This department offers opportunities to study abroad, participate in service-learning in local and international communities, and to get involved in numerous co-curricular activities.
Languages
Broaden your Cultural Horizon with Studies in Languages
Heidelberg offers a major in German Studies, a minor in Spanish, and introductory courses in French. The study of languages is an important feature of our students’ development as culturally competent citizens of a diverse society. The Languages department prioritizes the communicative approach to language teaching, in which classes are taught in the target language and students communicate real information to each other from the beginning. From there, students use the target language to engage in cultures where the language is spoken, discovering new music, film and other cultural products that enrich their lives and deepen their understanding of other cultures. Through curiosity-driven interaction in a relaxed, fun environment, students become not only bilingual, but also bicultural.
Heidelberg provides countless opportunities for students to gain language and cultural fluency. Students are able to interact with people of diverse backgrounds through the World Student Union on campus, which engages and celebrates our international students and connects them with students from the United States. Our students also have the opportunity to study abroad for a summer, a semester, or a full academic year in the country of their choosing. Future employers are impressed by job candidates with international experiences. They are looking for candidates with cross-cultural skills, flexibility, independence and maturity. Studying abroad cultivates all of these desirable qualities.
Languages at Heidelberg
German Studies major – 30 credits
German is one of the ten most commonly spoken languages in the world, and is widely spoken in Central and Eastern Europe. Many residents of Ohio and Pennsylvania have deep family ties to Germany, in addition to the population that speaks Pennsylvania Dutch. The cornerstone of the German Studies major at Heidelberg is the American Junior Year Program (AJY), through which our German Studies majors spend a full academic year studying at one of the most prestigious universities in Europe, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg . While in Germany, our majors not only take classes but also step into the rhythms of everyday life there, including participation in an internship that provides an exciting cross-cultural window into the professional field of your choice while abroad.
12 credit hours of specifically required courses.
18 additional credit hours earned during the American Junior Year experience in Germany (up to 8 hours may be from courses in English)
German (minor) – 21 credit hours
Students who choose a minor in German complete five courses beyond the introductory (101-102) sequence. These students are also strongly encouraged to spend a semester or summer session at the American Junior Year site in Heidelberg, Germany. There is simply no substitute for an unforgettable immersion experience in the language and the culture.
6 credit hours of introductory German courses (GER 101, GER 102)
15 credit hours of additional coursework in German
Spanish (minor) - 21 credit hours
Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world, as well as in the United States. No matter what profession you choose for your future career, you will have opportunities to interact with Spanish speakers. Many employers are looking for job candidates who are bilingual and can communicate comfortably in a culturally diverse setting. Students who choose a minor in Spanish are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a summer, a semester, or even a full academic year! An international experience is far more than just a resumé-builder; it is a life-changing adventure that will teach you not only the language, but also about your host culture by becoming immersed in it.
15 credit hours of additional coursework in Spanish.
Career Paths
Combining a language with another major or minor gives you unique possibilities for your future career. In the past, our students have combined the study of a language with: political science, business, history, psychology, English, biochemistry, health sciences, computer science and environmental science. No matter what other major or minor you choose, combining it with a language gives you a global perspective that will set you apart from other graduates in your field.
