Basic language skills are only a beginning, however, and the program in German leads students into studies of German literature understood in its broadest sense and of the cultural contexts in which this literature has been produced. The German Department encourages students to enroll in related courses in other disciplines. A concentration in German is an excellent preparation for advanced studies in the fields of literature, art history, history, music, and philosophy, and can also give students a competitive edge in the fields of international relations, law, business, journalism, and publishing. For a concentration in German literature and culture, a minimum of eight courses is required.
Exceptions require the permission of the department chair.
University regulations require that a student maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the courses comprising the concentration or minor concentration program. The German minor concentration consists of five courses at the 300 and 400 levels, with a minimum GPA of 2.0. At least one of the five courses must be a seminar. Honors and High Honors Students with an average of 3.3 in courses included in the concentration and with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 are eligible for honors in German. Students who have attained that average may declare their intentions to pursue honors in the spring of the junior year or, at the latest, the fall of the senior year.