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When considering Ph.D. programs, prospective graduate students should carefully evaluate various factors. Explore our website to discover details about our department and innovative curriculum. We encourage interested applicants to reach out to us or, even better, schedule a campus visit. We'd be thrilled to give you a tour of Penn, connect you with faculty and current students, and address your questions directly. Experience the unique opportunity to study German at a prestigious Ivy League university in a dynamic urban setting that prioritizes your academic and professional growth. The Germanics division within Penn's Graduate Group in Francophone, Italian and Germanic Studies embraces contemporary advancements in the discipline. Our program offers both a strong foundation in German cultural and literary heritage and active engagement with cutting-edge interdisciplinary approaches. The department specializes in critical studies of race, gender, and sexuality; intermedial studies; book history; German-Jewish studies; translation theory; film studies; environmental humanities; and teaching methodologies. We tailor our training to students' professional aspirations, with all admitted students receiving comprehensive five-year funding that includes summer support and valuable teaching mentorship.
Applicants for master’s and doctoral programs must have obtained a bachelor’s degree from an accredited School or University prior to intended matriculation date.
A strong command of the English language is necessary for successful study at Penn. Applicants whose families do not speak English at home, or applicants who have not attended a high school or secondary school where the primary language of instruction is English, are asked to take the TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, administered by the Educational Testing Service. In the event the TOEFL is not readily accessible, Penn will accept results from the IELTS, the International English Language Testing System.