General Information
Centennial Tongji, brilliant German. Tongji University has been engaged in the teaching of German for more than a hundred years, and the Department of German has become the Chinese center of research on German language and literature, German teaching, as well as the window for exchanges with Germany. The university was set up by research on German. The major was founded in 1907 along with the subject of medicine, when the German Medical School opened. Revolutionary youths of that time including Yin Fu, Chen Yuanda, Wang Shunfang all received education here. Leading figures like translator Feng Zhi, philosopher Chen Quan, Germanic scholar Zhang William, German scholar Liao Fujun have taught here.
Listed among the first batch of national first-class undergraduate majors classified by the Ministry of Education, the German major at Tongji University is a state-level characteristic discipline with two national excellent courses. “The Evaluation Report of Chinese Universities and Disciplines (2017-2018)”, jointly developed by authoritative institutions such as Research Center for Chinese Science Evaluation, evaluates the competitiveness of Chinese universities and disciplines among which German major of Tongji University ranks the first in China.
Our abundant faculty members all have studied, done further research or worked in Germany. In addition, institutions like German Academic Center (DAAD) have sent several resident experts from Germany to our department. Professors of German Department serves as members of German Sub-committee of College Foreign Language Teaching Steering Committee of Ministry of Education and the head of German Group of College Foreign Language Teaching Steering Committee. Our teachers, textbooks and teaching achievements have been highly recognized by the educational communities, and several teachers have been rated as the top ten outstanding figures in foreign language circle of Shanghai. At the same time, the Department of German has also been awarded the title of the National Women's Model of Labour Day, Shanghai March Eighth Red Flag Collective Unit and Women's Civilization Post of Shanghai Educational System.
Objectives
The Department of German aims to lay a solid foundation for students’ language competence and to enhance their abilities to innovate and put ideas into practice. With emphasis laid on both curricular study and extra-curricular activities, the department is committed to guiding its students to deepen their understanding in Chinese and German cultures.The department is also dedicated to developing talents with social responsibility.
About Our Programs
Undergraduate Program -The German Major
1.Required Courses andElectives:Comprehensive German, Modern German, Basic Training of German Language, German Reading and Listening, Introduction to German Media, Specific Topics on Germany, Introduction to German Linguistics, Practical German (about Science and Technology, Business and Economy), German Literary History, Literature and Philosophy, German Speech and Debate, etc.
2.Practical courses：OralGerman, German Reading, German-Chinese Translation, German-Chinese Interpretation, Thesis Writing in German, etc.
Postgraduate Study
Students joining our department may explore German language and literature further through our postgraduate degree programs — Master of German Language and Literature, Master of German Translation and Interpreting (MTI) and PhD studies concentrating on German Language and Literature.
In addition to the course arrangement, students are also encouraged to study with us through our WeChat Official Account, and participate into German language competitions, college communities and German newspapers. With professional expertise and comprehensive quality, our students actively engage in interdisciplinary research. The German Department has successfully applied for dozens of academic projects at the national, Shanghai and university levels with fruitful academic achievements.
International Collaborations
The Department of German works with international partners in different ways, including student exchanges and academic collaborations.
1. The department has set up exchange programs with many renowned German universities such as University of Cologne. Students are provided with opportunities and convenience to study abroad.
2. The department invites German professors every year to give lectures and holds influential conferences with foreign scholars regularly.
Graduate Prospects
Graduate employment rate reaches 100%. Graduates have the options to further study in renowned universities in China or in Europe and America, or to start their career. Graduates of our department are widely recognized and highly acclaimed by employers for their ability, with high employment quality for years. They engage in German-related work such as translation and interpreting, management, teaching and research in foreign affairs, foreign trade and other foreign-related enterprises and departments, government institutions, or education and cultural fields.
Employers include: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shanghai Customs of the People’s Republic of China, CCTV, Bank of China, Shanghai Volkswagen Co., Ltd., FAW-Volkswagen Co., Ltd., Siemens (China) Co., Ltd., BASF (China) Co., Ltd., and PwC Zhongtian Accounting Firm, KPMG Huazhen Accounting Firm Shanghai Branch, Deloitte Huayong Accounting Firm, Unilever Services (Hefei) Co., Ltd. Shanghai Branch, Bosch (China) Investment Co., Ltd., etc.
