The German Program in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies offers a highly respected Master's degree with concentration in either literature or linguistics. In addition to comprehensive training in the discipline, the department also provides candidates the opportunity to develop elementary and intermediate language teaching skills. German courses are taught by a faculty of ten, whose diverse specializations enable the department to offer a wide variety of courses in German literature, culture, and linguistics. The low student-to-teacher ratio in graduate courses in this department allows both personal contact and close intellectual relationships between faculty and students. Library holdings in the area of Germanic languages and literatures are among the largest in the South, containing some 25,000 volumes, 110 serial titles, four German newspapers, and two extensive microfilm collections for the early modern period. The department also maintains active ties with the University of Erlangen and the University of Rostock, and supports student and faculty exchanges.