Undergraduate Bulletin > Languages, Literatures, and Cultures > Major—German

German Major (GERM)

The German Major provides students with the opportunity to acquire German language skills and to develop an understanding of German culture, through the study of literature, film, works of German thought, and other media. Through its curricular and co-curricular offerings, the German Major prepares students for a variety of careers, such as teaching, government service, and international trade, and enables students to further their academic training at graduate or professional schools.

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
• Interpret literature, film, and culture of the German-speaking world in terms of its historical, political, and social implications
• Develop an understanding of the importance of transcultural encounters and acquire intercultural competence for a globalized world
• Research, organize, and present in both German and English effective oral presentations and coherent critical writings on German Studies topics
• Use computers, the Internet, and other new media effectively as research and writing tools, as well as conduits to conduct research 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*, 222*, 305, 306, 403, 404, 405, 406, 422*, 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 311 (German Conversation Topics) 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: 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.