Our Mission

The German program at Oregon State University delivers a globally relevant degree through personalized learning opportunities for diverse communities and various modes of delivery. We approach language as a combination of linguistic competencies, intercultural proficiency, and transcultural research with global impact. We are dedicated to international education within and beyond the borders of Oregon, and we are visionaries in the integration of German and STEM.

We accomplish this by:

  • Providing a clearly articulated curriculum in second-language acquisition and courses aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
  • Contributing to OSU’s general education core through our BACC courses
  • Using low- and no-cost textbooks to lower the financial burden on our students
  • Maintaining a low student-instructor ratio in lower and upper-division courses
  • Staffing all classes with instructors holding a PhD
  • Applying innovative and inclusive pedagogical practices
  • Disseminating transnational research with global impact
  • Enabling and mentoring students to develop and apply research skills
  • Encouraging and supporting students in their application for prestigious scholarships and their pursuit of global work and study experiences (Oregon-Baden-Württemberg exchange, Fulbright, DAAD, etc.)
  • Organizing highly-visible public outreach events

Hope Nelson discusses earning a German degree online from Oregon State

 

Our Vision

The German program at Oregon State University strives to increase diversity of its student body and course offerings. We endeavor to create a standardized program within the framework of OSU’s and CLA's strategic plans. We aim to provide a curriculum informed by the mission of our land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant university.

Our goals are to:

  • Provide clear course standards and grading rubrics through improved standardization of our curriculum;
  • Instruct in small classes of not more than 25 students in lower-division courses and 20 students in upper-division courses ( following MLA / ADFL recommendation of no more than 18 students);
  • Explore deeper synergies and common degree pathways between German, the natural and social sciences, art, and music;
  • Form close ties with community partners, including local K-12 schools in the greater Corvallis area (Philomath, Corvallis, Albany).