German

Overview

The German minor at Saint Joseph's University helps students see the world through the prism of one of Europe's most influential cultures and broadens their career options. We go beyond traditional language and literature studies to bring students Germany through multimedia, film studies and business culture. Many of our students have also been eligible to join Delta Phi Alpha, the national German Honor Society. The German program also has the highest percentage of Fulbright scholars at Saint Joseph's. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in law, government, business and teaching.

Why Study German?

Over 100 million Europeans speak German as their native language. It is the second most popular foreign language taught, after English, in Europe (and Japan).
- Germany is the home of numerous international corporations, and German corporations have affiliations in more than 100 countries. It is also one of the world's largest exporters and a major trade partner for the U.S. and Canada.
- More than 750 American companies manufacture, market and research in Germany. German corporations have invested more than $35 billion in the United States, employing more than 700,000 Americans.
- German is an international language in technology, chemistry, medicine, music, philosophy and art. Many graduate programs in the U.S. have a foreign language requirement, and German is often preferred because of its value as a research tool.
From musicians, philosophers, writers, and scientists, German thinkers have influenced thought all over the world. German is the language of Goethe, Kafka and Nietzsche. It is also the language of Mozart and Beethoven, Freud and Einstein.

Delta Phi Alpha

The Delta Phi Alpha Honorary Society recognizes excellence in the study of German and provides an incentive for advanced scholarship. The Society, which was founded in 1927 and has constituent chapters at 236 colleges and universities throughout the U.S., aims to "promote the study of the German language, literature and civilization and endeavors to emphasize those aspects of German life and culture which are of universal value and which contribute to man’s eternal search for peace and truth.” Students minoring in German who distinguish themselves for their outstanding performance in studying German are eligible for induction in the honor society towards the end of their undergraduate career.

Scholarships & Internships

The Herta M. Stephenson Scholarship was established by a Charitable Gift Trust in 1991 by the late Dr. F. Otto Haas to benefit students in the German program at Saint Joseph’s University. It supports undergraduate study on campus as well as summer, semester and junior year abroad studies. Many students have studied in German-speaking countries in Europe since the endowment was created.
The Arthur R. Marsilio Scholarship for Study Abroad provides $2,500 to a Saint Joseph’s University undergraduate participating in a study abroad or study tour program in Italy, Greece, France, Germany, Spain or Latin America. Awarded on the basis of both need and merit, this scholarship rotates every year by language program. Please consult the Center for International Programs for more information.
The German Society of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization devoted to furthering the understanding of German and German-American contributions to the growth of American history and culture from the past to the present and into the future. The scholarship committee awards monetary assistance in amounts of $500 to $2500 toward tuition. It is available to German majors who live in the Philadelphia area. For further information, please contact Dr. Tom Buckley.
The German Academic Exchange Service and the U.S. Fulbright Commission offer scholarship opportunities for students studying German.
You can find the latest internship opportunities on the following websites:

Study Abroad

Students who wish to achieve greater fluency in German or just experience a foreign culture for a shorter or longer period of time can take advantage of our summer, semester or junior year abroad programs.

Learn More

Find a Program

Resources

Here are a few helpful resources for students studying German:

General Information about Germany:

Travel in Germany, Austria and Switzerland:

Germany in Europe:

National Daily Newspapers:

Weekly Newspapers and Magazines:

Popular Magazines:

News Agencies:

Television Channels:

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the German minor or related courses, please contact Thomas Buckley, Ph.D.