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Department of Germanic Languages
University of North Carolina
438 Dey Hall, CB# 3160
Chapel Hill NC 27599
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Make a Gift
History of the Department
The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures has enjoyed a long tradition of excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Instruction in German first became a permanent part of the curriculum in 1857, and by 1915, more students were studying German at Carolina than any other modern language. By the 1930s the department was offering M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, and in the summer of 1962 the department took up residence in what was then a brand-new Dey Hall, moving into its current quarters after the 1969 expansion of the building.
Our Department Today
The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures today offers comprehensive training in all levels of the German language. With roughly 100 undergraduate majors and minors, our program is as vibrant as it has ever been, offering students pursuing a B.A. in German the choice between an interdisciplinary track in German Studies and a track in German literature and culture. Through UNC Study Abroad, Carolina undergraduates study at universities in the German-speaking world in large numbers. In addition to language courses and courses for our majors and minors, we also offer highly successful outreach courses, taught in English, for the general undergraduate population, on topics such as "Marx, Nietzsche and Freud" and "German Culture and the Jewish Question." Every year, more than 1,300 students at Carolina take courses in the German department.
Our department is nationally ranked and internationally respected. Our faculty members are leaders in the field who have published dozens of books and hundreds of scholarly articles, and we attract some of the very finest graduate students in the nation. We educate our graduate students in an academic environment that encourages interdisciplinary work and innovative scholarship while placing particular importance on the role of teaching.
Why Donate?
The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures is stronger than it has been at any point since German began to be taught at Carolina more than 150 years ago, and the humanities are clearly flourishing in the College of Arts and Sciences. In the past, private support has played a key role in maintaining our tradition of excellence. We are deeply indebted to the Kent James Brown endowment for support of our graduate students, and the Ria Stambaugh award fund makes it possible for us to recognize distinguished performance in our undergraduate and graduate programs on an annual basis. Many alumni give to the department, and we are grateful for their generosity. Gifts at all levels enable our department to maintain the national and international reputation for excellence it has already attained.
Giving Opportunities for the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures
If departments were judged entirely on the basis of faculty talent and accomplishment, Chapel Hill’s German Department would certainly be among the elite few. Every one of our senior faculty is a nationally recognized authority in German language, literature, or culture and our younger colleagues are rising quickly. This distinguished group is also deeply committed to undergraduate teaching, offering courses that appeal to students from all areas of the university.
A decade ago the number of German majors was between 20 and 25. Today it is over 50. This has clearly not occurred because of a surging interest in German across the country. On the contrary, all the statistics show that such interest continues to diminish. The rising number of German majors at Chapel Hill can only be the result of the efforts of the faculty to field an attractive program.
Faculty Excellence Fund
$500,000 to endow or $25,000 annually in expendable support
Faculty Excellence Funds demonstrate the Department’s commitment to maintain a vibrant group of teacher-scholars by providing non-salary support to faculty for a variety of teaching and scholarly needs, including research assistants, travel, guest speakers, research funds, faculty recruitment and retention.
Student Excellence Fund
$500,000 to endow or $25,000 annually in expendable support
These funds will support a variety of undergraduate and graduate student initiatives. These range from dissertation and research funds to student programs and events.
Study Abroad Fund
$500,000 to endow or $25,000 annually in expendable support
One of the College’s highest priorities is to encourage more students to spend a semester or year studying abroad. Higher expenses related to transportation, food and tuition often exclude students who depend on financial aid, which is limited for study abroad.
Make a Gift to German
We are pleased that you would like to make a gift to support innovative undergraduate and graduate education at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
To make your gift, please visit the On-Line Gift Form
You will be asked to enter your personal and contact information. In the gift designation section, please select “other” from the drop-down menu, then type in the blank space "German Department." That will ensure that your gift is directed to us.
Thank you very much for your support!
There many other ways to give. To learn more, please contact Whitney Martin, Assistant Director of Development for the Arts & Sciences Foundation. You can reach her by phone (919.962.7266), by e-mail or by letter at the following address:
The Arts and Sciences Foundation
The University of North Carolina
134 East Franklin Street, 1st Floor
Campus Box 6115
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-6115
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