German Studies Department Courses and Requirements

German Studies is the interdisciplinary study of the contemporary cultural, social, economic and political life of the German-speaking peoples in their historical and international contexts. The German faculty of Pomona and Scripps colleges offer a comprehensive curriculum for language, literature and cultural studies courses. The Claremont Colleges German faculty includes Mr. Buchholz (Scripps), Mr. Katz (Scripps), Mr. Rindisbacher (Pomona), Ms. von Schwerin-High (Pomona), and Ms. Bashaw (Pomona).

The German Studies Program offers both a major and a minor in German Studies. The major can be completed with a specialization in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Literature.

First year students who wish to continue German after high school should do so in their first semester. For students who want to fulfill Pomona's 3-semester language requirement, we also advise taking the classes that satisfy this requirement in a continuous sequence.

Students who wish to begin German in college should start in their first semester so that they have the language proficiency to study abroad in their junior year. Students who arrive at The Claremont Colleges with language proficiency should consider taking additional courses so that they can graduate with a dual or double major or a German minor.

Students interested in studying in Germany during their Junior Year should meet with a member of the German department by the fall of their sophomore year to discuss their options and plan their course of study abroad.