German Studies

What Is German Studies ?

German is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the language, culture, history, politics and literature of Germany and other German-speaking countries, as well as their influence on other cultures in Europe and beyond. The Department of German at UC specializes in contemporary Germany, which boasts one of the world's most powerful economies and holds a central leadership role within the European Union. We believe, however, that today's Germany cannot be understood without reference to German history, and therefore we offer courses that range from the Middle Ages to the 21st century and deal with a wide variety of topics and texts. We also place a great deal of emphasis on the impact that German culture has had on Cincinnati and consider German-American studies to be a vital component of German.

Through academic course work, participation in study-abroad programs and interaction with outstanding faculty and visiting lecturers from around the world, German majors and minors have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and develop skills that will enrich their lives and enable them to contribute to greater global awareness when they assume roles in careers and society.

Success Factors

Career Possibilities

Students with a BA in German studies often pursue teaching careers, either in secondary education or in colleges and universities, following completion of graduate studies in the field. Many go on to professional schools such as law and medicine. Other graduates become interpreters, translators and researchers or establish careers in the business world. Through careful planning, students can major in two fields and thus gain a greater breadth in their studies.

• Anthropologist
• Foreign correspondent
• Exchange trader
• Foreign service officer
• Social worker
• International account manager
• Interpreter
• National security agent
• Teacher
• Translator

Additional career options are listed on the Career Development Center's Web site.

Major Details

15-GRMN-201-2-3 (15 credits): Second Year German
15-GRMN-301-3-3 (9 credits): Topics in Language and Culture
15-GRMN-401-2-3 (9 credits): Advanced Topics in Language and Culture
15-GRMN-501-2-3 (9 credits): Survey of German Literature
15-GRMN-491, 2, or 3 (3 credits): Senior Capstone

The remaining 12 credits may be earned by taking any course the department offers aside from the required courses and the basic language courses. This choice of electives includes our study-abroad offerings.

The 4+1 Master's Degree in German Studies
Students interested in earning a master's degree in German Studies have the option to extend their baccalaureate studies for one year. More details are available in the Curriculum and Special Programs sections below. More information is also available on the German Studies Web site.

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• International Affairs
• Other languages and area studies programs
• History
• Anthropology
• Philosophy
• Geography
• Sociology
• Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Minor Details

German Studies Minor

Students intending to minor in German studies will take 30 credit hours beyond the basic language requirement. All students must take the following courses:

15-GRMN-201-2-3 (15 credits): Second Year German
15-GRMN-301-3-3 (9 credits): Topics in Language and Culture

The remaining six credits may be earned by taking any course the department offers aside from the required courses and the basic language courses. This choice of electives includes our study-abroad offerings. There is a special minor for students in the international co-op program that allows them to receive credit for their co-op courses.

German-American Studies Certificate
Students pursuing a degree at the university may also earn a certificate in German-American studies, which requires six credits in an introductory course on the German-American experience, six credits of independent work, and 18 credits in approved electives from the following departments: Anthropology, Architecture, Art History, Geography, German, History, Judaic Studies, Music History and Philosophy.

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Regularly Taught Elective Courses (24 cr hrs)
Additional courses are offered each quarter. Check the online course offerings each quarter for a complete list.

GRMN-171 (3 credit hours): Survey of German Culture I
GRMN-172 (3 credit hours): Survey of German Culture II
GRMN-173 (3 credit hours): Survey of German Culture III
GRMN-174 (3 credit hours): Survey of German Culture IV: Berlin
GRMN-185 (3 credit hours): Introduction to Film Studies
GRMN-280 (3 credit hours): German Fairy Tales
GRMN-324 (3 credit hours): German for Business
GRMN-361 (3 credit hours): Language and Cultural Immersion: Munich
GRMN-396 (3 credit hours): Germanic Mythology
GRMN-499 (3 credit hours): Individual Projects

4+1 Master's Degree Program
Sample 5-year Course of Study

Year 1
15-GRMN-101-2-3 (15 credits?do not count toward major): Basic German

Summer
15-GRMN-204 (15 credits): Munich: Intensive Langauge

Year 2
15-GRMN-301-3-3 (9 credits) Introduction to German Studies
15-GRMN-171-2-3 (9 credits): Survey of German Culture (or other electives)

Year 3
15-GRMN-401-2-3 (9 credits): Seminar in German Studies
Elective (3 cr)

Year 4
15-GRMN-491, 2, or 3 (3-6 credits): Senior Capstone
15-GRMN-501-2-3 (12 credits): Survey of German Literature
3 graduate level electives (12 cr)

Year 5
Research Seminar (8 cr)
Approved graduate elective courses (at least 25 credits)
MA Exam or Thesis

Special Opportunities

Special Programs

The German studies program at UC provides students with a solid background in the German language and all aspects of German, Austrian and Swiss culture. We have special strengths in film studies, German-American studies and contemporary German literature and culture. We have strong study-abroad programs in Germany and Austria and work closely with other programs, such as European studies and the international co-op program. We work with our majors to customize their course of study to their needs and goals.

Study Abroad
The Munich program is a three-week, intensive-immersion language and culture course during the first term of summer school. There are three hours of intensive instruction each day, Monday through Friday, plus a daily program of conversation classes conducted while visiting cultural and historical sites in and around Munich, under the direction of a professor from UC's Department of Germanic Language and Literatures. The program includes weekend excursions with the group. The participating student will earn six undergraduate credit hours by registering for the following course at the University of Cincinnati: 15-GRMN-301-02 Language and Cultural Immersion in Germany (summer course).

The Berlin field trip is an interdisciplinary course (15-GRMN-174) offered to undergraduate students from across the University of Cincinnati. The variety in the background and interests of the participants will assure the vitality of the experience, one focused on Berlin’s material culture, past, present and future.

The 4+1 Master's Degree Program
Students complete all of the requirements for the German major (57 credits), which includes the Survey of German Literature sequence typically required of first-year MA students. During their fourth (senior) year, students will be permitted to enroll in three graduate courses for a total of 12 credits. They can then complete the credit and course requirements for the MA in just one additional year with a standard graduate course load (12 credits per quarter). Total credits for BA/MA with a concentration in German Studies: 102.

Senior Year
Survey I-II-III (501-2-3) ? part of requirements for major
3 grad electives (12 credits) offered by the German Studies Department ? apply toward MA

MA Year
1 Research Seminar (2-quarter sequence)
25 additional credit hours in approved courses at the graduate level
MA Exam or Thesis (May)

More information is available on the German Studies Web site.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA. Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Fine arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)

*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply to the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received an associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Although midyear, off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in priority registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).

Graduation Requirements

In addition to meeting the university general education requirements, the requirements listed in the college bulletin are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, the fall is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to Arts & Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).