German – Bachelor’s Degree Program (BA)
Earn your German degree from the University of Montana
Earn your bachelor’s in German at UM to strengthen proficiency in the German language, gain awareness of the world and easily connect with other disciplines on campus.
The UM German program’s close ties with the UM Office of Global Engagement offer a gateway to outstanding international educational opportunities. Each year, one or more of our German majors are awarded a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Award to Germany and/or Austria — the result of close faculty mentorship.
Study abroad and research offer additional opportunities to experience the German language and culture firsthand — the ideal path to a successful real-world, post-graduate career. This is also a great program to combine with another area of study, and many students at UM include German as a double major.
in College Magazine’s “10 Best Colleges for Studying a Foreign Language”
partner universities in Germany and Austria
German students at UM have received Fulbright teaching assistantships since 2016
Other German degree options at UM
Bachelor of Arts in German – German Language Education concentration
Minor in German – German Language Education concentration
What can you do with a German degree?
German majors are worldly and engaged. They’re excellent communicators and critical thinkers equipped with knowledge of a rich tradition and a dynamic contemporary culture of ideas. The success of our graduates in a variety of fields including German and beyond, speaks to this.
The study of German is relevant to many career fields and a German degree provides a robust foundation for employment or pursuing an advanced degree. Many of our students are interested in teaching and the field of education, along with NGO work on national and international levels. Our graduates have distinguished themselves in the fields of education, civic leadership, international initiatives, technological innovation, law, medicine, politics and the arts. Students also continue on to graduate programs in German, political science, history, education, business, law, medicine, public administration, social work and speech therapy.
German jobs
Potential career options for German language graduates include:
- Foreign service officer
- German teacher
- German translator
- German interpreter
- Editor
- Nonprofit educator
- Refugee resettlement advocate
- Public relations and communications specialist
- International business associate
- Tour guide
Alumni Success Story
“I am ever so grateful to have had such supportive and caring professors here at the University of Montana throughout my educational career. It is with their guidance that my goals became possible and I am excited for what opportunities lie ahead.”
- Garrett Jasnicki, German language graduate, Class of 2020, Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Austria
“My study abroad experience and studies in the German section of the WLC Department have truly put into perspective how complex, rich and exciting the culture and history of Germany are, as well as how promising the country`s future is. Studying another language and the culture that surrounds it has given me a new outlook on my own life and culture, and in my opinion, that is one of the most valuable lessons to learn.”
- Holly Jacobs, German language graduate
Experiential learning in the German program
Writing, communication and analytical skills are strong attributes for majors in German. These skills are fostered through specific coursework, research, additional language study and study abroad experiences. It’s what makes the German language program at UM a real standout, sought after by foreign language students.
Undergraduate research opportunities for German majors
Students in the German program take part in the annual UMCUR conference (UM Conference on Undergraduate Research) and pursue honors research projects with the mentorship of German faculty.
Study abroad opportunities in the German degree
UM offers a wide range of study abroad opportunities for students of German, with partner universities in both Germany and Austria as well as faculty-led programs.
Besides students choosing an individual study abroad opportunity for a semester, a full year or a summer, the German program at UM has offered faculty-led study abroad programs as a regular part of the program since 1974. The most recent program included a 14-day study abroad trip with 10 students (all majors can apply) visiting the cities of Berlin, Potsdam and Weimar in Germany. Every study abroad has a different focus. In 2019, students examined 100 years of German history and society (1919-2019).
The study abroad holistically engages students with real sites, pertinent topics and exhibitions, experience with a different language and culture, and contextualizes their own studies and experience in a unique way.
Career development in the German major
Preparing students for life after college has always been top of mind in the German language program — it shows in the faculty/student relationship. Faculty provide close mentorship and care to help ensure student success throughout their time at UM and long after.
German students in their second year or beyond can participate in a for-credit internship developed in partnership with SPARK Labs that brings the German language and culture into Missoula after-school programs. Supervised by German faculty chair Hiltrud Arens, UM students learn lesson planning, teaching and tutoring skills as they share the German-speaking cultures and their histories with local middle schoolers.
Networking and professional development in the German degree program
When students are about to graduate and apply for Fulbright and teaching/researching possibilities in Europe, they can rely on previous students’ experiences as well as faculty mentorship. If awarded a TA position, for example, they gain entry into a lifelong connection with a first-class international education organization.
What’s more, the German program inducts its best students into the National German Honor Society Delta Phi Alpha each year, which also facilitates networking.
Scholarships for German language majors
Helping German language majors fulfill their dream of higher education and immersion in the German language and culture is paramount at UM. We help ensure nothing stands in the way of those dreams with scholarships for German majors, including the David Williams Memorial Scholarship and Montana German Heritage Scholarship.
Explore classes for German degree program
The German program teaches the language from the beginning to the advanced level. You’ll also study the literature and cultures of the German-speaking countries in Europe, and explore the distinct history, civilization, philosophy and culture of various regions. Plus, you’ll study artistic and literary traditions and learn about contemporary movements and developments in the German-speaking countries.