The
Major in German Studies
The
major in German Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study
of the German cultural tradition in history, philosophy, the fine arts,
music, film studies, politics, and culture, with a German-language requirement.
The major draws on several departments and programs along with core courses
in German Studies. It is particularly suited to students wishing to combine
interests in German language and culture with intensive work in another
discipline.
In German Studies, students have the freedom to develop a program of courses to meet their particular needs and interests. Through consultation with the director of undergraduate studies, each student in the major is expected to define a focus of concentration within the major. Interested students should contact the director of undergraduate studies to begin planning their course of study.
Double-majoring: The German Studies major is particularly suited for students who wish to graduate with a double major; in such cases, the focus of concentration within the German Studies major often reflects and/or augments the student’s other elected major.
In German Studies, students have the freedom to develop a program of courses to meet their particular needs and interests. Through consultation with the director of undergraduate studies, each student in the major is expected to define a focus of concentration within the major. Interested students should contact the director of undergraduate studies to begin planning their course of study.
Double-majoring: The German Studies major is particularly suited for students who wish to graduate with a double major; in such cases, the focus of concentration within the German Studies major often reflects and/or augments the student’s other elected major.
Pre-requisite. Students choosing the major should have completed GMAN 115 or have received equivalent credit through advanced placement or study abroad.
The
major. The major consists of the twelve term courses (13
Course Credits) including the required two semesters (3 credits) of GMAN
130 and one semester of GMAN 138 or equivalent, GMST 150a, either GMAN
161a or GMAN 162b (five term courses for a total of 6 course credits),
and the senior essay. The remaining courses (beyond those required and
listed above) will include four term courses that together constitute
a focus of concentration (one of which will be designated as the junior
seminar taken in the spring of the junior year). Those in the standard
major will choose two additional term courses; those in the intensive
major will choose one. Two of these six courses beyond the required list
of courses should be advanced seminars in German literature or culture.
Focus of Concentration and Junior seminar (taken in the spring term of the junior year): The junior seminar along with a cluster of three other term courses will be chosen from inside or outside the department (after consultation with the DUS): they constitute a focus of concentration selected from an area of study related to the major (examples of areas of concentration are History, Philosophy, Germanic Languages and Literatures, Psychology, Sociology, Political and Social theory, Film Studies, History of Art, and Music). During the spring term of the junior year, each student selects one seminar in the focus of concentration as the designated junior seminar. The seminar culminates in the submission of a substantial term paper, ordinarily twenty-five pages. The junior seminar provides the student with bibliographic and research skills that lay a foundation for work on the senior essay.
Focus of Concentration and Junior seminar (taken in the spring term of the junior year): The junior seminar along with a cluster of three other term courses will be chosen from inside or outside the department (after consultation with the DUS): they constitute a focus of concentration selected from an area of study related to the major (examples of areas of concentration are History, Philosophy, Germanic Languages and Literatures, Psychology, Sociology, Political and Social theory, Film Studies, History of Art, and Music). During the spring term of the junior year, each student selects one seminar in the focus of concentration as the designated junior seminar. The seminar culminates in the submission of a substantial term paper, ordinarily twenty-five pages. The junior seminar provides the student with bibliographic and research skills that lay a foundation for work on the senior essay.
Senior requirement.
The standard major: one-semester senior thesis. Seniors in the standard German Studies major enroll in GMAN 492a, a guided senior essay tutorial course. Students meet on a biweekly basis with the director of undergraduate studies and staff, and work under the direction of a faculty adviser. The culmination of the tutorial is an essay of approximately thirty pages that gives evidence of careful reading and substantial independent thought. The essay may be written in either English or German, although only native speakers are encouraged to write an essay in German. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be dealt with and the choice of adviser should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 9; a three-page prospectus and bibliography are due by October 7. A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by November 11. The essay is judged by the faculty adviser and a second reader.
