Studying German
As a German major or minor, students explore the multidimensional aspects of the German-speaking world (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), cultivating a deeper understanding of society, institutions and cultural products, such as film, news media, writing, art, theater and music. Germany and the EU are two of the US’s largest trading partners trading in pharmaceuticals, optical and medical instruments, machinery, finance and insurance. In addition to their importance as a trading partner, Germany is a leader in sustainability and environmentalism. Aside from practical reasons, many students choose German because of a personal connection and a desire to learn something very different from the culture and society they know. There is something for everyone in the German-speaking world.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Language. Students will demonstrate an ability to operate in German, i.e. communicate orally and in writing; an awareness of appropriateness of communication with respect to situation and register; and an ability to write a cogent essay according to appropriate disciplinary standards.
- Culture. Students will demonstrate knowledge of cultural concepts and artifacts within a historical context; an awareness of cultural issues; and an ability to draw comparisons to other cultures.
- Literature. Students will demonstrate analytic, interpretive, and critical thinking skills; knowledge of research protocols (e.g., proper citation); understanding of the specificity of the literary object as well as its historical cultural context; and a general familiarity with literary history.
- Linguistics. Students will demonstrate an ability to objectively analyze language as a phenomenon as well as an ability to deal with language data using social science methodology.
View the full Learning Outcome Rubric.
Preparatory Subject Matter for the Major/Minor
Elementary German 001, 002, 003: 15 units
Intermediate German 020, 021, 022: 12 units
Major/Minor Requirements
For the major, students take five upper-division courses (20 units) taught German. The courses offer a range from surveys of the major periods of literature to Multiculturalism in German Literature, Business German, Culture in the German-speaking World, and the Modern German Language. Majors also take another three upper-division courses (12 units) in the department taught in either English or German and then two further courses (8 units) either in the department or from a list of German-related courses in other departments such as economics, cinema and digital media, history, linguistics, music or political science.
For the minor, students take four (16 units) upper-division courses taught in German and one upper-division course (4 units) taught in the department or from an approved list of courses taught outside the department.