German (B.A.) - Teaching Specialization

Program Coordinator/Contact

Eckhard Rölz, Professor of German
School of American and Global Studies
Wagner Hall 107, Box 2275
605-688-4276

Program Information

The German Teaching specialization at SDSU consists of the same aims and content as the German B.A. In addition, teaching candidates are given training in the most current professional standards and methods for teaching excellence in Germanic language and cultures. Former candidates have gone on to teach in public and private schools and have gone for further training in order to teach English as a Second Language and prepare for University-level teaching.

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.
• Demonstrate understanding of and growth in the skills required for intercultural communication and competence and life-long learning.
• 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 German-speaking cultures and the U.S.
• Adapt behavior to a variety of cultural contexts through critical analysis of cultural frames.
• Articulate the value of their language and cultural studies and apply this knowledge in future employment.

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. All of the courses for the major must be passed with a grade of “C” or better.
• A grade of “C” or better is required in CMST 101 , ENGL 101 , PSYC 101 , and MATH 103  or higher (if these courses are in your plan of study), and all courses for the major (classes with department/program prefix).
• An overall GPA of 2.5 is required to enroll in any education courses.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure

• Completion of an approved bachelor’s K-12 preparation program.
• Completion of an approved Indian Studies course.
• Pass the state designated content knowledge test or 2.7 GPA in content major coursework.
• Pass the state designated pedagogy test.
• Completion of a Suicide Awareness and Prevention training, available free online through the South Dakota Department of Education.
• Apply online with the South Dakota Department of Education.
• Written recommendation from institution of higher education (SDSU) verifying program completion.

Course Delivery Format

Most courses in the German major are offered face-to-face on campus. Some, including 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), zoom, and online delivery.