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About the MA Program in German Studies
The Master’s Degree in German Studies provides training in German literature, film, culture and the German language. Through an intensive program of study with leading experts in their fields, students become familiar with a broad range of authors, genres, and themes. Our program is small enought to allow students to work closely with faculty from day one, and large enough to provide diverse opportunities for study. The University of Cincinati has extraordinary resources for students studying German.
What do students do with an MA degree in German Studies?
Many students who receive an MA in German Studies continue in the PhD program and ultimately go on to careers in teaching and research at the opportunity level. Many others obtain their Master’s degree and go on to teach at the K-12 level both at public and private institutions. MA-graduates also find employment in language resource centers, as translators, or in international companies. Master’s students interested in pursuing a teaching degree are able to take advantage of the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree in Secondary Education while working toward their MA in German.
What are the requirements for an MA in German Studies?
To receive an MA in German Studies, students must complete 45 graduate credits and successfully pass the MA Exam. Most students will take two years to complete the degree, but it is possible to graduate from the program in just one year.
Course Requirements:
- Survey of German Literature sequence (501, 502, 503)
- 1 Research Seminar (2-quarter sequence)
- 25 additional credit hours in approved courses at the graduate level
Students have two options for completing the MA Exam:
- 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.
MA Exam Reading List
The reading list for the MA exam consists of four sections covering German literature and film from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.
Section I
Medieval Period (750-1500)
- Hildebrandslied
- Excerpts from: Tatian
- Heliand
- Otfried
- Minnesang and Spruchdichtung (selections)
- Walther von der Vogelweide (selections)
- Werner der Gartenaere, Helmbrecht
- Der Stricker, 1-3 "maeren"
Selected passages from the works of:
- Hartmann von Aue (Erec)
- Wolfram von Eschenbach (Parzival)
- Gottfried von Straßburg (Tristan)
- Excerpts from Nibelungenlied
- Johann von Tepl, Ackermann aus Böhmen (Reclam 7666)
Early Modern Literary Culture (1500-1700)
- Eulenspiegel (Reclam 1687)
- Faustus (Reclam 1515)
- Grimmelshausen, Courasche (Reclam 7998)
- Gryphius, Squentz (Reclam 7982)
- von Logau, poetry (Echtermeyer/ v. Wiese)
- Luther, Biblia (selections - consult with advisor)
- Luther, poetry (Echtermeyer/ v. Wiese)
- Opitz, Poeterey (Reclam 8397)
- Opitz, poetry (Echtermeyer/v. Wiese)
- Sachs, Fastnachtspiele (Reclam 7627)
- Echtermeyer/von Wiese, eds. Deutsche Gedichte von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart (1990).
- Students should be familiar with poems by the following: Gryphius, Günther, Sachs, Silesius.
Section II (1700 to 1890)
- Gottsched, Johann Christoph. Versuch einer Critischen Dichtkunst vor die Deutschen. (Vorrede zur 4. Auflage; "Von Tragödien oder Trauerspielen;" "Von Komödien oder Lustspielen")
- Gottsched, Luise Adelgunde Victorie. Die Pietisterey im Fischbeinrocke
- Herder. J. G. "Shakespeare" aus: Von deutscher Art und Kunst
- Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. Minna von Barnhelm; Emilia Galotti; 17. Literaturbrief; Hamburgische Dramaturgie (Ankündigung und Stücke 1-5. 11-12. 73-83. 87-92. 96-97. 101-104).
