The importance of Germany in Europe and the world has increased tremendously in recent years. The program in German emphasizes language study as a gateway to understanding another culture, and another way for us to understand the world and our place in it. Working with literature, film, and other cultural products, students engage with the wider political, social, and historical aspects implicit in every reading, and gain a practical understanding that is crucial for a variety of pursuits, including advanced study in language. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a full program of courses both for pursuing a German major or minor, or for complementing a major in another area with the study of German. German students may participate in Knox's student exchange program with the University of Flensburg, or engage in other off-campus study opportunities in Berlin, Freiburg, Munich, and Vienna.