Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies

The Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies administers undergraduate majors in German, Linguistics, Russian, and Slavic Studies, as well as minors in Arabic Studies, Chinese, German, Linguistics, Russian, and East European Studies. Students may also participate in an interdisciplinary minor in interdisciplinary programs in Asian Studies, German Studies, Jewish Studies, International Studies, and Islamic Civilization and Societies. A German business concentration within the German major and minors is also available. Departmental honors require successful completion of honors requirements. For information, contact the Department.

The Department maintains listings of related courses from other departments that satisfy various program requirements. Substitutions and exemptions from specific program requirements, as well as the application of courses from other institutions, require express permission from the Chairperson or the Undergraduate Program Director.

Students fulfilling the undergraduate Core requirements in Literature, Arts, and Cultural Diversity should consider Core offerings taught by members of the Department.

References to the number of credits required correlate with the number of full one-semester courses.

Majors

The Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies offers majors in German, Linguistics, Russian, and Slavic Studies.

Print

Minors

The Department offers departmental minors in Arabic Studies, Chinese, German, Linguistics, and Russian, as well as interdisciplinary minors in Asian Studies, East European Studies, German Studies, and Jewish Studies.

Print

German Studies Special Opportunities

Honors Program in German

Students with a minimum 3.5 GPA in German Studies courses are encouraged to apply for the Honors program in German. Honors students take an additional 6 credits in German Studies (either one additional 3-credit upper-level course and one semester of GERM6699, or two semesters of GERM6699). As part of GERM6699, students complete a bachelor’s thesis on a topic chosen in consultation with their proposed thesis advisor. To apply for the Honors program, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Daniel Bowles, Lyons 201F,bowlesd@bc.edu.

Business Concentration in German Studies

The business concentration allows German majors or minors to combine a dual interest in business and German with a program of study that prepares them for an international career. The business concentration has been developed in conjunction with the Boston College Carroll School of Management to take advantage of the thriving German economy that makes Central and Eastern Europe a strong market for American products and has enabled German companies to open branches in the United States.

The German business concentration requires two 3-credit courses (6 credits), counting simultaneously toward the German major or minors:

  • GERM2004 German for Professional Purposes (3 credits)
  • GERM2005 Germany in Europe Today (3 credits)

Students majoring or minoring in German Studies can apply in the fall semester for popular internships, which place Boston College students with companies in Germany or Austria every summer. Inquire about the internship, for which you may receive one course credit (GERM5501), by contacting Ursula Mangoubi in Lyons 201G,mangoubi@bc.edu.

Students are encouraged to spend a year or a semester at the Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business), the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, or the Ingolstadt School of Management affiliated with our partner university, the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.

Study Abroad

The Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies requires, in general, at least two years of language study, in addition to coursework (tailored to the individual student's program of study) that would provide cultural orientation. Since the Department offers a wide variety of majors and minors, courses taken abroad may be conferred major or minor credit (up to 12 credits to majors and 6 credits to minors) on a case-by-case basis. Please consult with the relevant departmental undergraduate studies coordinator.

Individual programs of study are arranged according to the types of instruction available and the student's goals and background.

Students interested in German Studies can study in a German-speaking country for a year, a semester, or a summer, with recommended programs in Eichstätt, Tübingen, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Vienna. Students majoring in Linguistics may profit from any number of study-abroad opportunities, depending on the specific language(s) they elect to focus on. Students of Near Eastern and East Asian languages have participated to great advantage in a variety of different study abroad opportunities in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Japan, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Korea, and other nations of Asia.

Junior year is the most popular time to study abroad, but seniors have done so successfully as well. All Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies majors must obtain department course approval before going abroad. Students should consult with the relevant faculty members, depending on their language and area of expertise.

Work Abroad in Germany

Only German majors and minors are eligible to apply for popular internships, which place Boston College students with companies in Germany every summer. Students are paid through their job and/or through Boston College internship grants and other fellowships.

The Fulbright Programfor Germany and Austria

Students apply for the elite Fulbright program starting the spring before their senior year. For Fulbright information, contactDaniel Bowles, Lyons Hall 201F,bowlesd@bc.edu.

Office of International Programs

Students taking classes in the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies participate in Boston College's programs and international partnerships in China, Germany, Israel, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Russia, and other countries.

For complete information on any of these programs and also on unofficial study abroad, visit bc.edu/international.

Teachers of English to Foreign Students

The Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies offers a number of linguistics courses for training teachers of English to foreign students. The Department of English offers elective and Core-level undergraduate courses of English language and literature for foreign students enrolled at Boston College.