- La Roche, Sophie von. Geschichte des Fräulein von Sternheim
- Lenz, Jakob Michael Reinhold. Die Soldaten
- Schiller, Friedrich. Die Räuber; Kabale und Liebe; Maria Stuart; Über naive und sentimentalische Dichtung
- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. Die Leiden des jungen Werthers; Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre; Iphigenie; Faust I
- Schlegel, Friedrich. "Athenäums-Fragment # 116"
- Chamisso, Adalbert von. Peter Schlemihl
- Tieck, Ludwig. Der blonde Eckbert
- Brentano, Clemens. Geschichte vom braven Kasperl und schönen Annerl
- Novalis. Hymnen an die Nacht
- Eichendorff, Joseph von. Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts
- Büchner, Georg. Woyzeck
- Heine, Heinrich. Die Harzreise; Buch der Lieder (selection)
- Kleist, Heinrich von. Michael Kohlhaas; Der zerbrochne Krug; Prinz Friedrich von Homburg
- Droste-Hülshoff, Annette von. Die Judenbuche
- Hebbel, Friedrich. Maria Magdalena
- Friedrich, Nietzsche. Die Geburt der Tragödie aus dem Geiste der Musik
- Fontane, Theodor. Effi Briest
- Keller, Gottfried. Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe; Kleider machen Leute
- Meyer, Conrad Ferdinand. Der Heilige
- Storm, Theodor. Der Schimmelreiter
- Echtermeyer/von Wiese, eds. Deutsche Gedichte von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart (1990). Students should be familiar with poems by the following: Brentano, Brockes, Bürger, Eichendorff, Fontane, Gleim, Goethe, Heine, Hölderlin, Klopstock, Meyer, Novalis, Schiller, Storm.
- Cocalis, ed. The Defiant Muse. German Feminist Poems from the Middle Ages to the Present (1986). Students should be familiar with poems by the following: Von Ziegler, Zäunemann, Karsch, Günderode, Droste-Hülshoff.
Section III (1890 to the Present)
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Hauptmann, Gerhart. Bahnwärter Thiel; Die Weber
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Wedekind, Frank. Frühlings Erwachen
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Freud, Sigmund. Bruchstück einer Hysterie-Analyse
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Hofmannstahl, Hugo v. Der Tor und der Tod; Chandos Brief
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Schnitzler, Arthur. Leutnant Gustl
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Musil, Robert. Die Verwirrungen des Zöglings Törless
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Kaiser, Georg. Gas I
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Rilke, Rainer Maria. Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge
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Mann, Thomas. Der Tod in Venedig; Buddenbrooks
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Mann, Heinrich. Professor Unrat
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Hesse, Hermann. Demian
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Kafka, Franz. Die Verwandlung; Das Urteil
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Brecht, Bertolt. Mutter Courage; Der gute Mensch von Sezuan; "Vergnügungstheater oder Lehrtheater?"
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Borchert, Wolfgang. Die Küchenuhr; Draußen vor der Tür
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Seghers, Anna. Der Ausflug der toten Mädchen
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Koeppen, Wolfgang. Tod in Rom
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Dürrenmatt, Friedrich. Der Besuch der alten Dame
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Frisch, Max. Andorra
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Weiss, Peter. Marat / Sade
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Grass, Günter. Katz und Maus; Im Krebsgang
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Böll, Heinrich. Wanderer, kommst du nach Spa...," Der Wegwerfer," "Doktor Murkes gesammeltes Schweigen"
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Wolf, Christa. Nachdenken über Christa T.
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Becker, Jurek. Jakob der Lügner
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Honigmann, Barbara. Eine Liebe aus nichts
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Jelinek, Elfriede. Die Klavierspielerin
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Maron, Monika. Stille Zeile Sechs
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Sebald, W.G. Die Ausgewanderten
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Brussig, Thomas. Helden wie wir
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Senocak, Zafer. Gefährliche Verwandtschaft
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Echtermeyer/von Wiese, eds. Deutsche Gedichte von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart (1990).
- Students should be familiar with the following poets: Arp; Bachmann; Becker; Benn; Bobrowski; Brecht; Celan; Domin; Enzensberger; George; Heym; Hofmannsthal; Huchel; Jandl; Kirsch; Krolow; Lasker-Schüler; Liliencron; Loerke; Meckel; Morgenstern; Reinig; Rilke; Sachs; Stadler; Trakl; Werfel.
Section IV: Film
- Robert Wiene. Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari
- Fritz Lang. M
- Leni Riefenstahl. Triumph des Willens
- Frank Beyer. Jakob der Lügner
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Die Ehe der Maria Braun
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