German Studies

German studies explore the German language and literature in their structure and development. As a theory of language and literature, it is closely connected to philosophy, sociology, and psychology. As a description and explanation of the history of the German language and literature, it is particularly linked to other humanities and cultural studies, especially philology, history, and theater, film, and media studies.

Literature Studies:  
Literature studies cover the entire spectrum of German-language literature from the Middle Ages to the present. The field is divided into Older German Literature (ÄDL, up to 1600), Modern German Literature (NDL, from 1500), and Children’s and Young Adult Literature (KJL). Both research and teaching are comparative and interdisciplinary in focus, emphasizing the integration of philology, literary theory, and cultural studies. Key areas of study include text analysis and the history of literature, literary and cultural theory, editorial philology, aesthetics and rhetoric, gender studies, theories of writing and imagery, and book and media practices.

Linguistics:  
The linguistics focus examines the structure, development, and use of language through the example of German. Students are introduced to the fundamental concepts and methods of modern linguistics and the most important areas of research during their studies. This focus includes the following areas: systematic linguistics (grammar and language competence, psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics) and historical linguistics (the history of the German language and the theory of language change).

The integration of Frankfurt’s German studies program with the vibrant literary city of Frankfurt, home to the internationally renowned Book Fair, offers students a wide range of exciting activities beyond the classroom. Students also benefit from numerous internal and external university collaborations, such as with the Freies Deutsches Hochstift, the Research Center for Historical Humanities, the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, the Cornelia Goethe Center, local publishing houses, Hessischer Rundfunk, the Frankfurt Literature House, and the Cultural Office (with its literary series and festivals).

The Bachelor’s program in German Studies as a major consists of a foundational phase, a qualification phase, and an optional module:

The modules in the foundational phase (1st–2nd semester) introduce students to the methods, theories, and areas of study within three key fields of German Studies: Older German Literature, Modern German Literature, and Linguistics. In the qualification phase (3rd–6th semester), students focus on three key areas of study. Starting in the 3rd semester, students may also choose to specialize in Children’s and Young Adult Literature. The knowledge gained during the foundational phase is expanded and deepened. One of the key areas of Modern German Literature or Linguistics is mandatory. To select the specialization in Children’s and Young Adult Literature, students must first successfully complete the foundational module in Modern German Literature. The selection of key areas is typically made no later than the 4th semester. Courses in the optional module are partially elective and offered as part of an interdisciplinary curriculum based on cross-departmental agreements.

For more information about German Studies as a major, please visit the Department’s page and the Institute for German Literature and its Didactics page.