BA German at The Ohio State University

Programme overview

The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Ohio State provides instruction in German language, literature and culture. Students majoring or minoring in German participate in a balanced program of literary, cultural and linguistic study together with practice in speaking, writing, reading and listening. For students not able to build language study into their programs, courses are offered in literature, culture and film with readings and lectures in English. In addition, the department offers instruction in Scandinavian studies, Swedish and Yiddish. Offered at: Columbus.

Faculty: Arts and Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbus, OH, United States

What you will study

All undergraduate students majoring in German must complete the following: - elementary, intermediate and advanced German (or equivalent) - German 2350: Introduction to German Studies - 21 credit hours selected from a list of approved courses in German language, linguistics, culture and history Undergraduates with special interests, such as translation, business or current events, will find those interests reflected in the department’s course offerings. German minor Undergraduate students minoring in German must complete elementary and intermediate German (or equivalent) and nine credit hours of approved electives in German language, linguistics, culture and history.

Career pathways

Germany's economy is the fourth largest in the world. German companies and institutions are leaders in science, technology and the arts. And Germany is a political leader in Europe. For these reasons and more, being able to speak German can open doors to jobs in a number of fields.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the university (and the Arts and Sciences college where applicable) applies; no separate programme-specific requirement published. Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in German within the College of Arts and Sciences. Interested students should contact the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures or call the advising office in Hagerty Hall for an appointment.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,921 a year (2026-27). Columbus campus on-campus Instructional Fee (tuition) for students beginning Autumn 2026: $6,460.50 per semester at 12-18 credit hours, shown as two semesters (Autumn and Spring). The Ohio State Tuition Guarantee fixes this rate for four years for Ohio re Source

Entry terms for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus: Autumn 2027 and Spring 2027 (Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026). Summer first-year applications are not accepted.

Transfer applicants can start in Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027.

First-year, Columbus campus, Autumn 2027: early action (non-binding) deadline November 1, 2026; regular decision deadline January 15, 2027; financial aid priority date February 1; acceptance fee deadline May 1, 2027. Early action decisions: December 11 (Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants) and January 22 (non-Ohio residents and international applicants); regular decision decisions March 5.

First-year applicants apply with the Common Application. ACT or SAT scores are required for first-year Columbus applicants (superscored; sent directly by the testing agency); applicants out of high school two or more years are not required to submit scores. The essay is not required.

Transfer applicants (Columbus campus): Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027; Summer 2027 deadline May 15, 2027. Regional campuses: December 1, 2026, April 15, 2027 and July 15, 2027 respectively.

International transfer applicants: Spring 2027 deadline October 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities