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.
Advising Requirement
Advising is mandatory for this program. Consult your department advisor or program coordinator for information.
E-advising Tools
Use the interactive e-advising tools designed to help students graduate within four years. These tools can be accessed through the Student Center in the Portal.
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: 43 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
American Institutions Course Requirements: 6 units
The American Institutions graduation requirement, as mandated in Title 5, Section 40404, requires that students satisfactorily complete courses in United States history, the US Constitution, and government and American ideals (including California state and local government). At Chico State, HIST 130 meets the US history requirement (US-1), and POLS 155 meets the US Constitution and government requirement (US-2) and the California state and local government requirement (US-3). POLS 155 also fulfills three units of GE Area 4, Social and Behavioral Sciences. See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for more information.
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. Many 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 Writing and Math 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 English Composition (1A) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
Definition of Blended Programs
A blended bachelor's and master's degree program combines an existing Chico State bachelor's degree with an existing Chico State master's degree; the blended program allows up to 12 units of the graduate program units to be double-counted at the undergraduate level, for a minimum of 138 units to receive both degrees. Students who complete a blended program will receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Upon completion of 120 semester units and with the completion of all requirements for the bachelor's degree, students in blended programs will be awarded the bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the requirements for the master's degree, students will be awarded the master's degree.
Students interested in applying to a blended program must be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at Chico State and must meet and maintain the minimum GPA of the existing master's degree entrance requirements for all bachelor's coursework completed at the time of the application to the blended program, or show promise to reach this level as determined by the program. Once admitted to the blended program, students shall not be required to apply for admission to the master's program.
Blended German BA + Language Teaching MA
The blended program allows students to count up to four courses (twelve units) toward the bachelor’s degree in German and the master’s degree in language teaching. Once accepted into the blended program as an undergraduate, students take up to twelve units chosen in consultation with their undergraduate BA advisor and the Graduate Coordinator for the MA in language teaching.
Eligibility
The blended program is for highly motivated, well-qualified students. The program allows a student to apply after completing 60 units toward their bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Application Procedure
Application deadlines: April 1 for fall start, November 1 for spring start.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria may submit an application for admission to the blended program. Formal application through Cal State Apply is not necessary and the student is not required to pay an application fee. GRE scores are not required. Students must meet the requirements outlined below to change to blended graduate status and continue toward the master's degree.
Grading Requirement
Once in the blended program, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during their remaining undergraduate and graduate semesters.
Transition to Graduate Status
Students can transition to the graduate program after completing all undergraduate degree requirements with a minimum 2.5 GPA in all coursework. The Office of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Coordinator will verify graduate program eligibility at the end of the semester in which the bachelor's degree is completed. Qualified students change to graduate status effective the following semester.
Requirements for the Blended German BA + Language Teaching MA
The blended program allows ENGL 470 plus any three 400-600 level German (GERM) courses (nine units) to count toward both degrees. Courses should be chosen in consultation with an advisor.