Jake Shaw brought what he learned in the German studies program at SLU to his Political Science Ph.D. program, where his research looks at American and German political development and comparative criminal justice policy.
I graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and triple-majored in Political Science, German Studies, and International Studies. I pursued an Accelerated B.A./M.A. program in Political Science and received my Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science and Public Affairs in 2020.
Some of my best memories of undergrad were made in the German studies program. In projects for class, I was given the freedom to research German political institutions, female representation in the German Bundestag, and compare feminist movements and female leaders in the U.S. and Germany. I was also incredibly fortunate to take part in the American Junior Year (AJY) program in Heidelberg, Germany, where I took courses in German and English and travelled to dozens of European cities. The German studies program fueled my passion for politics and quite literally expanded my worldview.
The German studies program is led by top-notch academics and experts in their fields, who are laser-focused on cultivating the whole person. With small class sizes, students receive a personal and committed education. Professors Meyer and Wisbey work tirelessly to provide a welcoming and rigorous learning environment. Learning transcends the walls of the classroom and the department and German Club provide extensive extra-curricular activities. German studies was so central to my experience at SLU and has become a key pillar of my personal identity, which is no doubt the result of working with the department’s dedicated mentors.
I am currently a Political Science Ph.D. student and graduate teaching assistant at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. My research focuses on comparative politics and looks at American and German political development and comparative criminal justice policy.