Apr 20, 2024  
2020-2021 University Catalog 
    
2020-2021 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

German, BA


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About the Program

The Department of German and Russian in the School of Languages and Cultures offers undergraduate majors and minors in German and Russian as well as courses of study and expertise leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. in German literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the present, the M.A. and Ph.D. in German linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. It is also possible to study for the M.A. or Ph.D. in Comparative Literature with a focus in German.

Business German at Purdue                                                                                            

The Business German Program at Purdue consists of three courses, beginning at the second-year level. Our goal is to develop students’ communicative competence in a variety of activities in the specialized field of German for Business and Economics (Wirtschaftsdeutsch). Topics covered in our courses include Germany’s major industries and companies, the German market economy, Germany’s role in international trade, marketing, the European Union and the Euro, applying for internships and jobs in Germany, and intercultural communication in German-American business encounters.

German for Science and Engineering

The German Program at Purdue offers a track German for Science and Engineering consisting of three courses, beginning at the second-year level. Our goal is to develop students’ communicative competence in a variety of activities with focus on German for Science and Engineering. Topics covered in our courses include the history of science and scientists in German, articles on scientific research in a variety of fields in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, energy sources, approaches to these sources, to ecology, recycling methods, dealing with issues of pollution, information on various auto industries, live reports by students returning from study abroad or participating in other work abroad or research abroad programs. This course will further help with writing how to apply for jobs, practicing for interviews, and to prepare oneself in a culture-specific way for a global market in a German speaking environment. It will incorporate presentations by students propelled by their own interests and involving aspects of intercultural communication as most interesting for those studying German and disciplines of Science and Engineering.

Degree in 3

The College of Liberal Arts offers the opportunity for students to complete their degree in three years. Degree in 3 majors allow students to enter the work force or graduate school a year earlier than traditional plans of study while also providing a cost-effective way to complete an undergraduate degree.

Students can complete the three-year option with or without AP credit by adding summer sessions to traditional coursework in Fall and Spring semesters. Degree in 3 offers a great combination of cost-savings and the opportunity to accelerate your future and achieve your goals.

Please visit German for more information.

Liberal Arts Curriculum


Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type.

Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus.

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Course Requirements (33 credits)


Pre-requisite Language Courses


Before undertaking this major, the student must establish proficiency equivalent to German Level IV. Proficiency may be established by taking and passing GER 20200 or GER 20500, by examination, or by other evidence acceptable to the School of Languages & Cultures. If courses are taken for credit, these credits will apply to Electives.

A. German Language (12 credits)


D. German Culture and Civilization (3 credits)


Choose one of the following courses.

Other Departmental - Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)


The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us.

Core I: Disciplinary Diversity (6-18 credits)


Choose 1 course in 6 different disciplines within the College of Liberal Arts.

Note: Disciplines are differentiated by course prefix. Undistributed credit does not count to satisfy this requirement.

Core II: Social Diversity (1-3 credits)


Culture, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity all play a role in how others perceive us and how we experience the world, and as such, are meaningful categories for analyzing social change and social problems past and present. The purpose of this category is to acquaint students with the pluralistic nature of the world and foster an appreciation and awareness of the diverse range of lived human experience. Courses in this list will expose students to important aspects of human diversity and foster understanding about different world views.

Choose 1 course from the Social Diversity Selective List .  

Core III: Linguistic Diversity (3-4 credits)


Proficiency through Level IV in one world language. Courses may be required to reach Level IV proficiency; these courses will be counted toward electives. (fulfills Humanities for core)

Foundational Requirements (21-30 credits)


Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. Many of these can also be used to fulfill Core I, Core II, or Core III.

  • Humanities - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Humanities for core)
  • Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Behavioral/Social Science for core)
  • Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Information Literacy for core)
  • Science #1 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science #2 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science, Technology, Society for core)
  • Written Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Written Communication for core)
  • Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Oral Communication for core)
  • Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Quantitative Reasoning for core)

Notes


  • Double counting of courses is allowed across the various categories. 
  • All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirements, both professional BAs and BFAs, are exempt from Liberal Arts Core I & II in order to meet accreditation standards and requirements. Liberal Arts Core III: Linguistic Diversity is still required for such programs. 
  • “Degree +” students (students with a second major outside of Liberal Arts) are exempt from the CLA Core

Electives (32-56 credits)


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC)

Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.


 

Program Requirements


Fall 1st Year


  • Oral Communication (CLA Core I: 1 of 6) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Quantitative Reasoning - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Behavioral/Social Sciences (CLA Core I: 2 of 6) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 1st Year


  • Written Communication (CLA Core I: 3 of 6) - Credit Hours: 3.00 – 4.00 
  • Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core I: 4 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15-16 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


  • Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core II: Social Diversity - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core I: 5 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


  • (CLA Core III)
  • Area E: German Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science, Technology, and Society - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • (CLA Core I: 6 of 6)
  • Information Literacy - Credit Hours: 3.00 – 4.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


15 Credits


15 Credits


Notes


  • Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.0 in the courses used in the major and may use no grade lower than a “C.”  The P/NP option is not available for for courses taken for the major.
  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • 32 credit hours of Purdue coursework at the 30000 level or higher required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA advising Office for more information.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor.

ASL-American Sign Language

ARAB-Arabic CHNS-Chinese FR-French
GER-German GREK-Greek (ancient) HEBR-Hebrew (Biblical) HEBR-Hebrew (modern)
ITAL-Italian JPNS-Japanese KOR-Korean LATN-Latin
PTGS-Portuguese RUSS-Russian SPAN-Spanish  

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

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