Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Focuses on one or more of the Germanic languages of Western, Central, and Northern Europe. Covers philology; linguistics; dialects and pidgins; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.

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Inside the major

Programs within this field

Colleges may offer this field under 8 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General: Focuses on one or more of the Germanic languages of Western, Central, and Northern Europe. Covers philology; linguistics; dialects and pidgins; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
German Language and Literature: Focuses on the German language and related dialects. Covers philology; dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Scandinavian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics: Focuses on one or more of the languages, literatures, and linguistics of the peoples of Scandinavia and associated Northern European island groups. Programs may involve multiple languages and language families, not be specific as to the name of the language(s) studied, or be otherwise undifferentiated.
Danish Language and Literature: Focuses on the Danish language and related dialects. Covers philology; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Dutch/Flemish Language and Literature: Focuses on the Dutch language and related dialects. Covers philology; literature; Dutch Creoles; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Norwegian Language and Literature: Focuses on the Norwegian language and related dialects. Covers philology; dialects; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Swedish Language and Literature: Focuses on the Swedish language and related dialects. Covers philology; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other: Germanic languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.

Where it can lead

Careers this field can lead to

Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.

Shrinking

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Median pay: $72,040
Hiring change through 2035: −0.2%
Job openings a year: 63,500

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Growing with the economy

Interpreters and Translators

Median pay: $60,170
Hiring change through 2035: 2.0%
Job openings a year: 6,000

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Growing slowly

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Median pay: $79,350
Hiring change through 2035: 0.2%
Job openings a year: 1,600

To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree

Explore this career

All work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $34,643 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.

Working style

How and where the work happens

Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.

89%of related openings involve substantial in-person or active work

Most careers connected to this field involve in-person work. About 89 of every 100 openings require working close to other people or spending time on your feet.

College options

Where to study it

Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.

College	Degrees a year	Earnings, first year out	Admit rate	Average annual cost after aid
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI	39	$21,743	18%	$5,000
University of Rhode Island RI	18	$64,419	77%	$18,000
University of Arkansas AR	15	—	72%	$16,000
University of Massachusetts-Amherst MA	14	—	58%	$13,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA	14	—	43%	$8,000
University of North Carolina at Charlotte NC	13	$28,830	80%	$14,000
Oregon State University OR	12	—	79%	$16,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison WI	12	—	43%	$8,000
University of Colorado Boulder CO	11	—	83%	$19,000
University of Georgia GA	11	—	37%	$13,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH	11	—	51%	$10,000
University of Connecticut CT	10	$69,870	54%	$21,000
St Olaf College MN	10	—	52%	$13,000
University of Arizona AZ	9	—	86%	$16,000
University of Notre Dame IN	9	—	12%	$11,000
University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE	9	—	77%	$15,000
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus NH	9	—	87%	$19,000
University of Oregon OR	9	—	85%	$18,000
University of California-Santa Barbara CA	8	—	28%	$13,000
Bowdoin College ME	8	—	8%	—
University of Maryland-College Park MD	8	—	45%	$10,000
United States Military Academy NY	8	—	14%	—
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK	8	—	77%	$15,000
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA	8	—	50%	$23,000
College of Charleston SC	8	—	72%	$17,000
University of Chicago IL	7	—	5%	$0
Grinnell College IA	7	—	13%	—
Michigan State University MI	7	—	84%	$17,000
Wayne State University MI	7	—	82%	$12,000
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN	7	$34,643	77%	$10,000
Furman University SC	7	—	53%	$21,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ	6	—	90%	$17,000
California State University-Long Beach CA	6	—	47%	$10,000
Florida State University FL	6	—	25%	$10,000
Columbia University in the City of New York NY	6	—	4%	$6,000
Lewis & Clark College OR	6	—	75%	$23,000
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse WI	6	—	73%	$11,000
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee WI	6	—	88%	$12,000
University of California-Berkeley CA	5	—	12%	$10,000
Indiana University-Bloomington IN	5	—	80%	$12,000

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