Admission: Candidates to the Department of German must have earned a B.A. or an M.A. (or its foreign equivalent). In addition to the Graduate School of Arts and Science admission requirements, candidates must submit a recent sample of academic writing of approximately 15 pages. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test are required.

Advising: Students entering the program are assigned an academic adviser from the department’s faculty for the first year of study; students may select a different adviser at any time thereafter. Students are encouraged to meet with advisers on a regular basis; at least one meeting per semester is required.

Required Courses: One of the two courses Origins of Critical Thought I (G51.1118) and II (G51.1116) is required of all degree candidates in the department.

First-Year Review: The academic progress of each student is reviewed by department faculty after the second semester of study. Students who pass this review are permitted to continue course work toward the Ph.D. degree.

DEUTSCHES HAUS

This cultural center for the exchange of ideas between Germany and the United States and for information on German-speaking countries is situated in a historic building opposite the department at 42 Washington Mews. It provides noncredit language courses; films; lectures and readings by eminent writers, critics, artists, and political figures; concerts; and exhibits of contemporary art and photography. Its program is linked to the department’s areas of research, which are reflected in international conferences, symposia, lecture series, colloquia, and seminars. Language courses include elementary to advanced German, German for reading and research, private tutorials, and German for special purposes. With the exception of language courses, all cultural events sponsored by Deutsches Haus are free.

DEPARTMENTAL FELLOWSHIPS, PRIZES, AND AWARDS

The Otto and Ilse Mainzer Fellowship was established in 2000 with the generous support of Ilse Mainzer in honor of the life and work of Otto Mainzer. It is open to graduate students in the department with focus areas including psychology, sexuality, gender studies, love, and friendship.

Other fellowships include the Altenhein Fellowship, the Ottendorfer Fellowship, and the Ottendorfer Distinguished Fellowship.

A comprehensive list of University, Graduate School, and departmental fellowships, prizes, and awards appears in the Financing Graduate Education section of the GSAS Application for Admission and Financial Aid. This information is also available on the GSAS Web site at http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.financialaid.

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