Explore the language, literature, culture, and history of the Netherlands, Flanders, Dutch Caribbean, and Suriname.
The Bachelor of Arts in Dutch Studies in the College of Letters & Science offers a comprehensive education in Dutch language, literature, cultural history, and linguistics. Through a broad curriculum of English-taught courses, as well as Dutch language courses, students study important cultural developments from the medieval towns in Flanders over the Dutch “Golden Age” and the Netherlands’ colonial expansion up to the contemporary multicultural, liberal, and European identity of the Low Countries.
The Dutch Studies Program is of unique national and international importance. The UC Berkeley Library possesses one of the richest Dutch book collections in the United States, and collaboration with Dutch and Flemish universities and cultural organizations has made Berkeley a leading Dutch intellectual center.
Highlights
- Practice your Dutch with members of the Dutch Student Association at Berkeley.
- Explore the many study abroad options in the Netherlands.
- Participate in department events like the Prof. Johan Snapper Lecture.
Curriculum
Our Dutch Studies Program offers a wide selection of courses covering Dutch language courses for absolute beginners and advanced speakers of Dutch, as well as courses taught in English on Dutch culture, linguistics, literature, and history. There are no required courses for the Dutch major besides the Dutch language courses. This enables students to compose the Dutch major according to their personal interests, and also makes it easier to add Dutch Studies as a double major.
Due to the limited number of upper division courses in the Dutch Studies program, we strongly encourage students considering the major to apply to study abroad. Students who study at a Dutch university can apply for course equivalents to be counted to the Dutch Studies major, pending approval by the Dutch Studies Program Director.
Learn more at dutch.berkeley.edu/undergraduate-program
Study Options
The Dutch Studies Program offers a number of options:
- Already have an intended major? Consider adding Dutch as a second major or minor.
- Need to fulfill the American Cultures requirement? Enroll in DUTCH 161AC Multiracial Americans or DUTCH 171AC From New Amsterdam to New York: Race, Culture, and Identity in New Netherland.
- Want to study abroad in the Netherlands? Apply to UCEAP options in Maastricht, Utrecht, or Wageningen.
Declaring the Major
Upon acceptance to UC Berkeley, you are admitted to the College of Letters & Science as an undeclared student. To declare the major in Dutch Studies, contact the Dutch Studies Student Advisor for more information.
Transfer students should contact the Dutch Studies Student Advisor as early as possible to check on availability of courses required for the major; in some cases, transfers are recommended to pursue the minor in Dutch Studies in lieu of the major.
Dutch Studies provides students with the language fluency, cultural knowledge, academic experience, and analytical skills necessary to attend graduate school, enter the job market, and become global citizens. The major is an excellent foundation for students pursuing a doctoral degree in history of art, Southeast Asian studies, comparative literature, and other fields. A Dutch Studies major also offers other opportunities—both the Netherlands and Belgium are part of the top-10 foreign investors in the United States, and are the seat of many international organizations, including NATO, the EU Parliament & Commission, International Court of Justice, and Greenpeace.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students in Dutch Studies. The College of Letters & Science spotlights career pathways for students in the Arts & Humanities, and offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Diplomat
- International Relations Officer
- Interpreter
- Journalist
- Museum Curator
- Translator
- Tutor
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Business
- Comparative Literature
- Elementary Education
- German
- History of Art
- International Relations
- Law
- Medicine
- Public Administration
- Scandinavian Studies
- Secondary Education
- Social Work
- Southeast Asian Studies
Julie, class of 2015
Julie van den Hout earned a BA in Dutch Studies at UC Berkeley followed by an MA in History from San Francisco State University. She has since worked as an independent scholar focusing on 17th-century Dutch research and writing.
“Studying Dutch opens the door, not only to the language and history of a small country, but to everywhere the Dutch have traveled and touched….The small and accessible Dutch Studies Program at UC Berkeley welcomed me as a transfer student and supported me with both academics and community. I ended up with a major in Dutch Studies, an honors thesis, and research that I love on the seventeenth-century colony of New Netherland.”
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and first-year guides from L&S and Arts & Humanities.
- Visit L&S Advising for help with major exploration and degree requirements.
- Familiarize yourself with the Dutch Studies major; begin the lower division language sequence (DUTCH 1 + 2).
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar (DUTCH 24), Berkeley Changemaker, or A&H Compass or Gateway course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get involved with a student organization like the Dutch Student Association.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Practice your Dutch at the weekly Koffieuurtje (coffee hour).
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Arts & Humanities website.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar or Big Ideas course.
- Look into study abroad; see resources from the program and options in the Netherlands.
- Enrich your studies with a course thread, certificate, or minor such as Applied Language Studies.
- Complete the lower division language sequence and declare the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend department events like the Prof. Johan Snapper Lecture.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Learn about the BENELUX Program.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS website; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Check out the Townsend Center for the Humanities.
- Apply for a FLAS award.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into the USA2Holland Internship Program.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE; look into the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in DUTCH 110 and begin taking upper division requirements in the major.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Spend a term off-campus with UCDC or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
- Consider applying to the Dutch Studies Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a member of the A&H Dean’s Leadership Team.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Browse scholarly resources in the department library, Dutch Studies Collection, and Sluiter Collection.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Connect with the NorCal chapter of the Netherland-America Foundation.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as the American Association for Netherlandic Studies.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Consider doing a Capstone Project (DUTCH 195) under faculty direction.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Townsend Center or Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Start connecting with alumni groups and events.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course.
- Study abroad in Maastricht with UCEAP.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Digital Humanities and Teaching English.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Dutch Studies or choosing a major?
The Dutch Studies Program offers undergraduate advising for students interested in the Dutch Studies major or minor, or Dutch language study. The Dutch Studies Student Advisor is available for virtual and in-person advising (5311 Dwinelle Hall). For more information, contact germanua@berkeley.edu.
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
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