German (BA)
Learn the German language and explore its cultural heritage.
Why choose this program?
Enhance your career path and open your eyes to another culture. Gain a solid understanding of one of the world's most widely spoken languages and its influences on modern thinking. You can combine German studies with other programs, such as Environment, Sustainability, and Society (ESS) or Political Science while you find out how the writings of Freud, Nietzsche, Marx, Hegel, Goethe, and Schiller are still relevant to today’s complex social problems.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many Dalhousie programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
Minimum overall average: 70%
Academic English 12
Four additional academic subjects
Financial information
A university education is a significant financial investment. Every student is unique, and so are their financial circumstances. We offer competitive tuition, a robust scholarship and bursary program, and resources and support to help you explore financial options and develop a plan that works for you.
Program options
You have several exciting options if you are interested in incorporating German into your degree, including a combined honours degree and a minor in German Philosophy.
Major or honours students may, with the approval of the Department of German, take up to one year (30 credit hours) at a university in a German-speaking country and receive credit at Dalhousie. The Department has study abroad arrangements with the universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg.
The following German program options are offered by Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Connect with an academic advisor after you start your studies to explore options such as:
Bachelor of Arts in German
Bachelor of Arts with Honours in German
Bachelor of Arts Double Major in German
Bachelor of Arts Combined Honours
Minor in German
Minor in German Studies
Minor in German Philosophy
What you will learn
Courses in Dal's department of German focus on three areas: language acquisition, literature, and philosophy or thought. You'll learn more than grammar in a German language course as many professors incorporate literature and philosophy as language teaching tools, especially in upper-year courses.
Some German courses are in English, so you'll still have opportunities to explore German literature and thought if you can't speak German.
Sample courses may include:
German for Beginners
German Fiction in Novel and Film
German Folk and Fairy Tales
Intermediate German I
Monsters and Madness: Early 20th Century German Film
German for Reading
Advanced Spoken German I
Modern German Literature I
Germany and Europe: The Cultural Union
Aesthetics and Poetics
Seminar on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit I
Studies in German Idealism I
The cultural, economic, and scientific role of the German-speaking countries makes the knowledge of German indispensable to the study of most academic disciplines.
Careers
Almost any career dealing with the history and culture of Europe will bring you into contact with the German language and people. Because it's one of the most widely spoken of all European languages, German is one of the most practical languages to study — whether your future plans include teaching German or simply travelling to Europe for work or pleasure.
Future studies could include programs at the graduate level in German or arts and social sciences, or you could pursue a professional degree in law or education.
