PhD candidates in the program can expect
-
collaboration with internationally renowned and intellectually vibrant faculty in the department and across campus, with an outstanding faculty-student ratio;
-
multidisciplinary approaches and comparative perspectives on German language, literature and thought; film, media, and digital humanities; social, political, and legal theory, including gender, migration, and environmental humanities;
-
opportunities to develop a wide spectrum of skills such as advanced analysis in literature, media, and culture, as well as writing and research, central to both academic and alt-ac careers;
-
numerous opportunities to gain teaching experience in a variety of university-level classes, preparing students for future careers in higher education;
-
a strong emphasis on international connections, with many study abroad opportunities in Germany, including exchanges and collaborations with LMU Munich, HU Berlin, FU Berlin, University of Cologne, University of Konstanz, and the University of Zurich;
-
the development of a professional network on both sides of the Atlantic, facilitating an excellent record of external grants and job placements for graduates;
-
the opportunity to be involved in departmental projects such as the interdisciplinary journal Transit, the portal WeimarCinema.org, and the Archives of Migration, a series of conversations with contemporary authors.
Designated Emphases
PhD students can combine German with the following Designated Emphases in order to develop a particular area of specialization:
-
Critical Theory
-
Dutch Studies
-
Film & Media
-
Folklore
-
Medieval Studies
-
New Media
-
Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
-
Study of Religion
-
Women, Gender and Sexuality
Generous Financial Support
The Department of German at UC Berkeley offers comprehensive financial support for its PhD students. All admitted students receive a six-year funding package that includes a combination of fellowships and teaching positions; in 2023-24 students received $42,000. Beyond this initial support, students have access to a wide array of additional funding opportunities, including research fellowships, travel grants, and specialized fellowships. The department also facilitates year-long dissertation research in German-speaking countries through Doctoral Completion Fellowships. Students are encouraged to apply for prestigious external fellowships from such organizations as the DAAD, Fulbright, and the Mellon/ACLS. This robust financial support system ensures that PhD candidates can focus on their research and teaching responsibilities without undue financial burden.
Exceptional Faculty
Our faculty has wide-ranging expertise, from the medieval period, through Weimar Germany, to such contemporary issues as digital media and migration studies. We emphasize interdisciplinary approaches and global perspectives. Research and teaching interests include:
-
Aesthetics, imagination, and history of the senses
-
Comparative literature and transnational studies
-
Critical theory and Frankfurt School philosophy
-
Dutch and Portuguese colonial and postcolonial studies
-
Film and digital media studies, including media theory and archaeology
-
Global intellectual history and comparative studies of East Asia and Europe
-
Jewish studies
-
Law and literature
-
Media technologies such as algorithmic systems and generative AI
-
Medieval and early modern German literature and thought
-
Migration, multiculturalism, and diaspora studies
-
Postwar and contemporary German literature and culture
Pedagogical Training and Teaching Experience
All of our graduate students have ample opportunity to teach in a vibrant, innovative language program while receiving extensive training in teaching language and culture at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. The pedagogical issues raised reach beyond the language classroom to students’ future roles as professors of literature and linguistics. In addition to language classes, advanced graduate students often teach Reading and Composition as well as other content courses. By reflecting on their own teaching practice and its relationship to current theory, our graduate students are prepared for a strong start on the job market and for continuous professional development throughout their teaching careers.
Placement Record
The Department of German at UC Berkeley has an exceptional placement record for its PhD graduates. Over the past decade, our alums have secured positions at prestigious institutions across the United States and internationally. Many have obtained competitive postdoctoral fellowships and tenure-track positions, while others have found success in industry. This impressive track record reflects the department’s commitment to rigorous training and comprehensive professional development, preparing graduates for success in both academic and non-academic careers.
Information and Application
Applications must include
-
a statement of purpose;
-
past record (degrees and transcripts);
-
three letters of recommendation (make sure to solicit letters early on);
-
a writing sample of not more than 30 pages;
-
and a TOEFL certificate for non-native speakers of English.
No GRE is required.
Please consult the graduate division’s admissions information for details. Application questions may be sent to the graduate adviser
Faculty members will host two Zoom information sessions on October 23 with details about the department and the application process:
-
Wednesday, October 23, 9 am Pacific Time (6 pm Central European Time)
-
Wednesday, October 23, 6 pm Pacific Time (Thursday, October 24, 9 am China Standard Time)
Applications are due December 15, 2024
The application portal is open now. Successful applicants will be notified at the beginning of February.