Idaho State University

What you'll study

This programme combines intensive German language instruction with courses in literature, culture, and linguistics. Early semesters focus on building communicative competence — reading, writing, listening and speaking — through consecutive language courses and conversation labs. Intermediate and advanced modules explore German and Germanic literature, film and cultural history, while linguistics units introduce phonetics, morphology, syntax, and sociolinguistics with a focus on Germanic language phenomena.

• Core language sequence: introductory to advanced German language courses and conversation/lab work.
• Literature and culture: surveys of German literature, modern German prose and poetry, film studies, and cultural history.
• Linguistics: introductory linguistics, phonetics and phonology, morphology and syntax, language change and dialectology, with German-language examples.
• Applied modules: translation and interpretation, German for the professions (business, technical language), language pedagogy and methods for teaching German as a foreign language.
• Research and capstone: options for an undergraduate research project, senior seminar, or practicum combining language skills with community teaching, tutoring, or internship experience.
• Electives and interdisciplinary study: opportunities to take courses in related areas such as European studies, history, political science, business, or computer-assisted language learning.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of study-abroad and exchange programmes, typically spending a semester or summer in a German-speaking country to develop fluency and cultural competence. The department supports undergraduate research and provides access to language labs and multimedia resources.

Entry requirements

Admission to the university requires a completed secondary-school diploma or equivalent. Prospective majors apply to Idaho State University through the standard undergraduate admissions process and select the Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics major during enrollment or after matriculation.

• General academic preparation: a strong foundation in secondary-level English and other humanities subjects is beneficial; completion of any available high-school foreign-language study is useful but not always required.
• Placement: incoming students with prior German study typically take a placement test to determine the appropriate entry level; beginners are placed in first-year language courses.
• Transfer students: must submit official college transcripts; previously earned modern-language credits are evaluated for equivalence and placement.
• International applicants: must meet university English-proficiency requirements through recognised tests or qualifications and provide documentation of secondary education credentials per university policy.
• Other requirements: some advanced or practicum courses may require instructor permission or a minimum GPA in the major; check the department for details on honours or senior research application procedures.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme develop strong language skills and analytical abilities valued by employers across public and private sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Secondary or post-secondary language teaching (often after certification or graduate study)
• Translation, interpretation and localisation for businesses, NGOs or government agencies
• International business, export/import, and global marketing roles that require language and cross-cultural competence
• Public service and diplomacy, including roles in cultural institutions, consulates or international organisations
• Publishing, journalism, and media with a focus on German-language content
• Further study in linguistics, literary studies, applied linguistics, TESOL, or law and graduate programmes
• Technology roles such as language-data annotation, content localisation, and user-experience research where knowledge of German and linguistics is an asset

Internships, study abroad experience and undergraduate research projects available through the department help students build professional networks and practical experience to support these career outcomes.

Why study at Idaho State University

Idaho State University offers a personalised undergraduate experience with small class sizes and direct access to faculty active in language, literature and linguistics research. The department emphasises communicative language teaching while also providing rigorous study in literature and linguistic analysis, enabling a balanced skill set.

• Practical language training: dedicated language labs, conversation sections and opportunities for community engagement and tutoring.
• Study-abroad pathways: established options for semester and summer study in German-speaking countries to accelerate fluency and cultural understanding.
• Undergraduate research and internships: faculty-mentored projects and local partnerships that let students apply linguistic and translation skills in real contexts.
• Flexible combinations: easy to pair with minors or double majors in related disciplines such as international studies, business, education or computing.

Students leaving the programme are prepared both for immediate entry into language-related careers and for further graduate study, with the communicative, analytical and intercultural skills increasingly sought by employers and professional schools.