Roof of the Sony Center in Berlin
German Research Training Group
The Department of Germanic Languages at Columbia has long been considered one of the strongest German departments in the country. We offer a rich and comprehensive curriculum on German literary and cultural history from 1750 to the present day. Our strengths include literary theory, intellectual history, media history, gender studies, film, literature and science, translation theory and German-Jewish culture. The range of courses offered by the department ranges from small seminars in German to larger, interdisciplinary courses in English, which are also aimed at students in related subjects. We attach great importance to a careful analysis of literary texts in their historical and cultural context and encourage students to combine their study of German literature and German thought with courses in related courses and departments. In addition to the close supervision by our core faculty, students benefit from the cooperation with our affiliated faculty in the fields of art history, comparative literature, history, philosophy, architecture and anthropology. The close connection to our international partner institution, the Free University of Berlin, enables students to study and research abroad. Our PhD students are excellently trained in language pedagogy and we pride ourselves on preparing them for successful careers. The division's ranking is consistently among the best in the country.
Admission requirements for dissertations Placement tests for graduates
