German BA
Total Units Required: 120
The Bachelor of Arts in German engages students in the study of the German language and German-speaking cultures. Students critically examine the history, literature, and film of German-speaking regions as well as current issues and aspects of contemporary society. Students develop functional proficiency in spoken and written German and the ability to navigate German-speaking cultures and interact with speakers in a variety of professional settings. This low-unit BA can be especially useful for students preparing for careers in international relations, business, engineering, natural sciences, and arts and humanities.
Students are encouraged to study abroad in Germany or Austria for a summer, semester, or year.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 27-44 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
This major can be completed with a minimum of 27 upper-division units.
Language Competence Prerequisite
Only upper-division German courses count toward the German major. The prerequisite for all upper-division German courses is GERM 202 or its equivalent language competence. Students with little or no previous language preparation or competence must complete some or all of the following courses.
Some or all of these courses may be waived by the department through demonstrated language competence or high school or community college study. Students with one year of high school German should enroll in GERM 102; two years: GERM 201; three years: GERM 202. Please consult the department for proper level of placement.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Language Competence Prerequisite | ||
| Select 0-16 units from the following: | 0-16 | |
| Beginning German I | ||
| Beginning German II | ||
| Intermediate German I | ||
| Intermediate German II | ||
| Upper-Division Requirements | ||
| GERM 497W | Writing Proficiency (W) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to German Literature | ||
| Introduction to German Literature | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Composition and Conversation | ||
| Composition and Conversation | ||
| Composition and Conversation | ||
| Select 15 units from the following: | 15 | |
Any other upper-division German (GERM) courses, including at least one 400-level course | ||
| Total Units | 27-43 | |
Electives Requirement
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires six units of honors coursework completed over two semesters.
The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:
- You must take six units of Honors in the Major coursework. All six units are honors courses (marked by a suffix of H), and at least three of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each course with a minimum grade of B.
- You must have completed 9 units of upper-division coursework or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
- Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the six units of coursework over the two semesters of their senior year.
- Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
Honors in the Major is not part of the Honors Program. Each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
- Any upper-division Writing (W) course.
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.