German

General Information:
The University of Princeton offers a comprehensive program designed to provide students with a deep understanding of their chosen field of study. This program emphasizes a rigorous curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, preparing graduates for successful careers in academia, industry, or public service. Through a blend of coursework, research opportunities, and innovative projects, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a broad perspective necessary to excel in a competitive global environment. The program encourages intellectual curiosity and fosters a collaborative learning community, where students can engage with leading faculty and peers from diverse backgrounds. With state-of-the-art facilities, extensive resources, and strong industry partnerships, Princeton's program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex challenges and contribute meaningfully to their fields. Graduates of this program are well-positioned to pursue further academic research, leadership roles in their professions, or entrepreneurial ventures that drive societal progress. The university's commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary approaches, and student-centered education makes this program a distinguished choice for aspiring students seeking to make a lasting impact in their areas of interest.

Courses:

Students ordinarily complete twelve courses over the first two years. Courses are conducted as small and informal seminars ranging typically from five to fifteen participants, and, depending on the material being discussed, will be offered in either English or German. Participants in the seminars frequently include students from neighboring departments, such as comparative literature, art history, architectural theory, classics, history, and music.

An important feature of the department's intellectual life is an annual graduate symposium that gives our graduate students an opportunity to present their work in a rigorous academic setting that still has some of the feeling of "home." In addition, graduate students in the German department have the chance to organize conferences that feature distinguished scholars as keynote speakers and provide an occasion for the presentation of papers - - by our own students and students from other institutions.

In addition to the regular visits of our two permanent faculty members Inka Mülder-Bach (LMU, Munich) and Joseph Vogl (HU, Berlin), the department enhances the offerings of its faculty by inviting distinguished guest professors for a term. Visiting professors have included Andreas Kilcher (Zurich), Juliane Vogel (Konstanz), Rebecca Comay (Toronto), Gabriele Brandstetter (Berlin), Wilfried Barner (Tubingen), Dorrit Cohn (Harvard), Jochen Horisch (Mannheim), Alice Kuzniar (University of North Carolina), Eberhard Laemmert (Berlin), Michael Steinberg (Cornell), Liliane Weissberg (University of Pennsylvania), David Wellbery (Chicago), Peter Fenves (Northwestern), Aleida Assmann (Konstanz), Winfried Menninghaus (Berlin), and Hent De Vries (Johns Hopkins). With the support of the Max Kade Foundation, the department also brings German artists and intellectuals to reside and teach at Princeton. Visitors have included Heiner Mueller, Peter Schneider, Monika Maron, Martin Walser, Hans-Joachim Ruckhaeberle, and Durs Grünbein. The annual departmental lecture series also offers students an opportunity to discuss the speaker's research with him or her in an informal setting following the lecture.

Language(s):

By the end of their second year, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in one additional foreign language other than English or German. In order to fulfill this requirement, students must pass one of the language examinations given by the appropriate department at Princeton. Students choosing to concentrate on literature before 1700 are advised to take Latin as their second foreign language.

General Exam:

The first part of the general exam, which is typically taken in the fall of the third year and is called the "erudition exam," is designed to ensure that students have a strong foundation in the canon of German literature, philosophy, social theory, and film. When new students enroll in the program, they are given a list of works upon which this first exam will be based and are expected to devote time during the first two years working through this list.

The second part of the general exam, which is typically taken in the spring of the third year and is called the "special exam," is devoted to a series of specific topics developed by the student in consultation with the exam committee and is conceived as preparation for work on the dissertation.

Qualifying for the M.A.:

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully completes coursework and the general examination. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, withdraw from the Ph.D. program, provided that the requirements for completion of the general examination have been met.

Teaching:

Students are required to teach one year of German Language (usually 101-102). Teaching typically begins in the third year and is preceded by a one-week pedagogy workshop with Professor Jamie Rankin, the language coordinator. In addition, first-time teachers are required to attend the AI Orientation given by the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.

Concurrent with teaching 101-102, students must enroll in GER 506, Professor Rankin’s pedagogy course.

Students are also usually given the opportunity to teach the second-year sequence (105-107). This occurs either in the fourth year, or in the fifth year if the fourth year is spent in absentia.

Dissertation and FPO:

Dissertation Prospectus Defense

After both parts of the general examination have been completed, the student chooses an adviser or co-advisers for the dissertation. Typically in April of the third year, students submit a dissertation prospectus to a committee of three that includes this adviser (or co-advisers) and one or two other faculty members with expertise in the field. The prospectus, which is generally between 15 to 25 pages in length, sets out the major question(s) the dissertation will explore and includes a preliminary bibliography. The precise expectations for the prospectus should be discussed in detail with the adviser(s) upon successful completion of the "special exam." The dissertation prospectus defense begins with a formal presentation of the proposed topic by the student, which is followed by a discussion of the prospectus with the committee.

Final Public Oral (FPO) Examination

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the final public oral (FPO) examination sustained.  During the FPO, which lasts up to two hours, the candidate presents a brief summary of the dissertation and then defends the work before faculty (including the readers and examiners appointed by the department, according to Graduate School rules), peers, and other members of the university community.

• Application Fee: $90
• Statement of Academic Purpose
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Recommendation Letters
• Transcripts
• Fall Semester Grades
• Prerequisite Tests
• English Language Tests
• GRE : General test
• Additional Departmental Requirements: Sample of written work. Applicants should be fluent in German.

For Ph.D. candidates, tuition and fees during a student’s regular period of enrollment are provided in full from a student’s graduate student financial support, in the form of tuition support from fellowships, assistantships, or external sources.

The annual stipend amount provided to Ph.D. candidates during their regular enrollment is intended to support a single graduate student based on estimated costs. Master’s students or students with spouses and/or dependents may require additional resources to support their living expenses 

The University of Princeton offers a diverse range of academic programs designed to foster rigorous intellectual development and prepare students for successful careers across various fields. The programs are characterized by a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and research engagement. Students have access to world-class faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and a vibrant academic community that encourages collaboration and innovation. Princeton’s curriculum is structured to provide both depth and breadth, enabling students to specialize in their chosen field while maintaining a broad liberal arts perspective. The university also offers numerous extracurricular opportunities, including research assistantships, internships, and study abroad programs, all aimed at enriching the educational experience. The faculty members are renowned experts dedicated to mentoring students and advancing knowledge through groundbreaking research. With a commitment to academic excellence and societal impact, Princeton’s programs prepare students to become leaders and changemakers in their respective domains. The university continuously updates its offerings to reflect current trends and future challenges, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped with the skills necessary in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Overall, Princeton’s programs exemplify a dedication to pioneering scholarship, comprehensive education, and the cultivation of responsible global citizens.