#  Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures 

 



 [ Simone Stirner Receives Jordan Schnitzer First Book Publication Award arrow\_circle\_right ](https://german.fas.harvard.edu/news/2025/12/simone-stirner-receives-jordan-schnitzer-first-book-publication-award) [ Register for an Online Placement Exam arrow\_circle\_right ](/language-placement-exams) 

 

       ![Abstract painting of bird-shaped cloud above lone figure on open field, by Lyonel Feininger](/sites/g/files/omnuum6781/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/germanic/files/lfeininger_birdcloud.jpg?h=83164b01&itok=3_s4ewwf) 

 

 



 

 



 

##  Recent News 

 



  [### Simone Stirner Receives Jordan Schnitzer First Book Publication Award

 ](/news/2025/12/simone-stirner-receives-jordan-schnitzer-first-book-publication-award) December 03, 2025 

 

   ![book cover showing narrow dark tunnel with bright colors at the end](/sites/g/files/omnuum6781/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Stirner%20book%20cover_0.jpg?itok=BdSkWki-) 

 



 

 

   [### Pascal LaFountain, Harvard PhD 2011, has been awarded a national Outstanding German Educator award 

 ](/news/2025/09/pascal-lafountain-harvard-phd-2011-has-been-awarded-national-outstanding-german) September 18, 2025 

 

   ![a young woman engaging with her classroom students](/sites/g/files/omnuum6781/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/Screenshot%202025-09-18%20120826.png?h=4ba383de&itok=suWULZ7w) 

 



 

 

   [### Professor Hamilton's New Book on Reception Studies

 ](/news/2025/09/professor-hamiltons-new-book-reception-studies) September 03, 2025 

 

   ![The cover of John Hamilton's new book, "Without Within"](/sites/g/files/omnuum6781/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/WITHOUT%20WITHIN%20COVER%20%28002%29.jpg?itok=8DSe24oo) 

 



 

 

  

 

 [ See All News arrow\_circle\_right ](/news) 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

### Courses 

 

**Courses offered by the department weave a tapestry of German-language literature across the ages, at the intersection of disciplines such as history, philosophy, film studies, and the arts. Undergraduate courses open a window to the infinite possibliities of the humanities. Languages taught include German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, and Norwegian.**



 [ Browse Courses arrow\_circle\_right ](/courses) 

 



      ![manuscript-1.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6781/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/germanic/files/manuscript-1.jpg?itok=SstXkaZL) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

  [### Study Abroad

 ](/study-abroad)Students immerse themselves in language study and the resonant arts and cultural scenes in Berlin and Vienna or visit Århus, Denmark, for a a comprehensive, hands-on exploration of the Viking Age and its legacy in the Middle Ages. Additional opportunities are also available.



 

   ![Group of students on the steps of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany](/sites/g/files/omnuum6781/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/germanic/files/study-abroad_students_sanssoucipalace_potsdam_web.jpg?itok=eP9IktXY) 

 

 

 

  [### Work Abroad

 ](/work-abroad-program)The only summer internship/work program run by a department in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences affords speakers of German at all levels of proficiency the opportunity to gain work experience in the private or public sector in a German-speaking country or remotely.



 

   ![Work Abroad Program](/sites/g/files/omnuum6781/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/germanic/files/work_abroad.jpg?itok=I1GPOsja) 

 

 

 

 ### Harvard Resources

[Germanic Research Guide](https://guides.library.harvard.edu/German)

[Harvard Libraries](https://library.harvard.edu/)

[Busch-Reisinger Museum](https://harvardartmuseums.org/tag/Busch-Reisinger%20Museum)

[Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies](https://ces.fas.harvard.edu/)

[Mahindra Humanities Center](https://mahindrahumanities.harvard.edu/)

[Harvard Film Archive](https://harvardfilmarchive.org/)

[**See All Resources >**](/resources-0 "Resources")