German Getting Started in the Major

How to Get Started

Students interested in majoring in German should take a German course every semester, beginning with their first semester at Amherst. Our requirements are structured such that students are welcome and able to major in German whether they are just beginning with the language, have had previous exposure to German before, or consider themselves fluent.

Our sequence of language courses (ranging from beginners to the advanced intermediate level) develops linguistic proficiency and cross-cultural competency that enables our students to interact with native speakers in an informed and culturally sensitive manner. Our language program thus prepares students for a broad range of opportunities (such as study abroad, internships, and employment in or interaction with the German-speaking world).

Most students will need to work with our department faculty to be placed in the appropriate German course, regardless of their initial level of German.