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German Language and Cultural Studies Major

Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Cultural Studies

Develop the skills to meaningfully participate in the German-speaking world through broad cultural, linguistic and practical experiences with the Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Cultural Studies in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. Students become proficient in the German language, and they form an in-depth, critical understanding of German cultural life, past and present.

This 123-credit undergraduate degree’s curriculum is tailored to help students achieve their learning goals, whether they want to engage in business with German partners, work in government agencies or in media, or simply participate in German culture. Students develop skills in oral communication, reading and writing while acquiring a rich understanding of the cinema, culture, history and literature of the German-speaking world.

Students in the degree program can explore the German cultural experience through the Temple University German Society and through contacts with German communities in the Philadelphia region, including 

Graduates of the German Language and Cultural Studies BA degree program are prepared to communicate effectively in German and English, function well in cross-cultural contexts, and contribute to solving current global challenges. Interested students may also choose to pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary German Studies.

Classes & Curriculum

Courses you are likely to take as part of the German Language and Cultural Studies Major curriculum include

  • Analytical Reading and Writing,
  • Culture and Civilization I,
  • Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life, and
  • Introduction to German.

Learn more about German Language and Cultural Studies Major courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

*Fox School of Business

Temple students follow along closely during class discussion.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2025–2026 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $19,608.00 per year
Out-of-state: $35,232.00 per year

Our Academic Advisors

College of Liberal Arts academic advisors help you navigate your curriculum and potential career paths throughout your time at Temple.

Patricia Melzer is the chair and faculty advisor of the German program.
Phone: 215-204-8249
Email: 

Program Contact

For questions regarding the German Language and Cultural Studies Major, contact the following staff member.

Stephen Walton is academic coordinator in the Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department.
Phone: 215-204-8268
Email: 

The following staff members lead the German program.

Patricia Melzer is the chair and faculty advisor.
Phone: 215-204-8249
Email: 

University Honors Program

The College of Liberal Arts participates in Temple’s Honors Program. Learn more about the program and how to be admitted. 

Students who meet certain academic and extracurricular criteria may become members of the following honor societies. 

  • Alpha Lambda Delta is a national society that honors academic excellence during a student's first year at college.
  • Golden Key is an international society that enables members to realize their potential through the advancement of academics, leadership and service. 
  • Phi Beta Kappa is open to juniors and seniors in the College of Liberal Arts. To qualify for Phi Beta Kappa, a student must maintain a high grade point average in a broad, rigorous program of study in the liberal arts, including mathematics and foreign languages.

Learn more about Temple’s honor societies.

Student Clubs & Organizations

Supplement your College of Liberal Arts coursework and enhance your undergraduate experience at Temple through student clubs and organizations. You’ll have opportunities to meet and network with other students, get involved with the community, grow your interests, and develop résumé-boosting skills and experiences.

The following clubs and organizations are available to German Language and Cultural Studies BA students.

  • The Temple University German Society’s members meet for German-related activities beyond the classroom. Events include movie nights, visits to traditional German restaurants, hosting German students, speakers, parades and a variety of other German culture-focused programs. Members also offer conversation practice, peer tutoring and study help to further learning and interest.
  • German Delta Phi Alpha, which was established in 1948, is the National German Honor Society. It recognizes excellence in German studies; emphasizes German civilization, culture and life; and provides an incentive for higher scholarship. 

Learn more about Temple’s student clubs and organizations.

Study Away

Students declaring a major or minor in German are strongly encouraged to study abroad. Options include semester or yearlong exchange programs at the University of Hamburg and the University of Tübingen, as well as the summer-intensive German program in Leipzig. Credits earned in these programs can count toward the German Major or Minor and in partial satisfaction of the International Studies requirement.

  • The Summer Intensive German Program in Leipzig comprises an orientation that familiarizes students with the university and the city, as well as an excursion to Dresden. Three weeks are devoted to intensive language study and excursions outside of the city. Students take placement tests upon arrival and are subsequently enrolled in the appropriate level of German.
  • The four-week Herder Institut InterDaf at the University of Leipzig program, located in the German state of Saxony, is an intensive German-language study on a level commensurate with a student’s current skills. Students also participate in tours and overnight excursions.
  • The Study Abroad in Berlin program is a six-week program in the Freie Universitat Berlin: International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS). German-language skills are not required as all courses are taught in English. Students take one course with a faculty member from Temple and choose a second course from classes offered at FUBiS. Students can earn six credits at Temple University through this program.

Learn more about your options for studying away.

Accreditation

Temple University’s departments and programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Additional Program Information