Major/Minor Requirements

Major

Two majors are offered. A basic knowledge of the German language is fundamental to both.

1. The German Major is concerned primarily with the study of literature. Genres, literary movements, and individual authors and themes are examined with the aim of expanding the student's capacity for literary analysis and appreciation. The German major consists of a minimum of 31 semester hours which should be accumulated as follows: 
   1. at least 22 hours in German language, literature, and cinema at the 300 and 400 level. Of these, 311 and 312, two 400-level courses, including 433, and at least one semester of 304 (Writer-in-Residence) are required; 
   2. of the 22 hours, no more than nine hours in translation; and
   3. at least nine hours of upper-level courses in related literary fields, e.g., comparative literature, literary theory, or other literature courses. 

      A minimum of 12 semester hours in German language and literature (above 204) must be completed at Oberlin. Private reading courses do not normally count toward the major.

      Strongly recommended correlated fields include European History, German History, History of Art, History of Music, and French.

2. The German Studies Major places more emphasis on cultural expressions other than literature (e.g., music, art, film, philosophy, history). It consists of a minimum of 32 semester hours which may be accumulated as follows: 
   1. at least 15 hours in German language and literature courses at the 300 and 400 level but not including courses in translation. Of these, 311 and 312, two 400-level courses (including 433) and at least one semester of 304 (Writer-in-Residence) are required; 
   2. of the 15 hours, no more than six hours in German literature in translation; and
   3. at least nine hours to be selected from courses with total or substantial (50 percent or more) German content in two or more disciplines other than German literature. 

      A minimum of 16 hours toward the German Studies major must be completed at Oberlin. Private reading courses do not normally count toward the German Studies major. The entire German staff will constitute a special committee to administer the German Studies major. 

3. Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C-/CR/P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.

    

Honors

Qualified German or German Studies majors should consider the possibility of participating in the departmental Honors Program. Admittance requires a minimum GPA within the major of 3.5 and an overall GPA of 3.0. Outstanding language ability is a firm prerequisite. Students interested in pursuing Honors should consult the department chair at the beginning of the second semester of their junior year for complete procedures.

A BA in German or German Studies can lead to graduate work in German, in comparative literature, or a variety of related fields (e.g., library science, linguistics). German majors have found careers in teaching at all levels, in government work (e.g., State Department), journalism, medicine, law, environmental science, international business, or in music, both in this country and in Europe.

Minor

A minor in German consists of 15 hours at the 300 and 400 levels, which may include one course in translation. One three-hour course must be at the 400 level.

Winter Term

The department normally offers an intensive Winter Term Beginning German course that covers the basic elements of grammar and offers practice in simple conversation. This course is not the equivalent of German 101 and does not automatically qualify students to enter 102. Students who have progressed exceptionally well in the Winter Term course, however, may upon recommendation of the instructor advance into German 102.

German staff members are available during Winter Term to sponsor individual and group projects, within their discipline or areas of their interest.

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