German Major

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Program Coordinator/Contact
Eckhard Rolz, German Program Coordinator
Department of Modern Languages and Global Studies
SWG 121
605-688-5101
www.sdstate.edu/mfl
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
The German major at SDSU consists of language, culture, literature and professional courses to prepare students for careers in which they will use German as a language for communication. The major offers flexibility and can easily be added to another major.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of the German major, students should be able to:

Speak, read and write German at the intermediate-high or advanced level
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the cultures and communication cultures of the German-speaking world
Demonstrate knowledge of the German civilizations and its cultural products, such as literature, art, government, etc.

Academic Requirements
There are no application requirements to enroll as a German major. However, students with previous knowledge of the language must take the placement test and register for an appropriate course. Additionally, all the courses for the major must be passed with a grade of “C” or better.

Course Delivery Format
Most courses in the German major are offered face-to-face on campus. Some upper-division courses are offered as part of the German cooperative program with NSU and USD and they use different types of distance delivery, including simultaneous television (DDN) and online delivery.

Requirements for German Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Sciences

System General Education Requirements*: 30

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences Credits: 6

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar Credits: 2
Goal #2 Culture Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility Credits: 3

College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts Requirements: 17-28

Bachelor of Arts

Modern Languages Credits: 3-14 (completion and competency in one language at the 202 level or a department-approved advanced upper division language course)
Social Sciences Credits: 8
Humanities Credits: 6

SGRs, IGRs, and/or Major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts and Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts Specifications and Bachelor of Science Specifications .

Major Requirements: 36

Major Core: 14

GER 101 - Introductory German I * (COM) (G)
Credits: 4
GER 102 - Introductory German II * (COM) (G)
Credits: 4
GER 201 - Intermediate German I * ** (COM) (G)
Credits: 3
GER 202 - Intermediate German II * ** (COM) (G)
Credits: 3

Major Electives: 22
Select at least 18 upper-division credits.

The following is a suggested sequence.
All majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad in a German-speaking country.

Composition and Conversation: 3

GER 330 - Reading and Writing for Communication
Credits: 3

Advanced Language Electives: 4

GER 310 - Practical German Language Skills
Credits: 3
GER 411 - Advanced Composition and Conversation I (COM)
Credits: 3
GER 412 - Advanced Composition and Conversation II (COM)
Credits: 3

Literature Electives: 4

GER 353 - Introduction to German Literature
- Credits
GER 453 - Survey of German Literature I (COM)
Credits: 3
GER 454 - Survey of German Literature II (COM)
Credits: 3
GER 392 & 492 - Topics (COM)
(if literature focused) Credits: 2-3

Culture and Civilization: 3

GER 433 - German Civilization I (COM)
Credits: 3
GER 434 - German Civilization II (COM) (AW)
Credits: 3
GER 380 - Deutschland Heute (COM)
Credits: 3
GER 392 & 492 - Topics (COM)
(if culture focused) Credits: 2-3

Additional credits may come from travel or field experiences

GER 491-591 - Independent Study
Credits: 1-3
GER 296 & 396 - Field Experience
Credits: 1-6

Electives: 47

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.