For historical, cultural, linguistic, and economic reasons, German is a particularly useful language for Americans. It is one of the three most widely studied languages in the world, it is a medium of communication for travelers, and it is an important research tool for scientists, scholars, genealogists, and others.
Knowledge of German can also be a valuable career asset, especially when combined with additional education for careers in government, the sciences, the armed forces, travel and tourism, the media, and, increasingly, international business.
The German major is offered in cooperation with the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. Most courses above the level of German 312 are taught as shared courses by faculty from all three universities by means of distance-learning technology. There is currently a shortage of German teachers in the Midwest. |
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Faculty
Academic Programs
German Club
Study Abroad
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All students of German are encouraged to study at a university in a German-speaking country for at least one semester. Northern State University has exchange agreements with universities in Magdeburg, Lüneburg, and Schmalkalden, Germany, which enable students to study there for little more than the cost of studying at NSU. Hochschule Magdeburg has also offered our lower-level students the opportunity to participate in a very inexpensive, four-week, intensive German course offered in the summer.
Our students may also participate in exchange programs provided by the University of South Dakota at German universities in Oldenburg and Jena.
Got 10 minutes? Click on the video to learn why a major or minor in German might be right for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1da5NsipcAo
Online Courses
We at NSU’s German program are pleased to offer a variety of courses online for students who otherwise lack access to opportunities to study German.
Summer 2013
- GER 420 “German for Reading,” designed to enable you to read unadulterated texts in German with the help of a dictionary
Fall 2013
- GER 101 “Introductory German I” for first-time learners of German
- GER 201 “Intermediate German I” for students who have been studying German for a year at the college level or two years at the high school level
- GER 302 “Translating German” – in this new course, you will develop useful skills in translating texts between German and English
- GER 453 “Survey of German Literature I” – we will study some of the marvels of German literature from the Medieval Age to the Enlightenment that bring to light views on “Liebe und Krieg” or Love and War in the days of King Arthur, the Reformation, and the 30-Years War
Spring 2014
- GER 102 “Introductory German II” – the continuation course for GER 101
- GER 202 “Intermediate German II” – the continuation course for GER 201
Check this website for updates on additional online German courses planned for future semesters.