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German and Engineering Dual Degree

Earn simultaneous bachelor degrees in Engineering and German with our five-year dual-degree International Engineering Program. Designed for students with or without a background in German, this program includes:

  • Coursework in German and Engineering
  • Paid internship at a U.S. company
  • Paid internship at a company in a German-speaking country
  • Study Abroad in Germany

Why Study German and Engineering at St. Thomas?

Engineers with language skills, international experience, and intercultural competence are in high demand, making our graduates very appealing to companies seeking to expand into the global market. Graduates with German language and culture skills find success in a broad range of fields, and multilingual professionals report earning than their monolingual peers.

Become a Global Engineer: Program Overview

  • Course Requirements
  • Five-Year Plan
  • Degrees Awarded
  • Year in Germany
  • Contact Us with Questions
  • Course Requirements

    Students earning the dual degrees in Engineering and German will complete the St. Thomas Core Curriculum requirements along with courses in German and Engineering.

    The German and Engineering Dual Degree Program is designed for students with no background in German.

    • Students begin with GERM 111 and GERM 112 during their first year.
    • Transfer students, or students interested in joining the German & Engineering Dual Degree Program during their sophomore year, can easily catch up by taking Elementary German I and II during a J-Term or summer session.
    • Students with a background in German should contact Dr. Susanne M. Wagner to discuss options and take the language placement test.

    Five-Year Plan

    This five-year German & Engineering dual degree program allows you to earn two degrees simultaneously: a B.S. in an engineering discipline and a B.A. in German. Students in this program will study one semester at a partner university in Germany followed by a semester-long paid internship in Germany.

    • Year 1 = German, Engineering, and Core Curriculum courses
    • Year 2 = German, Engineering, and Core Curriculum courses
    • Year 3 = Paid internship in the U.S., along with German, Engineering, and Core Curriculum courses
    • Year 4 = Study abroad with courses in German and Engineering (and Language/cultural immersion), and a paid internship in a German-speaking country
    • Year 5 = Senior Design Clinic, as well as German and Engineering courses

    The specific plan of study depends on the Engineering degree being sought - see "Degrees Awarded" for additional details.

    View the German and Engineering Dual Degree Program Five-Year Financial Aid Plan.

    Degrees Awarded

    Year in Germany

    is our partner university in Germany, where you will spend your first semester of Year 4. The university offers engineering classes that can be taken in English, and being there gives you a chance to get more comfortable interacting in German.

    In your second semester you will work at a paid internship in a German-speaking country.

    Keep in mind the German economy is the motor of Europe. Made in Germany is a powerful trademark and traditionally Germany has led engineering fields with companies such as Audi, BASF, Bayer, BMW, Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Mercedes-Benz, Merck, Porsche, SICK, Siemens, SAP and Volkswagen to name a few. In addition, Germany is a leader in green and renewable energy. German companies are also investing in the United States and Minnesota, in fact there are more than 25 German companies in Minnesota (PDF).

    Contact Us with Questions

    Have more questions? Please contact us - we'd love to hear from you!

    • Dr. Deb Besser; Associate Dean - School of Engineering
    • Dr. Susanne M. Wagner; Director of German Program and International Engineering Program - College of Arts and Sciences

    You may also want to download the PDF brochure about the German-Engineering Dual Degree program.

    This program is jointly sponsored by the and the .

    Course Requirements

    Course Requirements

    Students earning the dual degrees in Engineering and German will complete the St. Thomas Core Curriculum requirements along with courses in German and Engineering.

    The German and Engineering Dual Degree Program is designed for students with no background in German.

    • Students begin with GERM 111 and GERM 112 during their first year.
    • Transfer students, or students interested in joining the German & Engineering Dual Degree Program during their sophomore year, can easily catch up by taking Elementary German I and II during a J-Term or summer session.
    • Students with a background in German should contact Dr. Susanne M. Wagner to discuss options and take the language placement test.

    Five-Year Plan

    Five-Year Plan

    This five-year German & Engineering dual degree program allows you to earn two degrees simultaneously: a B.S. in an engineering discipline and a B.A. in German. Students in this program will study one semester at a partner university in Germany followed by a semester-long paid internship in Germany.

    • Year 1 = German, Engineering, and Core Curriculum courses
    • Year 2 = German, Engineering, and Core Curriculum courses
    • Year 3 = Paid internship in the U.S., along with German, Engineering, and Core Curriculum courses
    • Year 4 = Study abroad with courses in German and Engineering (and Language/cultural immersion), and a paid internship in a German-speaking country
    • Year 5 = Senior Design Clinic, as well as German and Engineering courses

    The specific plan of study depends on the Engineering degree being sought - see "Degrees Awarded" for additional details.

    View the German and Engineering Dual Degree Program Five-Year Financial Aid Plan.

    Year in Germany

    Year in Germany

    is our partner university in Germany, where you will spend your first semester of Year 4. The university offers engineering classes that can be taken in English, and being there gives you a chance to get more comfortable interacting in German.

    In your second semester you will work at a paid internship in a German-speaking country.

    Keep in mind the German economy is the motor of Europe. Made in Germany is a powerful trademark and traditionally Germany has led engineering fields with companies such as Audi, BASF, Bayer, BMW, Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Mercedes-Benz, Merck, Porsche, SICK, Siemens, SAP and Volkswagen to name a few. In addition, Germany is a leader in green and renewable energy. German companies are also investing in the United States and Minnesota, in fact there are more than 25 German companies in Minnesota (PDF).

    Contact Us with Questions

    Contact Us with Questions

    Have more questions? Please contact us - we'd love to hear from you!

    • Dr. Deb Besser; Associate Dean - School of Engineering
    • Dr. Susanne M. Wagner; Director of German Program and International Engineering Program - College of Arts and Sciences

    You may also want to download the PDF brochure about the German-Engineering Dual Degree program.

    This program is jointly sponsored by the and the .

    Four-panel collage featuring engineering students and faculty.

    Career Paths

    Combining engineering with the knowledge of German and intercultural competence through a year abroad helps prepare you for a variety of meaningful careers, including:

    • International Engineer
    • Translating and Interpreting
    • Technology
    • International Business
    • Graduate School
    • Education
    St. Thomas International Engineering Program video

    Soar to New Heights in the International Engineering Program

    We combine engineering with knowledge of the German language and intercultural competence to prepare our graduates for meaningful careers in a globally-minded and diverse world.

    Take the Next Step​

    best-value-logo-2022-transparent.pngThere is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.