Department of German > Undergraduate Programs > Germanic Languages & Literatures
 
The Major in Germanic Languages & Literatures
 
The major in German is a liberal arts major whose aim is to provide solid training in a humanistic discipline by giving students an awareness of German literature and culture in the context of European civilization, a real competence in the German language, and a general understanding of German-language literature. Although by no means restricted to prospective teachers or graduate students in German, the major provides background for professional work in these pursuits.

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 eleven term courses (12 course credits) including the required two semesters (3 credits) of 130 and one semester of 138 or equivalent, 150a, 161a, 162b (six term courses for a total of 7 course credits), and the senior essay. (GMAN 161a-162a is the introductory sequence to German Literature.) All must be taken for a letter grade. The remaining courses to fulfill the major will be chosen from Group B (conducted in German), from Group C (conducted in English), from Group A (an advanced language course) and also outside the department.

Of these remaining courses: one additional advanced language course from Group A at the 140-level, up to two term courses from Group C, and, with prior approval of the DUS, up to two term courses taken outside the department but bearing directly on the German cultural context may count toward the major.

Senior requirement.
The standard major: one-semester senior thesis. Seniors in the standard German Languages and Literatures 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 10; a three-page prospectus and bibliography are due by October 1. A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by November 5. The essay is graded jointly by the adviser and a designated faculty reader.

Intensive major: two-semester senior thesis. The intensive major is designed for students who wish to undertake a more extensive project of research and writing during their senior year. Requirements for the intensive major are the same as for the standard major, except that the intensive major requires twelve courses (13 course credits) beyond 115, of which two are devoted to the preparation of the senior essay (GMAN 492a and 493b). This essay, written under the direction of a faculty adviser, should be between sixty and seventy-five pages in length and should be presented no later than April 23 of the senior year. The second term of essay preparation is undertaken independently, without tutorial support. As with the standard senior essay, the essay is graded jointly by the adviser and a designated faculty reader.
Course groups. Group A courses (GMAN 115 - 159) include elementary, intermediate, and advanced language courses. Only one of the two advanced language courses (at the level of 140b and above) may be chosen to count toward the major. For further details, the student should consult the Freshman Handbook or the director of undergraduate studies.

Group B courses (GMAN 161 and above) are advanced courses and count toward the major. Readings are in German, and the language of instruction is usually German.
Group C courses are given in English with texts in translation. Only two term courses from this group may count toward the major.
Candidates for the major in Germanic Languages and Literatures should consult the director of undergraduate studies.
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.
Requirement of competence in a foreign language. This may be demonstrated in German by a score of 4 or higher on either of the Advanced Placement tests in German (German Language, German Literature). The requirement may also be met by successful completion of GMAN 125, Intensive German, or of GMAN 130, Intermediate German, or of the first or second term of GMAN 138. Alternatively, students may demonstrate competence by passing a departmental placement examination covering listening comprehension, reading, and writing skills equivalent to those represented by the successful completion of GMAN 130. The departmental placement examination will be given at the beginning of the fall term on Sunday, August 29, at 2 P.M. in 119 WLH, and on Monday, August 30, at 9 A.M. in 207 WLH. Students wishing to take the examination in January should sign up with the director of undergraduate studies by December 10. [to be edited according to upcoming university-wide changes]
German Studies. In addition to the major in German literature, there is also a major in German Studies, an interdisciplinary study of the cultural, historical, and political life of the German-speaking peoples. See German Studies in the text below.
The Literature Major. Within a Literature major, the study of German may be combined with study of English literature or of another foreign literature in the departments of Classics, French, Italian, Portuguese, Slavic, or Spanish. For details, see the Comparative Literature track under The Literature Major.
Placement. Consult the director of undergraduate studies for general advice and for placement in language courses.
 
Requirements of the Major
 
Prerequisite: Two terms of GMAN 115 or equivalent
 
Number of courses: Eleven courses (12 course credits) for the standard major and twelve courses (13 course credits) for the intensive major beyond prerequisite (including the senior essay tutorial) for letter grades.
 
Specific courses required: GMAN 130, 138, 150a, 161a, 162b
 
Restrictions on distribution of remaining courses: no more than one advanced language course at the 140-level, no more than two Group C courses may count toward the major. With prior approval of the DUS, two term courses outside the department may count towards the major.
 
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 tutorial course (GMAN 492a)

Intensive major: Two-term senior essay (GMAN 492a and 493b).