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German is the national language of Germany and Austria and is the most commonly spoken native language in the European Union, with nearly 100 million speakers, including the majority of the population of Switzerland and minority populations in Belgium and Italy. With hundreds of German and Swiss subsidiaries in the US, the ability to speak and understand German gives applicants a competitive edge in an increasingly tight labor market.
What You'll Learn
The minor in German focuses on the mastery of spoken and written German and includes courses in beginning, intermediate, and advanced German language. Also included in the curriculum are courses in German literature, television and media, and contemporary culture. Students have the opportunity to study abroad as well, either in semester- or year-long programs with WCU's partner universities, or through short-term WCU faculty-led summer programs in Germany.
Where You'll Go
Employers in almost every career field value having bilingual staff members giving you a variety of job options in the private and public sectors. Another popular, and in-demand, career is working as a translator or interpreter, a job that can have you working in the court system, hospitals and a variety of other locations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states the average salary for translators and interpreters is $49,110 (as of 2021) and expects the job field to grow by 20% by the year 2031, which is much faster than the average growth rate of jobs overall.
