At a Glance
I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
German studies is the interdisciplinary study of the contemporary cultural, social, economic, and political life of German speakers in their historical and international contexts. The German faculty of Scripps College offer a comprehensive curriculum for language, literature, and cultural studies courses. The German Studies Program offers both a major and a minor as degree options.
What are some courses appropriate for first-year students interested in exploring this field of study?
Depending on your language proficiency, you can either take GERM 1: Elementary German or GERM 33: Intermediate German in the fall. Alternative, you can take GERM 2: Elementary German or GERM 44: Advanced German during spring semester. If you have experience with German, you may take a placement exam here. If you place higher than advanced German, you can enroll in any of our German-taught seminars.
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
Yes, the language classes do. Otherwise, there is no specific sequence.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Yes, and we highly recommend double or dual majoring. Common pairings are German and environmental analysis, psychology, another foreign language, anthropology, history, philosophy, computer science, or politics.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
Scripps has a German corridor where students speak German with the resident native German assistant and with each other. The members of the corridor form the core of the German Club, which organizes activities for German students throughout the year. Any student at The Claremont Colleges is welcome to join the German Club by signing up with the German assistant. In addition, a weekly German language table meets at Malott Commons, Scripps’ popular dining hall.
Scripps Catalog link to specific requirements for the major/minor:
https://www.scrippscollege.edu/departments/german-studies
Additional links to information relevant for new student registration:
Once you have taken the placement exam, please confirm it has been completed by emailing Associate Professor of German Kevin Vennemann, Chair of the Department of German, at kevin.vennemann@scrippscollege.edu. He will get back to you within a few days with more information on your placement and class options.
Link to profiles of faculty who teach in this field:
Prof. Vennemann: https://www.scrippscollege.edu/offices/profile/kevin-vennemann
Prof. Katz: https://www.scrippscollege.edu/offices/profile/marc-katz
German Studies is the interdisciplinary study of the contemporary cultural, social, economic, and political life of German speakers in their historical and international contexts. The German faculty of Pomona College and Scripps College offer a single unified and comprehensive curriculum for language, literature, and cultural studies courses. The German Studies Program offers as degree options both a major and a minor in German Studies.
Course Catalog
Co-Curricular Activities
Scripps has a German Corridor where students speak German with the resident native German assistant and with each other. The members of the corridor form the core of the German Club, which organizes activities for German students throughout the year. Any student of The Claremont Colleges is welcome to join the German Club by signing up with the German assistant. In addition, a weekly German language table meets in the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Commons.
Given the limited space availability, we are interested in students committed to building community within the language corridor and the greater language community through inclusive, group-based activities. Suggested activities include cooking/dinner, movie nights, listening to language-specific music together, discussing political topics related to the language-specific world or a reading club.
CORRIDOR APPLICATION: If you are interested in participating in the language corridor, complete the application the application here: https://scrippscollege.formstack.com/forms/german_language_corridor_application
If you have any questions, contact Rebecca Ballinger, Foreign Languages Program Coordinator, rballing@scrippscollege.edu.
Study Abroad
Study Abroad is considered an integral part of the German Studies curriculum at Scripps, and all students of German are strongly encouraged to complement their Claremont curriculum with a semester or year in Germany or Austria. Course work completed in German–except for most language courses–may satisfy the requirements for the Scripps major or minor in German Studies. To receive credit, all course work to be completed abroad must be pre-approved by the German faculty at Scripps. Students must complete at least German 44 prior to going abroad. It is recommended that students also take two courses from the 100-series at Scripps College and a German course every semester prior to leaving, regardless of their incoming level. Currently, students may study abroad at the IES Language and Culture program in Berlin, at IES in Vienna, or in consultation with the Scripps faculty, on one of several approved programs in a German-speaking country.
German Across the Curriculum (GAC)
In addition to its major and minor programs of study, the German Studies Program offers students who have successfully completed German 44 (or its equivalent) the option to maintain and further develop their language proficiency in German courses in translation. Students enrolling in such courses co-enroll in German 189, the accompanying German language section. They receive one-half course credit for meeting with the German faculty member to read and discuss, in German, German texts related to the subject course.