Program Coordinator/Contact
Eckhard Rölz, Professor of German
School of American and Global Studies
Wagner Hall 107, Box 2275
605-688-4276
Program Information
A German B.A. at SDSU opens the door to a world of art, music, technology, psychology, politics, medicine, and many other fields. In today’s interconnected world, many professions cross international borders and bring together people through German, the most widely spoken language in Europe.
A German B.A. prepares students to confidently use the German language in any environment. It includes courses in language, culture, pop culture, film and literature of German speaking countries and promotes intercultural competence so graduates can navigate cultural differences with ease.
Language scholarships are made available to encourage students to take advantage of multiple opportunities, both within the school and through our International Affairs Office, to study or do an internship abroad.
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, developing solid competence in the language needed for everyday life and advanced narrative skills in the past, present, and future. (Cross-curricular Skills: Intercultural Knowledge; Inquiry & Analysis; Information Literacy)
- Demonstrate understanding of and growth in the skills required for intercultural communication and competence and life-long learning. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity; Critical & Creative Thinking)
- Identify the cultural perspectives of the German-speaking world’s civilizations and their cultural products, such as literatures, arts, institutions, pop cultures, etc. and compare the cultural frames that determine everyday life in French- speaking cultures and the U.S. (Cross-curricular Skills: Intercultural Knowledge; Critical & Creative Thinking; Inquiry & Analysis; Information Literacy)
- Adapt behavior to a variety of cultural contexts through critical analysis of cultural frames. (Cross-curricular Skills: Intercultural Knowledge; Creative & Critical Thinking; and Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
- Articulate the value of their language and cultural studies and apply this knowledge in future employment. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
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 USD and they use different types of distance delivery, including simultaneous television (DDN) and online delivery.
