Award Opportunities
Honors in German
Qualified students may apply to write an honors thesis in German during their senior year. The honors thesis is intended to provide a capstone to the German degree, and offers students a chance to draw together the breadth of their linguistic and cultural knowledge in the pursuit of a research project of their own design. Thesis writers work one-on-one with a faculty member in an extended conversation to craft their project and hone their analytical skills, delving deeply into the intellectual questions that engage them as students of German. These questions may arise from coursework or from students’ own engagements with German culture beyond the formal university setting. For information about the requirements and application forms for receiving Honors in German, please see our Requirements page.
Delta Phi Alpha, The German National Honor Society
The department strongly encourages students to join Delta Phi Alpha, the German National Honorary Society. This organization hosts regular social events/study breaks for its members and provides guidance for those interested in improving their German and knowledge of German culture. Students are eligible to join if they have a minimum of two years of university-level German courses (300 and higher) or their equivalent; a minimum overall GPA of 2.7; a minimum German GPA of 3.3; and a continued interest in the study of German language and culture.
Online - Delta Phi Alpha Application
An application is considered complete when supporting documentation (a copy of your unofficial transcript, such as what you can download from WebSTAC, and a short personal statement of at least one paragraph stating why you would like to join Delta Phi Alpha) is on file with the department. Please submit these documents to Benjamin Locke via email or to his mailbox in the department office (S. Ridgley 319).
Departmental Scholarships and Awards
The Bronsen Prize was established in honor of Professor David Bronsen, a distinguished scholar, teacher, and long-time member of the German Department. The prize is awarded to a graduating German major or minor on the basis of excellent German language skills and superior academic achievement.
The Detjen Study Abroad Award provides support for undergraduate and graduate students to undertake German-language coursework for at least one semester at a university in a German-speaking country. It is designed to provide partial funding for a student’s expenses associated with travel to, from, and within Europe. Preference shall be given to undergraduate students matriculated for a full academic year at a German-speaking university, with secondary consideration given to undergraduate or graduate students matriculated at a German-speaking university for one semester.
The James McLeod Prize was established in honor of Dean James McLeod, an esteemed professor in the German Department, as well as an exceptional colleague and mentor. The prize is awarded to a graduating German major or minor on the basis of overall excellence in German studies and in extracurricular involvement in departmental activities.
The Gerhild Scholz Williams Award was established in honor of Professor Williams for her contributions to the field of German Studies. The award is an annual competitive grant of up to $2,000 for students planning to conduct summer research in a German-speaking country on a project related to German culture.