The minor allows students to focus a group of electives on the study of Austrian and Central European culture, history, and society. Courses address specific social and political circumstances, cultural traditions, and shared history of Austria and other countries of Central Europe. The minor is supported by the Center for Austrian Studies, student exchange programs with universities in Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz, and visiting Austrian scholars sponsored by the Austrian-American Education Commission.

GER 1001, 1002, 1003 & 1004 are required pre-requisites for GER 3011W. These twenty credits do not factor into the overall length of credits in the minor.

The minor consists of a minimum of 16 credits in 3xxx, 4xxx, and 5xxx courses with no more than one being a directed or independent study course. All courses in the minor must be taken A-F. At least one course must be taken in the German program of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Students majoring in German studies may elect an ACES minor, but no courses may count for both the German studies major and the Austrian studies minor. Therefore, students majoring in German studies must take one additional course to substitute for GER 3011W, which is a core requirement for both the German studies major and Austrian studies minor. The minor program must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.