German Studies Program Suspension

Napoleon in Berlin, Meynier


It is with regret that we inform you of the suspension of the German studies major. The number of faculty who both teach German studies courses and provide essential stewardship of the program has been greatly reduced due to recent retirements in the History and Literature Departments. At its current level of staffing, the German Studies major cannot responsibly be continued at this time.

Please be assured that current students will be able to complete their remaining German studies major requirements in a timely fashion. German studies courses will continue to be offered through the 2019-2020 academic year. The remaining German studies faculty and Hailey Emery, the German Studies Major Advisor, will continue to provide all students in the program with guidance and support.

Students admitted to UCSC in future years are encouraged to think about pursuing the German concentration in the Literature Department and to investigate opportunities to study German in the History, Languages and Applied Linguistics, and Philosophy Departments.

While the principal faculty of the German studies program have unanimously voted to indefinitely suspend the German Studies BA program, we do not take this step lightly. We will participate in ongoing conversations about how the program might be revived in the near future.

Sincerely,
Professor Zsuzsanna Abrams, Co-Undergraduate Director
Associate Professor Hunter Bivens, Co-Undergraduate Director