Intensive major: two-semester senior thesis. The intensive major culminates in a two-term senior essay under the direction of a faculty adviser. In the fall term seniors in the major enroll in GMST 490 and begin work on their project under the guidance and supervision of the faculty adviser. A significant portion of the research for the essay should involve materials in German. The essay may be written in either English or German, although only native speakers are encouraged to write an essay in German. A detailed prospectus, no longer than three pages, with bibliography, must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by October 21, 2005. The student must submit a draft of at least fifteen pages of the essay at the end of the fall term to receive credit for the first term of the course. The second term is devoted to completing the essay, which should be substantial (between fifty and sixty pages); the completed essay must be submitted by April 21, 2006. The senior essay is judged by the faculty adviser and a second reader. Requirements for the intensive major are the same as for the standard major, except that the intensive major requires only one elective advanced seminar in German literature or culture and a two-semester senior essay (GMAN 492a and 493b).
The standard major: one-semester senior thesis. Seniors in the standard German Studies major enroll in GMAN 492a, a guided senior essay tutorial course. Students meet on a biweekly basis with the director of undergraduate studies and staff, and work under the direction of a faculty adviser. The culmination of the tutorial is an essay of approximately thirty pages that gives evidence of careful reading and substantial independent thought. The essay may be written in either English or German, although only native speakers are encouraged to write an essay in German. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be dealt with and the choice of adviser should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 9; a three-page prospectus and bibliography are due by October 7. A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by November 11. The essay is judged by the faculty adviser and a second reader.
Intensive major: two-semester senior thesis. The intensive major culminates in a two-term senior essay under the direction of a faculty adviser. In the fall term seniors in the major enroll in GMST 490 and begin work on their project under the guidance and supervision of the faculty adviser. A significant portion of the research for the essay should involve materials in German. The essay may be written in either English or German, although only native speakers are encouraged to write an essay in German. A detailed prospectus, no longer than three pages, with bibliography, must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by October 21, 2005. The student must submit a draft of at least fifteen pages of the essay at the end of the fall term to receive credit for the first term of the course. The second term is devoted to completing the essay, which should be substantial (between fifty and sixty pages); the completed essay must be submitted by April 21, 2006. The senior essay is judged by the faculty adviser and a second reader. Requirements for the intensive major are the same as for the standard major, except that the intensive major requires only one elective advanced seminar in German literature or culture and a two-semester senior essay (GMAN 492a and 493b).
Study
abroad. Students are urged to consider the Junior Year or
Term Abroad program, for which appropriate course credit toward the major
is granted. Such study is valuable not only for achieving comfortable
fluency in German, but also for gaining a firsthand knowledge of the German
cultural context; it is an educational experience that provides the student
with additional skills and options for the future. The department offers
diverse opportunities for study abroad and a scholarship program for summer
courses at German universities. Members of the faculty will advise and
consult with all students wishing to plan study in Germany. Students who
have been approved to study abroad and who receive financial aid from
Yale are eligible for aid while abroad. For the Junior Year or Term Abroad
program, see chapter I.
Number
of courses: Twelve courses (13 course credits) beyond prerequisite
(including the senior essay tutorial) for letter grades.
Specific
courses required: GMAN 130 (2 semesters, 3 credits), 138 (1 semester),
150a, and 161a or 162b [a total of 6 Course Credits].
Remaining
courses: Cluster of four term courses that constitute a focus of
concentration, one of which will be the junior seminar. The focus of concentration
will culminate in a one- (standard) or two-term (intensive) senior thesis.
Students electing the one-term thesis must take two additional advanced
seminars; students selecting the intensive major must take one additional
seminar. Courses in the focus of concentration and the additional seminars
may chosen from related departments and programs as well as the Department
of Germanic Languages and Literatures, but at least two of the courses
in this category must be advanced seminars in German literature or culture
[a total of 7 Course Credits].
Substitutions
permitted: One term on a Junior Year or Term Abroad may be substituted
for GMAN 138. Further Junior Year/Term Abroad credit is possible and will
be determined in consultation with the DUS.
Senior
requirement:
Standard Major: Senior essay in one semester. Enrollment in GMST 492a
Intensive major: Senior essay in two semesters. Enrollment in GMST 492a and GMST 493b.
Standard Major: Senior essay in one semester. Enrollment in GMST 492a
Intensive major: Senior essay in two semesters. Enrollment in GMST 492a and GMST 493b.