Program Overview

The graduate program in German and Scandinavian studies offers both the Master of Arts (M.A.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Our strengths are in literary and cultural studies, including feminist, film, Turkish German, German-Jewish, Black German, minority studies, cultural and intellectual history, and theater studies. We have also maintained our historic and linguistic depth in medieval studies and Germanic philology. We are home to the DEFA Film Library, a research center focusing on film related to East Germany.  Our resources are enhanced by the Five Colleges, the Yiddish Book Center, and exchange programs with the universities in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Austria.

Reflecting the recent dramatic changes in Europe, the move toward globalization and changes in the fields dealing with the languages, literatures, and cultures involved, the graduate program has strengthened the interdisciplinary basis of its offerings. Courses dealing with issues of representation, historical investigation, and social science methodology are being introduced in combination with literary and cultural studies related to many historical periods. For additional information, visit the department website at www.umass.edu/german/ or contact the Graduate Program Director.