Jul 17, 2024  
2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
2024-2025 University Catalog

German–Language & Culture Track, BA

Location(s): West Lafayette


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, and 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, GER 20500, GER 22300, or GER 22400, 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.

German Major


A. German Language (6 credits)


B. German Literature (3 credits)


Language & Culture Track


C. Advanced German Language (6 credits)

F. 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)


Grade Requirements


  • Students may use no grade lower than a “C” in the major.  The P/NP option is not available for for courses taken for the major.

GPA Requirements


  • Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.0 in the courses used in the major.
  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy


  • P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.

University Requirements


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) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

To obtain the Civics Literacy Proficiency, students will complete an educational activity as part of their chosen Civics Literacy Pathway and pass the Purdue Civics knowledge test.  The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being perused.  There are three different pathways:

  • Civics Event pathway - Attend six approved civics-related events and pass the required exam; or
  • Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required exam; or
  • Approved course pathway - Complete  one of the following approved courses and pass the required exam.

More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue.

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Additional Information


  • Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA advising Office for more information.

Sample 4-Year Plan


Fall 1st Year


  • Credits: 3.00
  • 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


  • Credits: 3.00
  • 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


  • Credits: 3.00
  • 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


  • Credits: 3.00 (CLA Core III)
  • Area G: German Selective - 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


  • Credits: 3.00 (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


Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.

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. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.