Our department specializes in the study of language, applied linguistics, literature, and film and visual culture.
Graduate programs
Our department has developed three stimulating and challenging graduate programs that give students hands-on experience in teaching and research:
- MA in German - a one-year MA program that has thesis and non-thesis options
- Joint MA in Intercultural German Studies - a two-year MA program that is operated jointly with the Universität Mannheim
- PhD in German - a PhD program that equips you for careers in academe and beyond
Undergraduate programs
We offer courses in:
- German: Students learn the languages, history, cultural traditions, ideas, and accomplishments of the German-speaking areas of central Europe.
- Russian: We offer courses in Russian language as well as the culture of Russia and Eastern Europe. Students can earn a Minor in Russian and East European Studies.
- Croatian: The department offers elementary courses in Croatian as well as courses in Croatian culture.
- Dutch: The department offers elementary courses in Dutch as well as a Dutch culture course. Many courses in Dutch are offered online. Students can earn a Diploma in Dutch Language.
Meet the GSS faculty and staff
Waterloo Centre for German Studies (WCGS)
WCGS is a privately-endowed institute devoted to research on the language, culture, and civilization of German-speaking peoples. The Centre offers a wide range of educational and cultural activities for the academy and the broader community.
News and events
News
Are you interested in continuing learning Russian?
The Department of Germanic & Slavic Studies is planning on offering RUSS 102 - Elementary Russian 2 in Winter 2026 depending on student interest.
If you are interested in continuing learning Russian and would like to take RUSS 102 in Winter 2026, please email the department's Undergraduate Office (gssugrad@uwaterloo.ca) as soon as possible to let us know. Sufficient student enrolment is required to offer the course.
Pre-requisite: RUSS 101 or instructor permission.
Photo credit:
By A.Savin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Winter 2026 course in the spotlight: Multilingualism
(GER 262 / REES 262 / ARTS 290)
Multilingualism is the norm, not the exception: We all use different languages, styles, and accents. You will learn to see language as a social construct and to identify different types (individual, educational, societal) and views of multilingualism (language ideologies).
No knowledge of German required. Readings and discussions are in English.
In-person: Tuesday / Thursday 2:30 to 3:50pm
Instructor: Dr. Grit Liebscher
Photo credit:
User: Man vyi, CC SA 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
DAAD German Studies Funding Programs Webinar
DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service invites students and faculty from German language and/or culture programs to join them for an online information session about scholarship and grant programs of relevance to German language learners and those students whose research includes aspects of German culture, politics, economics or society.
Thursday, October 2, 2025, from 2 to 3pm EDT (11am to noon PDT)
To join the DAAD for this webinar, please register here.
