German Studies
The goal of Hamilton's German Studies Department is to examine from an interdisciplinary perspective the language, literature, culture, historical development and politics of German-speaking countries.
About the Major
Germany’s important contemporary position, cultural legacy, and turbulent history at the center of European affairs make it an important topic of study for a wide range of interests: language and literature, government and diplomacy, international trade, science and technology. German is one of the major official languages of the European Union and is recognized as an important language of business, particularly in Eastern Europe. At Hamilton, German studies majors work closely with professors in small classes and spend at least one semester studying in Germany.
A Sampling of Courses
First-Term German
Introduction to the German language. Exercises in aural comprehension, speaking, reading and writing reinforced by short cultural and literary texts. No previous knowledge of German required.
Explore these select courses:
Meet Our Faculty
Alan Cafruny
Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Relations, Acting Chair German Studies
International political economy, European politics, U.S. foreign policy
John Eldevik
Professor of History, Chair of the Department of German, Russian, Italian, and Arabic
social and economic history of the early Middle Ages; history of law and mechanisms of conflict resolution; the perceptions of non-Christian peoples and lands in medieval manuscript culture
Marianne Janack
John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy, Acting Chair of the Department of German, Russian, Italian, and Arabic
epistemology; philosophy of science; philosophy of mind; theories of identity; feminist theory; philosophy and literature; American pragmatism
literary realism; ethics, political, and social history of Germany; documentary literature
19th and 20th century German literature and culture, history of craft and technology, theory of the novel, material culture, gender and sexuality
Modern and Postmodern Jewish, Israeli, European, and American prose fiction, drama, and contemporary literary theory
18th century German aesthetics, theater history, German architecture, visual and poetic modernism, performance studies, classicism and romanticism
Explore Hamilton Stories
Because Hamiltonians are Right on Track: Kate Stewart ’84
For most people, international sports competitions are accessible only through TV screens. In January, however, Kate Stewart ’84 was toeing the line in precisely such an event, competing in speed skating at the World Masters Allround Games.
Spreading the Word about Germany as a DAAD Ambassador
Given the chance to serve as a Young Ambassador for The German Academic Exchange Service, Eamon Gibbons ’21, a biology major and German minor, eagerly said yes.
Follow The Passion (German), Find the Career (Foreign Service)
The sequence of events lined up perfectly. In July, Charlotte Carstens ’16 finished up a five-month fellowship at the German Bundestag in Berlin just in time to begin a two-year master’s program in German and European studies at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Careers After Hamilton
Hamilton graduates who concentrated in German studies are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:
- William H. Laird Professor of German, Carleton College
- Webmaster, IBM Corp.
- Vice President, Deutsche Bank Americas
- Senior Vice President, Coca-Cola Company
- President, World Emergency Relief
- Head of Languages, St. Paul's School
- General Counsel, Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale
- Director, International Technology Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Director, Copyright, Public Broadcasting Service
- Designer, EuroEast Tours
- Bureau Chief, Financial Times
Contact
Department Name
German Studies Program
Contact Name
Alan Cafruny, Acting Director
Clinton, NY 13323
