by our College Data Analytics TeamGermanic Language does not just represent the German dialectic, but actually encompasses a branch of Indo-European languages. They are broken up into three branches, the West Germanic, North Germanic, and East Germanic. A program in Germanic Languages will teach you one or more languages of Northern, Central or Western Europe. Students will additionally be instructed in philology, literature, dialects, and applications to business, science, and technology.
Concentrations within this major include German, Danish, Dutch/Flemish, Scandinavian, Norwegian, and Swedish. While majoring in one of these concentrations, you will be taking courses in Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced language course, Northern Renaissance Art, Postwar literature, World Religion, and European History.
In 2020-2021, Germanic languages was the 222nd most popular major nationwide with 1,425 degrees awarded. This represents a small change of only 0.7% from the prior year's total of 1,415 German degrees awarded.
This year's Best Germanic Languages Schools ranking compares 131 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of German programs later in this article.
Germanic speaking countries have a rich past, therefore a love for history and culture is helpful when majoring in this subject. Attention to detail is another important skill to possess, because of the complexity of these languages. Students who enjoy reading will love pursuing the classic works of fiction and non-fiction written in these languages.
To prepare for this major, students are advised to take Intro Language courses, Art History, European History, and Comparative Government & Politics. There are opportunities for study abroad programs at some institutions. This would allow student to practice their lingual skills and experience the culture of their chosen country first hand.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional German certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different German degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in Germanic languages to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a German degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to German, with approximately 37.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to German tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 41.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 23.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 7.2% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.3% |
52.8% of German workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in Germanic languages careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the German career you are seeking.
A degree in Germanic Languages can lead to many different career opportunities. If you are interested in education, you can obtain a position as a Postsecondary or Adult Education teacher. You would have the opportunity to teach a Germanic dialect, along with Germanic culture and history. You may also be interested in becoming a translator. If you are interested in Foreign Service, you can become a Foreign Service Officer. These officers endorse American business and political interest and give information and aid about their countries to the U.S policymakers. They arrange cultural exchanges, and help Americans travel abroad.
Want a job when you graduate with your German degree? Germanic Languages careers are expected to grow 8.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to Germanic languages.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 80,300 | 17.7% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | 39,100 | 11.7% |
Recently graduated Germanic languages students earned an average of $55,443 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $21,743 to as high as $69,870. As you might expect, salaries for German graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for Germanic languages graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers German grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | $79,160 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $55,230 |
With over 710 different German degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased German school rankings to help you with this.
One of 17 majors within the Foreign Languages & Linguistics area of study, Germanic Languages has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Romance Languages | 15,009 |
| Linguistics & Comparative Literature | 8,539 |
| American Sign Language | 2,724 |
| East Asian Languages | 2,293 |
| Classical Languages & Literature | 1,428 |
