Skidmore College

The German Program

Welcome! Why learn German?

Here are some interesting facts about Germany: Germany has the third largest economy in the world and is the world's largest exporter. One-fourth of all Europeans (120 million people) speak German as their mother tongue. More than 1,100 German-speaking companies have subsidiaries in the US and over 750 US companies do business in Germany. One out of every ten books published in the world today is in German. German is the second most common language on the internet after English. German is the language of great composers (Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Schubert), philosophers (Kant, Nietzsche, Hegel), and authors (Goethe, Kafka, Brecht). Individuals from German-speaking countries have won over 100 Nobel Prizes. One in four Americans has German heritage. More Americans have lived and worked in Germany than any other country in the world.

Skidmore College offers students a variety of options to explore German studies. Courses in beginning, intermediate, and advanced German are complemented by courses on German film, literature, and culture. A Business German class will prepare you to take the ZDfB exam. This is an international examination which is administered every Spring at Skidmore and which leads to a certificate testifying that your knowledge of German can be used in a professional job situation.

Fluency in German can enhance your study of International Affairs, Management and Business, Philosophy, History, Music, or the Natural Sciences. Solid language and cross-cultural skills provide an important edge in today’s global market. If you want to be competitive, consider the benefit of choosing German as a foreign language, minor, major, or as part of an Interdepartmental Major connecting German with Business, English, or Government.

Skidmore offers exciting and affordable study abroad programs in Berlin, Vienna, and Freiburg, which allow you to transfer credit easily and enjoy first-hand the history and culture of these great European cities.

Creative Thought Matters.