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Germanic studies at the university

Indiana University at Bloomington has a Germanic Studies department with M.A. and Ph.D. programs concentrating on older Germanic and Scandinavian language and cultue. Kari Ellen Gade (author of The Structure of Old Norse Dróttvnætt Poetry [1995]) teaches courses in Old Norse language and literature, runes and runic inscriptions, Viking culture and sagas, as well as older Germanic languages including Gothic, Old Saxo, Old High German, and Middle High German.

In this maybe not too pleasent, but highly informative read, from Symbel issue one Michael Moynihan describes the courses in Germanic and Scandinavian languages, mythology, etc. given at American universities late 2006. However the introduction describes a downfall in such courses, I am still very impressed by the amount and variety of studies in the field that can be followed by students in America. The article also makes me wonder what list would appear if a similar investigation was done for Europe. In my own country I know about studies in Celtic language and a bit of mythology in Utrecht, I suppose that programs on the German language has something about Old High German and maybe some deparment of history may have something about Germans, but as specific as in the quote? Of course I never went to university so I don’t have a good insight, but it would be interesting if a similar investigation for Europe would be done, because at least in my country the serious interest of youths surely grows and it would be great if an interested youth would be able to find out where (s)he could turn to to study.

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