German Studies

German Studies

Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

About German Studies

German is a major language of business, diplomacy and tourism in the European Union and eastern Europe.

Immerse yourself in the German language and its rich culture. As you learn the language, you’ll also study German culture and society through a wide range of perspectives, including literature, film studies, political science, history, urban studies, art history and women’s studies.

We collaborate and work with instructors from other Faculties, so you’ll learn from a variety of disciplines. In your upper years, you can pick from courses in other departments that are relevant to German Studies, such as history and politics.

German studies is divided into two streams (Language, Literature & Culture; and Culture & Society) and offers flexible degree options: Pursue a major or minor program, or select individual courses to complement your existing area of study. Many courses are taught in English and are open to students from all disciplines.

What you’ll learn 


  • Apply interdisciplinary research methodologies and theoretical approaches to your studies.
  • Develop your curiosity, creativity and imagination through the analysis of cultural texts from German-speaking Europe.
  • Develop transferable skills in critical thinking, oral and written communication and project management in both English and German.

Hands-on experiences 


  • Students majoring in German are encouraged to study in Germany for one year through our study abroad courses. York has Canada’s best selection of exchange programs with partner institutions in German-speaking Europe, in conjunction with the Ontario-Baden-Württemberg program.
  • In-class experiences include film courses that incorporate Toronto events such as TIFF and the Goethe Film Series.
  • Hear guest speakers from film, theatre, government and diplomacy.

Questions?

Contact us at goyork@yorku.ca 

Program Details


Offered by

Liberal Arts & Professional Studies


Offered at

  • Keele Campus

Degrees offered

BA, iBA


Ways to study

Full-Time, Part-Time


Experiential Education

Co-op or internship


Fall entry

Yes (first and upper year)


Winter entry

Yes (first and upper year)


Summer entry

Yes (first and upper year)