Contact Information
(541) 346-4051
http://www.uoregon.edu/~gerscan
Undergraduate degrees: B.A
Undergraduate Minor
The department offers comprehensive programs in German and Scandinavian, as well as language courses in Danish, Finnish, German, Norwegian, and Swedish.
The importance of language
Learning another language fulfills the primary purpose of a university education: it prepares students to reason, analyze, solve problems, and communicate in a world of cultural differences.
German is spoken as a first language by more than 100 million people. It is not only the language of Germany, Austria, and a large part of Switzerland, but is also spoken in serveral eastern European countries. It is a useful language for both the business traveler and the tourist. Think about how much more you can get out of talking with people in their own language than in English! Furthermore, travel all over Europe is easier with a knowledge of German. Many countries gear up for the German tourist, so wherever you are in Europe, a knowledge of German will be an asset.
Almost one thousand American companies do business with Germany, and over one thousand companies based in German-speaking countries have subsidiaries in the U.S. In all of these firms there is a need for workers with an understanding of both languages and cultures.
Knowledge of German not only helps one get a job, but often is a significant factor in advancement within a company. In a number of high-tech fields (automotive engineering, optics, medical instrumentation, etc.), companies name German as the foreign language they would most like job applicants to know.
Maybe you want to study German to get in touch with your roots. You might want to speak to Grandma in her native language or contact relatives in Germany whose names are listed in the family tree. German heritage permeates Western society, particularly in the areas of classical music, science, philosophy, and theology. There are endless applications for a working knowledge of the German language.
Points of Interest
- Get a taste of music, art, philosophy, and literature while building your language skills through on-campus course work.
- Experience the magic of our study abroad programs. Ski in Norway or take a dip in a frozen lake in Finland, all while receiving UO credit.
- Sample our cultural activities: participate in a language club or retreat, perform Faust in German, celebrate Lucia in Swedish!