German Studies: B.A. Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts | Additional Major | Teacher Certification

For further information and advising, please contact Prof. Lovik.

Bachelor of Arts

I. University requirements for bachelor's degrees:

  • 120 credits, including general elective credits.
  • The University's Tier II writing requirement for the German major is met by completing German 420, 435, 445 or 455. Those courses are referenced in item 3.
    a. (3) below.

II. College of Arts and Letters requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree.

  • The completion of requirement III.b. referenced below satisfies one of the cognates required by the College.
  • The second cognate must be in a field outside the College.

III. Major in German requirements:

a. The following German courses (34 to 40 credits)

1. One of the following groups of courses (6 credits):

(a) GRM 301 Third-Year German I 3
GRM 302 Third-Year German II 3
(b) GRM 311 Business German I 3
GRM 312 Business German II 3

2. 6 additional credits at the 300-level, including at least one of the following (6 credits):

GRM 341 German Lit and Culture Before 1918 3
GRM 342 German Lit and Culture Since 1918 3

3. 12 credits at the 400-level, from the following (12 credits):

GRM 420 Advanced German (W) 3
GRM 435 18th and 19th Cent Germ Lit Studies (W) 3
GRM 445 20th Cent & Contemp German Lit Studies (W) 3
GRM 455 Major Themes in German Cultural History (W) 3
GRM 460 Linguistic Analysis of Modern German 3
GRM 491 Special Topics in German Studies 1-4

4. Capstone course (1 credit): GRM 492 Capstone Project 1
For more information about GRM 492 Capstone Project [pdf file].

5. German electives: Additional credits in German courses numbered 250 and above, with the exception of German 400, as needed to meet the requirement of at least 34, but not more than 40, credits in courses in the major. A maximum of 3 credits of GRM 250 or LL250A may be counted as elective credits toward the major.

6. Study abroad requirement: Students with a primary major in German are expected to participate in a study abroad experience approved by the German program. Students who are unable to study abroad should consult the department for possible approved alternatives.

b. Cognate Requirement: One 12-credit cognate in the field of European Studies. More information about the European Studies Cognate [pdf file].

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Additional Major in German

This option is designed to encourage students to combine a major in German with a major in another field such as international relations, political science, English, another foreign language, or engineering. Students electing this option must meet the requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree and must complete the following requirements for the major in German:

  1. The German courses listed in items III. a. (1) through (4) under the heading Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in German above, plus one additional course of at least 3 credits, to meet the requirement of 28 credits. Additional majors are also expected to participate in a study abroad program as listed in item III. a. (6) above.
  2. The completion of a major in addition to German satisfies one of the cognates required by the College of Arts and Letters.

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Teacher Certification

Students with a German disciplinary major are required to take German 460 and 461 as part of their major coursework, as well as the requirements for teacher certification. German 461 may be used to satisfy the requirements referenced in item III. a. (5) under the heading Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in German. Students must also demonstrate the equivalent of Advanced Low in speaking on the ACTFL Proficiency scale before beginning their internship year.

Please contact Prof. Lovik, the Teacher Education Advisor, for more information.

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