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Mastering a foreign language aligns with the core mission of higher education: equipping you to think critically, evaluate information, address challenges, and interact effectively across diverse cultural landscapes. The Department of German and Scandinavian offers specialized tracks in German Literature and Language, German Studies, or Scandinavian studies. Beyond German, the curriculum encompasses instruction in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish.
German serves as the native language for over 100 million individuals and holds official status in six nations. More than a thousand corporations headquartered in German-speaking regions maintain U.S. operations, all requiring personnel with German linguistic and cultural proficiency.
Around 20 million people speak Scandinavian languages natively, with the region's literary contributions ranging from Hans Christian Andersen's cherished fairy tales to Stieg Larsson's contemporary detective fiction.
The University of Oregon's German and Scandinavian Department consistently ranks in the nation's top 10 for German majors. It stands as Oregon's sole institution offering undergraduate majors or minors in Scandinavian studies. Courses emphasize interactive discussions and captivating exercises to fully engage learners, incorporating both collaborative and individual writing projects.