Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the Department of German and Russian Languages and Literatures!
Both Russia and Germany possess some of the world’s richest cultural traditions. In courses offered by the Department of German and Russian Languages and Literatures, you will have the opportunity to read some of the greatest literary texts, listen to some of the best music, and view some of the most outstanding plays, films, and artwork ever produced. The universal questions of politics, religion, and society posed by these works will give you unique insight into the world.
As the principle language of business, diplomacy, and tourism in Central Europe, German is valuable to students interested in careers in international business, international law, and foreign affairs. In addition, Germany is home to a technologically sophisticated economy and is also a leader in engineering, science, and information technology.
As Russia has become more integrated into the world economy, our graduates have taken jobs in the fields of business, government, and law, both in the U.S. and in Russia, where fluency in the language gave them the inside track. Like German, the Russian major emphasizes close textual analysis and the ability to express oneself both orally and in writing, which makes it an especially good preparation for a career in law. We are proud to say that our students—both German and Russian—have been accepted into the very best law schools in the country, including Columbia, Northwestern, Duke, and NYU.
This is just the beginning of our story. Please explore—and contact us if you would like to learn more!
Robert Norton
Department of German and Russian Languages and Literatures
