FAQ

The German Department offers the MA or PhD in German and, with the BMW Center for German and European Studies, the joint MAGES/PhD in German.

The Graduate Program at Georgetown prepares students for a range of career paths in academia and other professional contexts.

It does so by building a broad foundation of German literature and culture from the 18^th century to the present, as well as fostering critical approaches to more specialized areas of inquiry, including contemporary literature and culture, issues of gender and sexuality, intersections of social change and literary form, digital humanities and digital pedagogies, film and media studies, curriculum development, and literacy studies.

All students acquire theoretical foundations in second language acquisition in two tiers of courses, gain extensive teaching experience in the department’s nationally recognized undergraduate curriculum, and participate in materials and curriculum development.

No, you can apply directly to the PhD program with a BA degree in German or a related field. After two years of successful coursework, you are able to apply for a Master’s in passing.

The Department of German offers a range of courses encompassing both literary and cultural studies from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries and applied linguistics & second language acquisition. Particular strengths include contemporary literature and culture, issues of gender and sexuality, film and media studies, curriculum development, and literacy studies.

More information can be found in our list of current course offerings.

Degree requirement information is listed on the Graduate School’s website.

The German Department is committed to supporting the professional development of its graduate students through fellowships. Fellowships include full tuition coverage, a stipend, health insurance, and reimbursement for all course book purchases.

The department also makes funds available for graduate students interested in conferences and study abroad programs.

More information on financial aid can be found on our Admissions page.

Yes. The Department encourages its graduate students to seek outside support for summer, semester, or year-long research and teaching stays. Our graduate students have been exceedingly successful in securing outside funding from sources such as the Social Science Foundation, the DAAD, Fulbright, the Goethe Institut, Senat of Berlin, and others.

The Department of German at Georgetown University has an excellent placement rate for students after graduation. Information on past students and their careers is available on our alumni page.

The Department of German no longer sends out a hard copy application/information packet. Please refer to the Graduate School’s website to apply online.

A complete list of materials needed to apply can be found on the Graduate School’s website.

Applicants should submit two academic writing samples, one in English and one in German. Writing samples are generally the length of a final course paper (approx. 10-20 pages).

Letters of recommendations can be identical for both programs. If applicants decide to submit different letters to each program, they should indicate this in the application.

Please e-mail the department with any additional questions.