THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GERMAN STUDIES
Program Description
The Department of German Studies at the University of Cincinnati has its research and teaching focus in twentieth and twenty-first century literature and film. The department’s mission is to provide students in-depth knowledge of modern and contemporary German literature and culture, to help them acquire expertise in the methods of literary and film analysis, and to enable students to become participants in the on-going project of interpreting and understanding German literature and culture in the present and within its larger historical context.
The Department of German Studies offers a core curriculum in German literature and film. To provide additional opportunities we cooperate closely with colleagues from other units, including History, Judaic Studies, Political Science, and Architecture. In particular, we coordinate our program of study with the European Studies Program and the School of World Languages and Cultures.
The Department of German Studies provides intensive teacher training for its graduate students through closely supervised classroom practice and through advanced courses in the theory of second language acquisition. For those students aiming at a career in secondary education, the department offers students the opportunity to earn MA degrees in both German and Education through the Secondary Education Program in the College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services.
The graduate program in the Department of German Studies distinguishes itself through the range of pre-professional options designed to enhance and broaden the graduate student experience. These include editorial assistantships with one of the several journals housed in the department, the opportunity to get involved with our annual graduate student conference, the chance to accompany the department’s Berlin Study Abroad Program, as well as the option to gain teaching experience beyond the scope of typical Teaching Assistantships through the University’s International Co-op Program. A combination of scholarly and practical training gives our graduates an edge on the job market borne out by our high placement rate.
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Advising:
The Graduate Program Director advises all students in administrative questions and monitors the fulfillment of requirements. Each student is expected to meet with the Graduate Program Director once every quarter. In addition, each student is assigned a mentor by the Graduate Program Director. Student and academic advisor meet at least once per quarter to discuss the student’s progress toward the degree.
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The Curriculum:
Graduate Students in the Department of German Studies select their classes from courses taught in the Department, from courses offered through affiliated programs, and from classes in other units. A minimum of 6 content courses per year must be taken within the Department. Up to 3 courses per year may be taken through affiliated program or other units. It is recommended that students enroll in course sequences, if possible.
Students who hold Teaching Assistantships must sign up for a minimum of 12 graduate credits each quarter and may take up to a maximum of 18 credits. For general university rules (time to degree, extension, reinstatement, etc) see the University’s Graduate Handbook.
COURSES IN THE DEPARTMENT:
- Survey Course: chronological introduction to German literature;
requirements: midterm exam, final exam, short essay questions and/or “Protokolle”
501, 502, 503 (this is a dual-level course open to advanced undergraduate majors), 4 graduate credits
- Focus Course: examination of a period, a genre, a topic, or an author; readings may include scholarly literature and theory in addition to primary texts
requirements: several short papers or one research paper 700-number, 4 graduate credits
- Research Seminar: advanced course on a specific topic, period, genre, or author with an additional emphasis on research methodologies; readings include primary texts, scholarly literature and theory; course extends over two quarters
requirements: 20 to 25-page research paper 800-number, 4 graduate credits per course (8 total)
- GTA-Orientation: Incoming Teaching Assistants must complete this two-week course in the fall prior to their first quarter of teaching 700-number, 2 graduate credits
Courses through Affiliated Programs:
SCHOOL OF WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES (SWLC)
- Second Language Acquisition: a 3-quarter sequence in the theory and pedagogy of second language acquisition
700-number, 4 graduate credits per course
- Introduction to Literary Theory: a 3-quarter sequence in literary theory from Aristotle to the present
800-number, 4 graduate credits per course
EUROPEAN STUDIES PROGRAM:
- Topics in European Studies: 5 workshops in the fall, a 2-quarter seminar sequence in the winter and spring with a public conference in the spring quarter
700-number, 4 graduate credits per course
FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES:
- 3-quarter sequence of a foreign language (counts ONLY toward fulfillment of PhD requirement)
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The Master’s Degree in German Studies:
The Master’s Degree in German Studies provides training in German literature, film, culture and the German language. Students become familiar with a range of authors, genres, and themes. They acquire the knowledge and the methods to engage critically with German culture and the ability to apply these skills in teaching environments, in intercultural contexts, and in any situation that requires critical analysis of texts and clear communication.
