German and Scandinavian

In our department, you can take classes in the areas of German Studies, Scandinavian Studies, or both.  In German classes, you’ll learn about the Northern and Central European cultures of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.  In Scandinavian courses, you’ll learn about Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. We study these places both today and in the near and distant past.  We teach the German and Swedish languages, and support Yiddish as well.  We explore all of these interrelated cultures holistically from social, political, environmental, literary, cinematic, mediatic, and artistic perspectives.  In doing so, we consider formal and philosophical themes, as well as the histories of the ideologies of race, gender, class, and religion, always from an interpretively open-ended and dialogical point of view.  Our faculty members, who specialize in modern culture, give our students personal attention, helping them to advance their intellectual and pre-career development.

What You Can Do with a Degree in German and Scandinavian

What kind of career can you get with language skills? Studying German and Scandinavian can take you just about anywhere! Our alumni are traveling the world, making an impact in their communities, and building careers with a broad range of organizations such as:

  • International companies 
  • Media and high-tech companies 
  • Nongovernmental organizations and agencies
  • Public interest groups 
  • Museums and archives 
  • Social welfare organizations 
  • Colleges and universities 
GerScan Alumni, Azchary Tigert

How German and Scandinavian Studies Broadens Your Career

“Learning another language was a paradigm shift that changed my way of viewing the world and my daily experience. It also opened me to opportunities to work with people from around the world, learning of other cultures and perspectives, in pretty much every job role or educational position since. Also, the graduate courses taught me critical theory and were my initial exposure to philosophy, which have dramatically impacted my life more than anything else I've learned.”

Zachary Tigert, program manager, Microsoft

Our Degree Programs

We offer multiple majors and minors in German and Scandinavian studies. Our MA and PhD programs are rigorous, yet supportive. Our students dive into critical analysis of post-Enlightenment modernity and often pursue interdisciplinary research.

Teacher standing next to blackboard teaching class.

Learn from Experts in the Field

Our faculty comprises both German and Scandinavian specialists whose research interests range from folklore and fantasy to gender and film, and from psychoanalysis and Jewish studies to philosophy and critical thought. They are passionate scholars who inform and inspire and are dedicated mentors who help students build real-world skills and strong professional networks.

Classical architecture building in Germany

Get Real-World Experience

Studying language abroad accelerates the development of speaking and comprehension skills while giving students a real-world experience within the culture they’re studying. Our students have access to dozens of study abroad programs in Germany and Scandinavia, from our decades-long partnership with Heidelberg, Tübingen, and other universities in Baden-Württemberg to numerous specialized programs in Berlin, Copenhagen, Uppsala, and beyond.

Scholarships and Funding

The Department of German and Scandinavian awards multiple scholarships to current undergraduate students who are declared majors or minors within the department. Graduate students are typically compensated for teaching language classes to undergraduates and are eligible for additional fellowships and scholarships.

Undergraduate Scholarships Graduate Funding

Academic Support

Our academic advisors can help students understand their major or minor requirements, plan their course of study, explore study abroad opportunities, and more.

Undergraduate Advising
Support for Graduate Students

German and Scandinavian News and Events

GERMAN AND SCANDINAVIAN - As the effects of climate change become more apparent, Assistant Professor and Mokin Fellow of Holocaust Studies Miriam Chorley-Schulz is helping students parse how ecofascist ideology is resurging globally in response.
The perpetrators of World War II left mass destruction in their wake across much of Europe, physically and culturally. A new book, co-edited by Miriam Chorley-Schulz, assistant professor and Mokin Fellow of Holocaust Studies, examines cultural activities, the political engagement and the work of cultural activists who remained in Eastern Europe after the war, specifically related to Yiddish language and culture. 
GERMAN AND SCANDINAVIAN - The term "heimat," which loosely translates to home or homeland, is tied to ideals of unity and identity in one’s homeland. It’s also tied to controversial ideas such as colonialism and genocide. The 13th special issue of “Konturen" is devoted to a critical reassessment of this word and its meanings.

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Organic/Inorganic/Materials Chemistry Seminar Series - Targeting Cytochrome P450s - From Biophysics to Selective Inhibitors and Photons
Apr18
Organic/Inorganic/Materials Chemistry Seminar Series - Targeting Cytochrome P450s - From Biophysics to Selective Inhibitors and Photons Apr 18 Willamette Hall
Department of History Coffee Hour
Apr22
Department of History Coffee Hour Apr 22 McKenzie Hall
Public Screening and Director Talk: "Samurai in the Oregon Sky"
Apr22
Public Screening and Director Talk: "Samurai in the Oregon Sky" Apr 22 McKenzie Hall
Health Grad & Career Expo 2025
Apr23
Health Grad & Career Expo 2025 Apr 23 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
The Aesthetics of Interculturality in Contemporary German and African Literature
Apr23
The Aesthetics of Interculturality in Contemporary German and African Literature Apr 23 Knight Library
Dept. of History Presents: “Trump’s First 100 Days: Now and Then”
Apr23
Dept. of History Presents: “Trump’s First 100 Days: Now and Then” Apr 23 McKenzie Hall
Symposium: The Limits and Possibilities of Cross-border Latinidades & Indigeneities
Apr24
Symposium: The Limits and Possibilities of Cross-border Latinidades & Indigeneities Apr 24 Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA)
China Town Hall (UO): The First 100 Days - President Trump's China Policy
Apr24
China Town Hall (UO): The First 100 Days - President Trump's China Policy Apr 24 McKenzie Hall
Bob Bussel Labor History Lecture—Essential Workers: Public Employment and the Dignity of Labor
Apr24
Bob Bussel Labor History Lecture—Essential Workers: Public Employment and the Dignity of Labor Apr 24 William W. Knight Law Center
Take Back The Night
Apr24
Take Back The Night Apr 24 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)

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