German Major
Major Requirements
The major consists of ten courses in the German program. Required are: GER 233 Advanced German: Reading, Writing, Analysis, at least one 300-level seminar, and a capstone experience. German majors must take a course in German both semesters of their senior year (including GER 457 Senior Thesis or GER 458 Senior Thesis).
Students starting the major with GER 101 Introduction to German Language and Culture I typically take the sequence GER 101 Introduction to German Language and Culture I, GER 102 Introduction to German Language and Culture II, GER 201 Intermediate German Language and Culture I, GER 202 Intermediate German Language and Culture II, and GER 233 Advanced German: Reading, Writing, Analysis, before taking upper-level courses. Students who have started their major with GER 101 Introduction to German Language and Culture I and are studying abroad in a German-speaking country during the fall of their junior year may substitute an appropriate course taken abroad for GER 233 Advanced German: Reading, Writing, Analysis.
Courses on German and European history and culture taught by the faculty in the German program, as well as courses relevant to German studies offered in other departments or programs may be counted toward the major with the approval of the faculty advisor.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Foundation Course | |
| GER 233 | Advanced German: Reading, Writing, Analysis |
| 300-Level Seminar | |
| Complete at least one course from the following: | |
| Landscapes and Cityscapes in German Media | |
| Margins and Migrations | |
| Literature and Film of the German Democratic Republic | |
| Capstone Experience | |
| Complete at least one course from the following: | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Senior Thesis | |
German majors must take a course in German both semesters of their senior year (including GER 457 Senior Thesis or GER 458 Senior Thesis).
Courses Taken Outside of Bates
Advanced Placement Credit
Upon the approval of the chair, students who achieve a score of five on an Advanced Placement examination may be granted two course credits toward the major; students who achieve a score of four may apply one course credit toward the major.
Study Abroad
German majors are strongly encouraged to deepen their engagement with German language and culture through the experience of studying in a German-speaking country. The completion of four college-level German courses is typically required before commencing a study-abroad program in Germany and Austria.
Majors may count a maximum of three credits for one semester of study and five credits for two semesters of study in a recognized program toward the completion of the major.
Students should discuss their plans for off-campus study with their faculty advisor before going abroad, otherwise credit toward the major is not guaranteed.
Pass/Fail
The use of the Pass/Fail option is restricted to one course within the major but may not be elected for 300-level courses.
Restricted Declarations Policy
Students who have declared the German major may not declare the following:
- German minor
- German Language and Culture (C071) GEC
Other Considerations
Up to two Short Term courses may count toward the major in German.