German

German studies encompasses the works of German literature, the culture of the Middle Ages, German cinema, writings of ethnic minorities in German-speaking countries, economics, and the European Union. By acquiring proficiency in the German language, students learn the most widely spoken language in Europe and join a community of more than 130 million speakers of German around the world.

Overview

The German studies major is not limited to knowing the language, but instead helps the student achieve multiple literacies. In the major, the study of language merges with the study of culture and includes:

• The works of German literature as well as German culture and civilization from the Middle Ages through the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century
• German cinema
• The writings of ethnic minorities in German-speaking countries
• The terminology of business, economics and the European Union
• Summer studies or full-semester studies at a German or Austrian university.

For many students, the curriculum is an enriching discovery of their own past: more than 60 million Americans are at least partly of German heritage.  More Americans can trace their ancestry to Germany than to any other foreign country, and since the middle of the 20th century more Americans have lived and worked in Germany than in any other foreign country.

Coursework for the Major

German is a flexible liberal arts major. Students must bear in mind that, with few exceptions (maximum 9 credits of GET-prefix courses in translation), credits toward the major and minor begin to be counted after the completion of intermediate German.

Ordinarily, students will need to have completed GER 2200 Intermediate German 1 by their fifth semester at UF to be able to complete the German major.

Required Coursework

The major in German requires 30 credits of coursework, including:

• At least three classes (9 credits) of advanced GER and/or GEW 4000-level courses with coursework in German
• At least two classes (6 credits) chosen from GER 3234 Introduction to Reading German Texts, GER 3401 Advanced German 1, GER 3402 Advanced German 2, GEW 3100 Survey of German Literature I, and GEW 3101 Survey of German Literature 2
• Additional 3000-level German studies elective courses to complete the 30-credit total.

Course Details

• 1000/2000-level courses do not count for credit for the major.
• Up to three GET-prefix courses in translation may count for the major.
• Up to 15 credits of 3000/4000-level classes can be transferred from another institution.
• No more than 3 credits can be earned in independent studies courses such as GEW 4905.

Overseas Study

The department recommends its summer program in Manheim, Germany.

Placement

Students without prior German should take the GER 1130 and GER 1131 sequence (five credits each). An alternative manner of completing the basic language sequence in a single year is by taking GER 1125 and 1126, Discover German. These 10 credit sequences fulfill the college's language requirement.

Students with previous training in one of the languages should take an SAT II placement test. For more information on placement, refer to www.at.ufl.edu/testing.

Critical Tracking

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete GER 1125 or GER 1130 or higher-level German course
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete GER 1126 or GER 1131 or higher-level German course
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Maintain completion of GER 1131 or GER 1126 or higher-level German course, with 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete GER 2200 or any 2000-level German course with 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Recommended Semester Plan

Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).