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Undergraduate Program

German Major / Minor / Second Major Requirements

THE GERMAN MAJOR

Our majors receive comprehensive language training as well as extensive exposure to German history, politics and culture. Our language courses at the 100-, 200-, and 300-level emphasize student participation and communication along with skills development in reading, writing, and listening comprehension. Cultural topics and authentic texts are introduced already in the first semester, and students at the 300-level and above are intensively engaged with the analysis and discussion of German short stories, poetry, plays, novels, films, philosophical treatises, historical writing and journalism.

Upper-division courses generally have a thematic focus, with topics ranging from “Business German,” to “Children and Youth in the Third Reich,” to “Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud.” Survey courses like “Masterpieces of Modern German Literature” and “Germany Today” provide students with a broader perspective on German political, intellectual, and cultural traditions. A number of students have become interested in German after participating in the FOCUS program on French and German nationalism, a year-long sequence of courses that culminates in a ten-day study trip to Paris and Berlin.

Majors or second majors are required to complete 24 credit hours of upper level courses (300 and 400), at least 12 of which are on the 400-level. Students with extensive preparation prior to coming to Washington University can place directly into the 300-level, which allows them to finish their major or second major by completing 7 courses in the department. All of our course, with the exception of German 340, are taught entirely in German.

SECOND MAJOR

Both the major and the minor can be combined with majors in other departments, and many of our students take advantage of this attractive option. Some favorite combinations are German and Economics or Business, German and IPH, German and Pre-Med, German and Pre-Law, and German and English.

THE GERMAN MINOR

The German minor provides students with a solid foundation in the language and culture of the German-speaking countries. Students who intend to minor in German must complete 15 upper level credits (300 and 400 level).

DECLARING A MAJOR/MINOR/SECOND MAJOR

To declare a major, minor, or second major in German Studies, please contact Empress Sanders.

HONORS

Applications for admission to the honors program must be submitted by the first week of classes in the fall semester. Forms are available in Ridgley 320.

Students who wish to receive Honors in German Studies will write an honors thesis and must sign up for German 497/498 (with departmental permission) in addition to the 24 hours required for the major (for a total of 30 credit hours).

PLEASE NOTE...

340C Requirement: All undergraduates who wish to enroll in 400 level German courses (except German 404 and 408D) must take German 340C for either three or four credit hours. If taken for four credit hours (i.e., with the discussion section in German) 340C will count toward the major or minor. Without the discussion section, 340C will simply fulfill distribution and/or cluster requirements. Admission to 400-level courses (except German 404 and 408D) without completion of 340C is by departmental permission only.

SWEDISH

For those who want to expand their horizons beyond the German-speaking world, the department also offers beginning and intermediate Swedish language courses as well as cross-listed seminars on the Vikings and Scandinavian film. For more information regarding our Swedish program, please contact Stephan Schindler.

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