At a Glance

True to the principles of liberal arts education, Bard College Berlin offers interdisciplinary programs in the humanities and social sciences, with a strong focus on individual growth and the development of essential skills in writing and thinking. Students engage in an integrated inquiry into the intellectual and cultural history of the contemporary world before choosing to specialize in an area of the humanities or social sciences (economics, politics, art, or literature). Study in the core program and the student’s chosen field of specialization is supplemented by a wide variety of elective courses in fields such as theater, film, philosophy, and studio arts, and by many forms of engagement with the city of Berlin, including museum visits, special courses, and internships. Qualifying students earn both an American BA and a German BA.

An individual faculty adviser guides each student’s progress through the program, which is taught primarily in the form of small-group seminars. The language of instruction is English. Students have the opportunity to acquire competency to the level of university study in German, and must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in the language by the end of the second year. Opportunities for exchange and study abroad include but are not limited to Bard’s network of partner universities and dual-degree programs in Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Russia, and the United States (Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.; New York City), among others.