Courses and Curriculum
The German Program offers majors and minors. The course series begins with lower-level and intermediate-level language classes, and progresses to culture, film, literature, as well as Business German classes. The majority of majors are double majors who, in the past, have gone into fields as diverse as teaching, foreign service and banking.
German Major
The German major requires 33 credit hours, those listed below are required:
| GER 101 |
Introduction I to German |
4-1-4 |
| GER 102 | Introduction II to German | 4-1-4 |
| GER 200 | Intermediate German | 4-1-4 |
| GER 301WI | Advanced German Conversation and Composition I or | 3-1-3 |
| GER 302WI | Advanced German Conversation and Composition II or | 3-1-3 |
| GER 303 | Introduction to German Literature | 3-0-3 |
Of the remaining 18 hours of electives, nine are to be selected on the 400 level.
German Minor Requirements
To earn a minor in German, a student must receive credit for 21 semester hours, 9 of which must be at or above the 300 level.
Description of Courses
101. Introduction I to German - 4-1-4
Acquisition of the fundamentals of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
102. Introduction II to German - 4-1-4
Further development of basic language skills introduced in German 101.
PR: GER 101 or departmental placement.
200. Intermediate German - 4-1-4
Completion of basic linguistic structures. Applied conversation, reading of short stories and cultural texts, general review of grammar.
PR: GER 102 or departmental placement.
204FLA. Special Topics in Foreign Languages - 3-0-3
Special topics in languages not covered by the regular curriculum. May be repeated for credit.
205-305. German Study Abroad - 3 to 12 hours
Taught in Germany and Austria. Intensive study of German language and culture through class work, conversation and travel. Credit is assigned at the 200 or 300 level, depending upon previous language experience. These courses may complete the B.A. foreign-language requirement. Honors, pass or fail.
PR: GER 101-102 or departmental placement.
301WI. Advanced German Conversation and Composition - 3-1-3
Intense review of grammar, improvement of speaking and writing skills focusing on language development for personal, familial and small-group interactions. PR: GER 200 or departmental placement.
302WI. Advanced German Conversation and Composition II - 3-1-3
Intensive review of grammar, speaking and writing skills focusing on development of linguistic strategies and style for use in business, political or other formal settings.
PR: GER 200 or departmental placement.
303. Introduction to German Literature - 3-0-3
Study of German literature by reading and discussion of excerpts of major works.
PR: GER 200 or departmental placement.
304. Germany in Global Perspective - 3-0-3
The role of Germany in Europe and the rest of the world from a historical, literary, artistic and cultural perspective. Emphasis is on development of Germany within the European Union.
PR: GER 200 or departmental placement.
306. German for Other Disciplines - 1 to 3 hours
A component of the Foreign-Languages-Across-the-Curriculum Program. Taught in conjunction with a course from another discipline. Selected materials in German and weekly meetings to discuss them in German with their professor. Special authorization required. May be repeated for credit.
PR: GER 200 or equivalent proficiency.
323. German Culture - 3-0-3
German history, art, politics and social structures.
PR: GER 200 or departmental approval. Usually taught in Germany.
400FLA. Foreign-Language Education in the Elementary School - 3-0-3
Methods of classroom procedures, functional units, use of audiovisual aids/media and evaluation of pupil growth in grades K-6. Field experience required. Not counted in major or minor but required in professional-education sequence.
PR: FRE, GER or SPA 301; or FRE, SPA 302.
401. Late 18th- and Early 19th-Century German Literature - 3-0-3
Literature of Storm and Stress, classicism and romanticism.
PR: any 300-level GER.
402. Late 19th- and 20th-Century German Literature - 3-0-3
Literature of realism, impressionism, expressionism, prewar and postwar literature.
PR: any 300-level GER.
403. German Economy and Business Communication - 3-0-3
Study of the social market economy of Germany and development of speaking and writing skills in business and trade transactions.
PR: any 300-level GER.
405. Topics in German - 3-0-3
Various trends in German literary, philosophical and/or political thought.
PR: any 300-level GER course.
406WI. German Cinema - 2-2-3
Survey of German film with special attention to its literary and socio-cultural context and to pertinent theories of photography and of cinematic narration.
PR: any 300-level German course.
496FLA. Academic Internship - 3 to 12 hours
Problem-oriented experiences in specific academic projects relating to the individual student’s program of study and planned in consultation with the student’s advisor. PR: See general provisions for academic internships in this catalog.
498. Directed Study - 1 to 3 hours
Research projects under the direction of the instructor. PR: JS or SS and approval of school dean; any 400-level GER and CI; for majors only.