World Language: German Major

Foreign Language: German Major

World Language: German

Major

German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. Germany is the driving economic power for Europe and has a rich history of philosophy, psychology, and scientific innovation.

Offered by the Department of English and World Languages.

What Can I Expect from Studying German at West Point?

The German major, Department of English and World Languages offers cadets of all language abilities the opportunity to improve their language skills and regional knowledge. The major is designed to develop those starting from the beginner level as well as those with advanced German skills. 

The goal of the curriculum and instruction is to produce cadets with very good communication skills in the German language. At the advanced level, cadets will focus on real-world news and documents, as well as literature and media. German Majors can reasonably expect an Interagency Language Roundtable scale of 2/2 (limited working proficiency), on the way to 3/3 (professional working proficiency). 

Cadets can be a German language major or a dual language major. 

Majors: German, German with Honors, Foreign Area Studies (Europe), Dual Language (German and a second language of your choice).

Minors: Regional Studies (Europe)

Watch our German Welcome Video!

To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of English and Foreign Languages.

Required Courses

  • LN380 NATURE OF MODERN LANGUAGES

Sample Electives

  • LG371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE GERMAN 
  • LG372 GERMAN FOR ORAL & WRITTEN COMM
  • LG470 SPECIAL TOPIC IN GERMAN  
  • LG475 GERMAN RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 
  • LG476 MILITARY SPKG/RDG - GERMAN 
  • LG483 GERMAN CIVILIZATION I 
  • LG485 SURVEY OF GERMAN LIT I 
  • LG492 20TH & 21ST CENTURY GERMANY  
  • LN440G GERMAN IN CULTURAL CONTEXT
  • LN488 ADV IND STUDY-FOREIGN LANGS3 
  • LN491 SEM ABROAD: ADV LANG & CULT I

To learn more, view the full Foreign Language - German Major Curriculum.

Interact with German at West Point!

German majors can spend a semester abroad at a civilian university in Germany or the Austrian military academy. They also have the opportunity to attend a spring break trip to German-speaking Europe and spend three weeks in Germany training with the Bundeswehr as part of a summer Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program, USMA-run academic enrichment experience.

Immersion Opportunities

  • Semester Abroad Program (SAP): Spend a semester abroad at a civilian university in Germany or the Austrian Military Academy.
  • Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD): Spend three weeks in Germany training with the Bundeswehr. The AIAD is worth 3 credits. 
  • Spring Immersion: An annual spring break trip to German-speaking Europe.

Honor Societies:
Phi Sigma Iota - International Foreign Language Honor Society
Golden Key - International Honour Society
Phi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor Society

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of English and World Languages or the Center for Languages, Cultures, and Regional Studies.