About PhD Program,
The Department of Germanic Languages at Columbia has long been considered one of the strongest German departments in the country. We offer a rich and comprehensive curriculum on the history of German literature and culture from 1750 to the present. Our areas of strength include literary theory, intellectual history, media history, gender studies, film, literature and science, translation theory as well as German-Jewish culture. Courses offered by the department range from small seminars that are taught in German to larger cross-disciplinary courses in English that also address students from cognate disciplines. While emphasizing the careful analysis of literary texts in their historical and cultural contexts, we encourage students to combine their study of German literature and thought with coursework in neighboring programs and departments. In addition to close mentoring by our core faculty, students profit from working with our affiliated faculty from art history, comparative literature, history, philosophy, architecture, and anthropology. Strong ties to our international partner institution, the Free University in Berlin, allow students to engage in graduate study and research abroad. Our Ph.D.s receive excellent training in language pedagogy, and we are proud of preparing them for a successful career. The department’s placement record has consistently been among the very best in the country.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
As part of the academic requirements for conferral of the degree, all students in the thirty-one Arts and Sciences PhD programs must fulfill a one-year GSAS teaching requirement that must be completed in their first four years of residence (three years for students admitted with advanced standing) or before receipt of the MPhil degree, whichever should come first. Students are most often appointed as teaching assistants while they fulfill the requirement but may also be appointed as teaching fellows depending on the assignment. It is expected that students will fulfill the instructional requirement in consecutive semesters of an academic year; exceptions based on compelling academic or professional reasons must be approved by the Office of the Dean.
Students who receive GSAS multiyear fellowships must typically teach for two more years as a condition of their fellowship support, as indicated in their official letter of admission from the dean of the Graduate School.
PhD Funding Coverage,
The Financial Aid Office implements school policies relating to graduate financial aid. The staff supplies students with information on funding from Columbia or outside sources, calculating financial need and the allocation of available funds for both incoming and continuing students. Staff members help students and departments understand the financial aid programs.
We are also responsible for the administration of many external awards made by outside agencies as well as for the processing of all federal loan and Work-Study applications.
If you have any questions concerning any of these areas, please contact us at (212) 854-3808 or gsas-finaid@columbia.edu.
Application Requirement,
- Copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation from academic recommenders
- A personal statement about intellectual interests
- A writing sample, preferably in German (15-20 pages in length)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores from all international students who are not native speakers of English (unless they have received a post-secondary degree at a US college or university)
For questions about the TOEFL see the Educational Testing Service web site.
International students should consult the GSAS page on admissions, as well as the comprehensive site maintained by the Columbia Office for International Students and Scholars.
All students are encouraged to apply online to the graduate program.
Application Deadline,
Jan 04, 2025
Application Fee,
A nonrefundable fee of $120 will be required for the 2025 online application.
