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Director of undergraduate studies: Paul North, 323 WLH, 432-6401, p.north@yale.edu; language director: Theresa Schenker, 325 WLH, 432-0783, theresa.schenker@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GERMANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
Professors Rüdiger Campe (Chair), Carol Jacobs, Rainer Nägele, Brigitte Peucker, Henry Sussman (Visiting)
Associate Professor Kirk Wetters
Assistant Professor Paul North
Lecturer William Whobrey
Senior Lector II Marion Gehlker
Senior Lector Howard Stern
Lectors Chrissy Hosea, Theresa Schenker
The major in German is a liberal arts major whose aim is to provide competence in the German language and an understanding of German literature and culture in the context of European civilization. Although by no means restricted to prospective teachers or graduate students in German, the major provides background for professional work in these pursuits.
Prerequisite Students choosing the major should have completed GMAN 110 and 120 or have received equivalent credit through advanced placement or study abroad.
The major The major consists of eleven term courses, for a total of twelve course credits, including GMAN 130, 140, and 150; one course from the German Modernities series, GMST 180–189; two introductory courses in German literature numbered GMAN 171–179 and conducted in German; and the senior essay. All courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade. The remaining courses to fulfill the major are chosen from Group B (conducted in German), up to two courses from Group C (conducted in English), one additional language course from Group A numbered 160 or above, and, with prior approval of the director of undergraduate studies, up to two term courses taken outside the department but bearing directly on the German cultural context.
Senior requirement for the standard major (one-term senior essay) Seniors in the standard German major enroll in GMAN 492, a guided senior essay tutorial course. Students meet on a biweekly basis with the director of undergraduate studies and staff, and work under the direction of a faculty adviser. The culmination of the tutorial is an essay of approximately thirty pages that gives evidence of careful reading and substantial independent thought. The essay may be written in either English or German, although only native speakers are encouraged to write an essay in German. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be dealt with and the choice of adviser should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 7; a three-page prospectus and bibliography are due by September 28. A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by November 2. The completed essay, due on December 10, is graded jointly by the adviser and a designated faculty reader.
The intensive major (two-term senior esssay) The intensive major is designed for students who wish to undertake a more extensive project of research and writing during their senior year. Requirements for the intensive major are the same as for the standard major, except that the intensive major requires twelve term courses (totaling thirteen course credits) beyond the prerequisite, of which two are devoted to the preparation of the senior essay (GMAN 492 and 493). This essay, written under the direction of a faculty adviser, should be between sixty and seventy-five pages in length and should be presented no later than April 23 of the senior year. The second term of essay preparation is undertaken independently, without tutorial support. The essay is graded jointly by the adviser and a designated faculty reader.
Group A courses Courses in Group A (GMAN 110–169) include elementary, intermediate, and advanced language courses. Only one advanced language course at the level of 160 and above may count toward the major.
Group B courses Courses in Group B (GMAN 171 and above, not including Group C courses) are advanced courses and count toward the major. Readings are in German, and the language of instruction is usually German.
Group C courses Courses in Group C are conducted in English with texts in translation. Only two term courses from this group may count toward the major.
Candidates for the major in German should consult the director of undergraduate studies.
Summer study and study abroad Students may take Intermediate German or German for Reading during the summer in New Haven and/or Berlin. For information, contact the director of undergraduate studies or the language coordinator. Students are urged to consider the Year or Term Abroad program, for which appropriate course credit toward the major is granted. Such study is valuable not only for achieving comfortable fluency in German, but also for gaining firsthand knowledge of the German cultural context. The department offers diverse opportunities for study abroad and a scholarship program for summer courses at German universities. Members of the faculty advise and consult with all students wishing to plan study in Germany. Students who have been approved to study abroad and who receive financial aid from Yale are eligible for aid while abroad. For information about the Year or Term Abroad program, see under Special Arrangements in the Academic Regulations.
German Studies In addition to the major in German literature, there is also a major in German Studies, an interdisciplinary study of the cultural, historical, and political life of the German-speaking peoples. See under German Studies.
Placement A written placement examination will be administered before the first day of classes in the fall term, followed by a five-minute oral interview; see the Center for Language Study Web site for the time and location. Students wishing to take the placement exam in January should sign up with the language director by December 12, 2012. Students may also consult with the director of undergraduate studies or the language director for advice about placement and about language study. Regardless of previous German study, students without a score of 5 on the German Advanced Placement test must take the departmental placement exam in order to enroll in any course above GMAN 110 or 125.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites GMAN 110 and 120, or equivalent
Number of courses 11 term courses, totaling 12 course credits, beyond prereq (incl senior essay) for letter grades
Specific courses required GMAN 130, 140, 150; 2 from Group B courses numbered 171–179; 1 from GMST 180–189
Distribution of courses No more than 1 advanced lang course; no more than 2 Group C courses; with DUS approval, 2 term courses outside dept
Substitution permitted With DUS approval, courses taken on Year or Term Abroad for other courses in major
Senior requirement Senior essay tutorial (GMAN 492)
Intensive major 12 term courses, totaling 13 course credits, beyond prereq for letter grades, incl two-term senior essay (GMAN 492 and 493)
