Undergraduate programs in modern languages and literatures stress both practical and humanistic goals. A series of German courses permits acquisition of language skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. A comprehensive program of courses in literature and civilization, ranging from introductory surveys through period and genre offerings to seminars treating individual major authors, provides the experience of another culture and of its modes of thought and expression.
German majors learn to express themselves clearly and correctly in four advanced language courses taught at CUA or in our programs in Germany. Students acquire a general knowledge of the culture and literature as a whole in four required survey courses. They deepen their knowledge of special areas and sharpen their critical tools in the higher level courses that follow. These include a significant wrting component. The final course taken by the major, the senior seminar, coordinates knowledge and skills acquired.
Students are encouraged to choose a minor or a second major field. Majors currently in the program are combining their German studies with Education, Drama, Music, History, Politics, and Biochemitry.
For students not concentrating in languages, distribution requirements in literature as well as in humanities, as outlined under BA degree requirements, may be fulfilled by a number of courses offered in German or in translation. Courses in literature and film crosslisted with the program in Media Studies, are particulary popular.
Study of a second foreign language is strongly recommended to our majors. Area studies courses in history, politics, art, etc., may be chosen instead or in addition in consultation with the adviser.
Note: All entering students and transfer students with one year of college German or several years of language study in high school are required to take a placement examination on-line on the departmental WEB site. The resulting placement will be valid up to one semester after the date of the examination. AP scores of 4 and 5 are valid for college credit and advanced placement.
Requirements for the Major: Completion of third year language classes, German 203,204, or equivalent. A minimum of 10 courses in advanced language, literature, and culture, including the coordinating seminar in the senior year. A second foreign language with at least intermediate proficiency, or four area studies courses chosen in consultation with the advisor.
Requirements for the Minor: Completion of third year language classes, German 203,204, or equivalent, plus a combination of four courses in advanced language, literature, and culture. Two of these must be taught in German. Students should consult the advisor in German concerning combinations of courses. Credits may be aceptable for transfer from the intensive summer program in our partner university, the Katholische Universität Eichstätt, or from our study abroad program in Berlin.
The department recommends that language majors spend at least a semester in a country in which the language is spoken in order to increase their language proficiency and to broaden their cultural horizons.
Last Revised 30-Oct-09 11:07 AM.
