Major / Minor Requirements in German at W&J College

The German Program at W&J is a culturally centered program designed to teach students about the language, the people, and history of German speaking countries. Students will learn to effectively use the German language and knowledge of the culture in contemporary society. Students of German are encouraged to use the liberal arts tradition to go beyond their German classes and demonstrate interdisciplinary skills as a core part of the course of study.

The German program is a proficiency based language program. This means that at various levels (100, 200, 300, and 400) students must demonstrate standards-based abilities in German.

Classes at the 100 level are elementary in nature and focus on everyday interactions, basic exchanges of information, and a functional notion of the culture.
Classes at the 200 level are intermediate in nature and require students to be able to understand a wider variety of spoken German. Students are introduced to literature and are asked to make connections between disciplines.
Classes at the 300 and 400 levels are designated as “advanced level.” These classes require students to express themselves verbally and in written form on a wide variety of cultural and practical topics. Additionally, these classes are taught exclusively in German.

For both the major and minor, students are required to take advanced level classes, no matter what their proficiency. You can achieve this level of proficiency through coursework, past experience, or study abroad. The major and minor are based on W&J coursework at the advanced level.

Major Requirements

Minor Requirements:

Students must take 6 advanced level Classes, 3 of which must be at the 400 level.

For the major, students must complete an approved capstone project in conjunction with an electronic portfolio. Possible capstone experiences include a study abroad experience of at least one semester; a special project associated with a 400 level course or independent study; or a language intensive internship.

Students must take 3 advanced level classes, 1 of which must be at the 400 level.

Students who begin in 309 are not eligible for a minor. NOTE: Students who have completed coursework at one level may not take courses at a lower level without departmental approval.

Double Majoring or Minoring in German

We encourage our students to link a German major or minor with another course of study. Current and recent W&J students with concentrations in German have also majored in fields as diverse as biology, history, psychology, political science, English, and business. We also have students who pursue Pennsylvania teaching certification in order to teach German at the high school level.

Examples of Course of Study

Your course of study depends on your starting level of proficiency. A major or minor is available to all students, even with no previous knowledge of German!. Here are sample 4 year plans based on starting level of proficiency for first year students. It is to your advantage to start as advanced as possible to allow you as much flexibility with your schedule.

No previous German Experience				Intermediate Proficiency				Advanced Proficiency
Year	Fall	Intersession	Spring	Year	Fall	Intersession	Spring	Year	Fall	Intersession	Spring
Freshman	German 105		German 106	Freshman	German 207	.	German 208	Freshman	German 309		German 310
Sophomore	German 207	.	German 208	Sophomore	German 309		German 310	Sophomore	400-level		400-level
Junior	German 309	Intersession Abroad	German 310	Junior	3 / 400-level		400-level	Junior	400-level		400-Level
Senior	400-level	.400-level	400-level	Senior	400-level		400-level	Senior

The Power of Study Abroad

Study abroad through one of W&J's approved programs and you could jump a full year of proficiency! You can achieve the advanced level quicker than you think, even as an absolute beginner. There are many ways to learn German quickly and effectively. Schedule a meeting with Dr. Shaughnessy and let's discuss your options!