The department of German Studies studies offers  two study programmes at the Bachelor's and Master's level:

• Teaching of German Language and Literature (combined) in the field of study Teaching and Educational Sciences  
• German language and culture (combined) in the field of study philology 

History of the Institute
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German Institute at Prešov University has its roots in the Constitution of foreign languages ​​at the Department of Slovak Language and Literature FF UPJŠ, which was launched on 1^st September 1959 with a mission to provide further teaching of a living language at the faculty.

A separate Department of Foreign Languages led by Associated Professor doc. PhDr. Anton Bolek, CSc. was established in 1960. In 1963, the new head of the department - Assistant Professor Juraj Valiska was appointed to this post until 1967.

In 1965, the English Language Studies were added to the department and it was renamed the Department of Western Philologies, which existed under this name until 1975. The department secured both fields of study – Western Philologies and General Language Training in a second foreign language for all students of the faculty.

On 1^st February 1966, there was created the Institute of Foreign Languages at Pedagogical Faculty  which was the part of the organizational structure of the Department of Western Philologies. The department was devided into three parts according to study programmes (English, French and German) providing teaching training for the students of both faculties.

After two years, there was created the Department of Western Languages at Pedagogical Faculty and the Department of Western Philologies was splitted into the Department of English and the Department of German Languages. In 1967, Ing. Juraj Ochtinský was in charge of the department, from 1968 to 1971 this function was performed by František Schwarz. In 1971, Mgr. Ladislav Šimon became the head of the department and on 1^st October 1974 Mgr. Juraj Valiska, PhD. was appointed as the head of department.

In 1975, there were further changes in the organizational structure of the Departments of Foreign Languages at both faculties. They were integrated and then devided according to the study programmes into three departments: the Department of German Language and Literature, the Department of English Language and Literature and the Department of French Language and Literature, which were included into the Faculty of Arts UPJŠ. Since 1^st August 1975 Associated Professor doc. PhDr. Juraj Valiska, CSc. led thus constituted Department of German Language and Literature until reassembly of the three departments in 1980.

In that year the Department of German, English and Romance (KGAR)was created as the result of this integration. This department ensured the three study programmes at the Univesrity for both faculties, as well as, teaching of foreign languages in the frame of common basis for both Prešov faculties. Associated Profesor doc. PhDr. Ladislav Šimon, CSc. was the head of the department until 1989. After him, for a short time, Associated Professor doc. PhDr. Karel Sekvent, CSc. led this department until re-division of KGAR into three separate units in 1990. From 1990-1994 doc. PhDr. Mária Papsonová, CSc. was the head of the department. She was followed by prof. PhDr. Ladislav Sisák, CSc. from 1994-2002. In 2002, PhDr. Ľudovít Petraško, PhD. took over the position of the head of the department. From 2003-2005 PhDr. Olga Segľová, CSc. was responsible for the leadership of the department. In 2005, the FF Prešov approved organizational restructuring, which led to creation of the German Institute with two departments: the Department of German Language and Translation Studies and the Department of German Literature. In this year there was also the integration with the Department of German Language and Literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Natural Studies. Prof. PhDr. Ladislav Sisák, CSc. became a director of IG FF Prešov in 2005-2008. In 2008, Associated Professor doc. PhDr. Pavol Zubaľ, PhD. was entrusted with the leadership of the Institute. Since  1^st July 2009 - 2012 PhDr. Júlia Paračková, PhD. performed this function.

Currently, the IG has been again integrated into one unit and since 1^st  September 2012 it has been led by Associated Professor doc. PhDr. Martina Kášová, PhD.