The majority of students who obtain the Master’s degree go on to teaching on the K-12 level both at public and private institutions. Master’s students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree in Secondary Education while working toward their MA in German. MA-graduates also find employment in language resource centers, as translators, or in international companies.
45 graduate credits are required for the Master’s Degree in German Studies. While most students will take two years to complete the degree, it is possible to graduate from the program within one year.
Course Requirements:
- Survey of German Literature sequence (501, 502, 503)
- 1 Research Seminar (2-quarter sequence)
The MA Exam
MA-students may choose between two options:
- Exam option: a four-hour comprehensive exam based on the department’s MA reading list. The exam takes place in the spring quarter and is scheduled by the graduate director.
- Thesis option: a 50-page thesis on a topic of the candidate’s choice, to be approved by the thesis director. The exam includes a thesis defense and an oral exam on a reduced version of the MA-reading list.
The Ph.D. in German Studies:
The Ph.D. in German Studies provides extensive training in 20th and 21st –century German literature and film. Through course work and term papers students develop a broad knowledge of primary materials and the evolving methods of literary analysis. The Ph.D. dissertation is an independent research project carried out under the guidance of the student’s Ph.D. committee, resulting in a major piece of work that lays the ground for future projects and publications. Selected course offerings in related departments enhance the core curriculum in German Studies, enabling students to pursue courses of study that prepare them to teach and to conduct research in interdisciplinary contexts.
The majority of students who graduate from the department of German Studies with a Ph.D. obtain university teaching positions.
Course requirements:
A minimum of 135 credits is required for the Ph.D. For general rules see the University’s Graduate handbook.
PhD-students typically pursue 4-5 quarters of course work before advancing to candidacy. Departmental Ph.D. requirements beyond the MA-level are
- 1 Research Seminar
- reading knowledge in one foreign language other than German
The foreign language requirement must be fulfilled prior to the Candidacy Exam by enrollment in a minimum of three quarters in the foreign language or by completion of an equivalency exam. It is recommended that students take a “Graduate Reading Course,” if offered.
The PhD Exams:
The Candidacy Exam tests the student’s knowledge of major primary works, mastery of primary and scholarly works in one area of specialization, and the ability to conceive of a dissertation topic.
In preparation for the exam, Ph.D. students may sign up for 12 credits of “Independent Readings” with their dissertation chair and committee members prior to or during the quarter in which they are scheduled to take the exam. Student and advisors will meet regularly during this period to discuss progress toward the exam and to compile the individualized reading lists.
Ph.D. students select a dissertation advisor and at least one additional member of the dissertation committee at least one quarter prior to the candidacy exam.
1. Reading Lists
a) Dissertation Research List; compiled by the student in close cooperation with the dissertation advisor; it consists of approximately 25 titles pertinent to the dissertation and should include primary as well as secondary sources.
b) “Field”- List; compiled by the student in close cooperation with a member of the dissertation committee (NOT the dissertation advisor) in an area that is substantially different from the dissertation topic.
c) Core List of 50 titles+10 films supplied by the department.
2. Written Exams
Students write a three-hour exam on each of the three lists. These exams are to be taken within one week. Upon completion of all three exams, the student and all examiners meet for a colloquium whose purpose it is to provide feedback on the written exam and to discuss dissertation plans.
3. Dissertation Proposal
Three months after the oral examination the student submits a proposal to the committee for detailed discussion. The proposal includes a) a general description of the dissertation project, b) an outline of individual chapters, c) a timetable; the document should have a length of between 10 and 15 pages.
Ph.D. students who have successfully passed their qualifying exams sign up for 12 credits per quarter of Doctoral Research with their thesis advisor.
PhD Defense
A 2-hour oral defense of the candidate’s completed PhD dissertation, to be scheduled only with approval of the PhD advisor. Typically, the candidate will present a 20-minute lecture of the dissertation project, followed by a question and answer session.
(revised 11/20/2007)
