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German

Outcomes for German Majors

A successful German major will:

  1. Demonstrate advanced German linguistic skills in speaking, writing, reading and listening:
  2. Demonstrate cultural competence:

    • Ability to communicate with a native speaker in a nuanced manner;
    • Ability to read and understand a German text or cultural product within its cultural context;
    • Ability to function in a German-speaking culture and to understand and appreciate their  uniqueness;
  3. Demonstrate critical thinking:
    • Demonstrate the ability to conduct close readings and critical interpretations of a variety of cultural products from German-speaking lands;
    • Demonstrate an awareness of social and historical contexts  from geographic areas where German is spoken;
    • Demonstrate the ability to make connections between German-speaking cultures and other disciplines.
  4. Demonstrate research competency:
    • Demonstrate ability to do independent research using German-language sources;
    • Produce a senior thesis in German that adheres to proper scholarly format, develops a clear thesis, properly uses secondary sources, and develops a convincing argument;  
    • Present a coherent oral presentation of the research for the senior thesis in German before an audience;
    • Demonstrate knowledge of major concepts in literary and cultural studies.

  • Requirements for Majors

    German majors are required to take a minimum of 36 credit hours in German beyond the 100 level. GER-251, 252 and at least one 400-level W course are required, as well as a study abroad experience as approved by the department. German majors can fulfill the requirement for an oral presentation in the major and the capstone requirement by taking GER-440W or 492W.

    Secondary School Certification

    Students planning to obtain certification for secondary-school teaching in German must take a minimum of 24 credit hours in German at the 200, 300 and 400 levels. The following courses are required: GER-251 and 252; 313 or 314; 328 and at least two 300- or 400-level courses. In addition to the course requirements, students are required to pass a qualifying examination before they will be admitted to candidacy for certification and a competency examination before being certified.

    These tests will examine students’ linguistic competence, orally and in writing, testing phonetics, conversation, grammar and composition. The exit exam will also check their knowledge of German literature and culture, including the arts, history and geography. Students and their advisers should consult the Ursinus College Education Department. Language majors and students preparing for certification are required to supplement their work at Ursinus by spending a summer, a semester or an entire year in an academic program in a German-speaking country approved by the department.

    Requirements for Minors

    German Minor

    Consists of GER-251, GER-252 and 12 additional credits of German at the 200, 300 or 400 level.

    German Studies Minor

    A minor concentration in German Studies consists of six courses, two of which must be taken in the History department and two in the German Section of Modern Languages, including GER-252. Two additional courses, one in German, one in History or an independent study project addressing a topic either in History or German, may be taken through any Ursinus approved study- abroad program. Students may choose from among the following courses at Ursinus: HIST-102, 105, 375, 475W; GER-201, 202, 251, 252, 314, 315.

German Courses

  • GER-101. Elementary German I 

    Development of the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Designed for beginners or students with little or no recent study of the language. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (L.)

    GER-102. Elementary German II 

    Continuation of GER-101. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (L.)

    GER-111. Intermediate German I 

    A review of basic grammar concepts and development of listening and communication skills. Texts of social and cultural interest provide the focus for class discussion and writing exercises. Prerequisite: GER-102 or equivalent. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (L.)

    GER-112. Intermediate German II 

    A continuation of GER-111. A review of selected advanced grammar concepts and further development of listening and communication skills. Prerequisite: GER-111 or equivalent. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (L)

    GER-201. Conversation and Composition I 

    Intensive review of grammar to perfect oral and written communication. Literary texts, newspaper articles, and German films will be discussed. Course includes formal and informal writing exercises and student presentations. Prerequisite: GER-112 or equivalent. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-202. Conversation and Composition II 

    Intensive review of grammar to perfect oral and written communication. Course includes formal and informal writing exercises and student presentations. Prerequisite: GER-201 or permission of instructor. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-251. Introduction to German Literature 

