Undergraduate Bulletin > German and Russian, including Chinese and Japanese Studies > Major-German

German Major (GERM)

The German Major, depending on the student’s interest and other abilities, may lead into various careers such as teaching, government service and international trade. The specialized study of German aims to improve language skills and to convey an understanding of German culture, through the study of literature, film, and works of German thought.

Students seeking teacher licensure should see Teacher Education Programs.

Student Learning Goals

Upon completion of the program, German majors will be expected to:

• Speak, read, write, and comprehend the German language proficiently
• Interpret the history of German civilization in terms of major periods and movements and be able to explain critical methods for interpreting these periods and movements
• Explain the interrelationships of literature and culture to social history and intellectual life in German-speaking countries
• Identify major genres of Germanic literatures and various critical approaches to interpreting literary texts
• Research, organize, and present in both German and English effective oral presentations on German Studies topics
• Research, organize, and develop in both German and English coherent critical writings on German Studies topics
• Use computers effectively as research and writing tools, as well as conduits to library and Internet resources for information about German and central European cultures

Requirements

I General Education Core Requirements (GEC)

See complete GEC requirements and approved course listings for all categories.

Core Category	S.H.
Students may select courses for:
Literature (GLT)	6
Fine Arts (GFA)	3
Philosophical, Religious, Ethical Principles (GPR)	3
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture (GHP)	3
Mathematics (GMT)	3
Natural Sciences (GNS) one must be a laboratory course; each must have a different departmental prefix	6–7
Reasoning and Discourse (GRD) ENG 101 or FMS 115 or RCO 101, and one additional GRD course	6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB)	6

 

II General Education Marker Requirements

See details and courses. It is possible to meet all GE Marker Requirements while completing the GE Core requirements or courses required by the major/concentration.

III College of Arts and Sciences Additional Requirements (CAR)

See requirements and approved courses.

Category	S.H.
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture either a GHP/GPM or GMO course	3
Natural Sciences one additional GNS/GLS or GPS course	3–4
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB) one additional GSB course	3
Foreign Language (GFL) intermediate-level proficiency in one language, demonstrated by placement test, or completion of course work through course number 204	0–12
Writing Intensive Courses (WI) a total of four WI courses

 

IV Major Requirements

All majors must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in German courses for a degree in German.

Minimum of 27 semester hours in German above the 204 level, including at least:

1. Four courses involving literature or culture from the following: GER 215*, 216*, 217*, 218*, 221*, 305*, 306*, 403, 404, 405, 406, 491, 492 or 493 (if taken for 3 s.h.)
2. Five additional courses above the 204 level
3. Majors may also take 1 s.h. of tutorials (491, 492).

*These courses count as major credit only if a student also enrolls in GER 291 and/or 1 s.h. of tutorials (491, 492) where an appropriate amount of speaking or reading or writing is done in German.

V Suggested Related Area Courses

Suggested but not required: ART 305; ATY 385; ENG 201, 202, 339, 340; HIS 375, 376, 392; RUS 201, 202, 313, 314, 315, 316; PHI 252, 330

VI Electives

Electives sufficient to complete the 122 semester hours required for degree.