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.
The Education Track prepares students to teach German in grades 5-12. Students will take courses in the School of Languages and Cultures and in the College of Education, will do student teaching in a local school, and, upon successful completion of the degree program, will receive the teaching licensure required to teach in Indiana public schools.
This program meets state and national licensure standards and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the State of Indiana, State Board of Education. See Teacher Licensure Information in the plan below.
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 (80 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 (33 credits)
A. German Language (6 credits)
B. German Literature (3 credits)
Education Track (24 credits)
C. Advanced German Language (3 credits)
D. Advanced German Literature (3 credits)
E. German Linguistics (3 credits)
F. German Culture and Civilization (3 credits)
G. German Selectives (12 credits)
No more than one course (3 credits) may be taught in English.
Professional Education Requirements (47 credits)
World Languages Teaching Concentration (44 credits)
Learner Specialty Pathway Selective (3 credits)
Choose one course from one of the learner specialty pathway areas below. Students can elect to take additional coursework to complete a full concentration if they choose, but it is not required. See the links for concentration requirements
If you desire additional information regarding the Learner Specialty Pathway Concentrations, please reach out to your academic advisor or visit the Learner Specialty Concentrations tab found here.
Other Departmental (12 credits)
Core III: Linguistic Diversity (0 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.
Foundational Requirements (12 credits)
Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes.
- AI Working Competency (UCC: AI) - EDCI 27000.
- Human Cultures: Humanities (UCC: HUM) - SPAN 30100.
- Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Sciences (UCC: BSS) - EDCI 28550 or EDPS 23500.
- Information Literacy (UCC: IL) - EDCI 27000.
- Science #1 (UCC: SCI) - all approved courses accepted.
- Science #2 (UCC: SCI) - all approved courses accepted.
- Science, Technology & Society (UCC: STS) - all approved courses accepted.
- Written Communication (UCC: WC) - EDCI 20500.
- Oral Communication (UCC: OC) - EDCI 49800.
- Quantitative Reasoning (UCC: QR) - all approved courses
Notes
- Double counting of courses is allowed across the various categories.
- All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirement, 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.
Grade Requirements
- Students must have a minimum 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.
- 2.5 Overall GPA is required for the Teacher Education Program and Indiana Licensure.
World Languages Teaching Oral Proficiency Requirement
World Languages Education students must pass the Oral Proficiency Interview test for their language prior to degree completion.
Score requirements:
- Chinese: Intermediate-High
- French: Advanced-Low
- German: Advanced-Low
- Japanese: Intermediate-High
- Latin: Exempt
- Spanish: Advanced-Low
Information regarding the test can be found here.
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 University Senate Website.
- AI Working Competency (UCC: AI)
- Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (UCC: BSS)
- Human Cultures: Humanities (UCC: HUM)
- Information Literacy (UCC: IL)
- Oral Communication (UCC: OC)
- Quantitative Reasoning (UCC: QR)
- Science #1 (UCC: SCI)
- Science #2 (UCC: SCI)
- Science, Technology, and Society (UCC: STS)
- Written Communication (UCC: WC)
Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement
To obtain the Civics Literacy credential, all Baccalaureate degree seeking students will complete the 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 quizzes per episode. After the pathway has been successfully completed, students will take the Civics Literacy knowledge test. Civics Literacy does not impact a student’s GPA or bear any financial costs.
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
The following sample plan of study is a suggested arrangement of courses. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.
Learning Outcomes for Education Programs
As a CAEP-accredited College of Education, Purdue’s teacher education licensure programs align to the common set of InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, informing program outcomes as follows:
Program Outcome 1: Learner Development
Based on InTASC Standard 1
The teacher candidate understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
Program Outcome 2: Learning Differences
Based on InTASC Standard 2
The teacher candidate uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
Program Outcome 3: Learning Environments
Based on InTASC Standard 3
The teacher candidate works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
Program Outcome 4: Content Knowledge
Based on InTASC Standard 4
The teacher candidate understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he/she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
Program Outcome 5: Application of Content
Based on InTASC Standard 5
The teacher candidate understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Program Outcome 6: Assessment
Based on InTASC Standard 6
The teacher candidate understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learners’ decision making.
Program Outcome 7: Planning for Instruction
Based on InTASC Standard 7
The teacher candidate plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
Program Outcome 8: Instructional Strategies
Based on InTASC Standard 8
The teacher candidate understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas in their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
Program Outcome 9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
Based on InTASC Standard 9
The teacher candidate engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate this/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Program Outcome 10: Leadership and Collaboration
Based on InTASC Standard 10
The teacher candidate seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning; to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth; and to advance the profession.
In addition to the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards shared across teacher education licensure programs, each licensure program also aligns to professional sets of standards specific to their discipline. Below is a reference guide to the additional layer of program oversight and outcome expectations, running parallel to InTASC expectations.
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.
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