    A survey of the works of major German writers from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. Special emphasis will be given to the socio-cultural context in which their writing is embedded. Students will also be introduced to literary analysis and formal writing. Prerequisite: GER-202 or permission of instructor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-252. German Literature and Film 

    The works of 18th, 19th, and 20th-century authors will be discussed in the context of the times in which they were written. Students will analyze these works and familiarize themselves with the politics, art, and film of Germany. Prerequisite: GER-251 or permission of instructor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-313. German Studies in Literature 

    Topics vary. Prerequisite: GER-251 and 252 or permission of instructor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-314. German Studies in Culture 

    Topics vary. Topics include a study of German cinema, scientific German, and environmental German, among others. Texts will come from a variety of sources. Prerequisites: GER-251 and 252, or permission of instructor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-315. Germany Today 

    A study of contemporary German politics, economics and society. Prerequisites: GER-251 and 252 or permission of the instructor. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

    GER-318. Commercial and Economic German 

    Study of contemporary economic issues and events in German-speaking countries. Prerequisites: GER-251 and 252; or permission of the instructor. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-319. Twentieth-century German Short Story 

    Readings in the twentieth-century German short story. Students will read, discuss and analyze stories by major German writers. Prerequisites: GER-251, 252, or permission of the instructor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-320. German Novelle 

    History and development of the German Novelle from Goethe to the 20th century. Prerequisites: GER-251, 252, or permission of instructor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-328. Advanced German Grammar 

    In-depth study of German phonetics, morphology and syntax with special emphasis on the problems related to the teaching of the language. Prerequisites: GER-201, 202 or permission of instructor. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-335. Independent Study in German 

    Individual study of topics in German literature and civilization. Prerequisites: GER-251 and 252; or permission of instructor. Two to four semester hours. (H, L, XLP, if 4 credits.)

    GER-340. Das deutsche Märchen

    A study of the German Fairy Tale from the Brothers Grimm through the 20th century. Oral antecedents, the literary fairy tale, and satirical fairy tales will be treated. Prerequisite: GER-251 and 252. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    Note: 300- and 400-level courses are offered in rotation.

    GER-381. Internship 

    An academic work/experience under the supervision of an internship adviser and an on-site supervisor. Students must document their experience according to the requirements delineated in the College catalogue section on Internships. Contact the chair of the department for further details. Open to juniors and seniors. The term during which the internship work is performed will be noted by one of the following letters, to be added immediately after the internship course number: A (fall), B (winter), C (spring), or D (summer). Internships undertaken abroad will be so indicated by the letter I. The intern must complete a minimum of 120 hours of work. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: three courses in German and approval of a faculty internship adviser. Three semester hours. (XLP.)

    GER-382. Internship 

    An academic work/experience under the supervision of an internship adviser and an on-site supervisor. Students must document their experience according to the requirements delineated in the College catalogue section on Internships. Contact the chair of the department for further details. Open to juniors and seniors. The term during which the internship work is performed will be noted by one of the following letters, to be added immediately after the internship course number: A (fall), B (winter), C (spring), or D (summer). Internships undertaken abroad will be so indicated by the letter I. The intern must complete a minimum of 160 hours of work. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: three courses in German and approval of a faculty internship adviser. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

    GER-440W. Advanced Seminar

    Topics vary. This course satisfies the College requirement of a capstone experience. Prerequisites: GER-251, 252, and three 300 level courses; or permission of instructor. MCS-102 is strongly recommended. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, L)

    GER-491. Research/Independent Work 

    This course is open to candidates for departmental honors and to other students with the permission of the department chair. This course does not satisfy the College requirement of a capstone experience. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

    GER-492W. Research/Independent Work 

    A continuation of GER-491. This is a writing-intensive course and at least one formal oral presentation is required. This course satisfies the College requirement of a capstone experience. Prerequisites: GER-491 and permission of the department chair. MCS-102 is strongly recommended. Four semester hours. (XLP.)