that spotlight German culture.

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Service Learning

You can engage in volunteer work across the Des Moines community, applying your language skills and cultural knowledge to activities in schools, nursing homes, museums, and other venues.

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Outstanding Achievement Award

Every year, this award recognizes students who are especially competent in both language and global and cultural understanding.

Careers & Skills

Behind English, German is the most spoken language in the European Union. Learning it prepares you to converse with the world’s leaders in engineering, renewable energy, and automotive manufacturing, potentially working in places such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein.

You won’t have to relocate for your German background to pay off, though: many of those companies maintain worldwide operations. In addition, many graduates pursue advanced degrees related to German or their primary major, aspiring to careers in academia.

Opportunities

  • Education
  • Government and diplomacy
  • Healthcare
  • International business
  • Journalism
  • Tourism and hospitality

Skills

  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate competently through reading, writing, listening, and speaking
  • Gain an understanding of the societies, histories, and contributions of the regions in which German is spoken
  • Learn to see the world and your own culture through a global lens
  • Cultivate intercultural understanding with appreciation for diversity, including a broad base of knowledge and perspectives of related cultures
  • Develop the skills to collaborate with people from other cultures
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Salary & Growth Outlook

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Average salary of college-level foreign-language professors in 2023. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Related Programs

Making connections in another language takes more than knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. You’ll also build a cultural mindset in each of these programs.

Spanish, BA

Learn to communicate with over half a billion people in a large variety of positions in industry, social work, medical institutions, and government where advanced proficiency in the Spanish language is required.

Japanese Language and Culture, Minor

Learn to communicate in Japanese while taking an intensive look at the country’s culture in a minor that prepares you to live and work overseas.

International Relations, BA

Study political science, economics, history, and international law in an interdisciplinary major that prepares you for careers in diplomacy, law, politics, and business.

Take the Next Step

A Minor in German Language and Culture could be your ticket to Europe’s biggest economy. Ask how it can fit into your studies.

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