Dec 26, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Academic Catalog 2024-2025

German Studies, BA


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Introduction

The German program at Pacific University prepares students to interact professionally with Europe’s technological and economic giants and gives them a solid understanding of the region’s cultural and social dynamics. Our graduates work in business, international law, healthcare, computer science, media arts and education. Our students have also received Fulbright Scholarships for postgraduate work in teaching or research in Austria and Germany and prestigious scholarships to study abroad. The German Studies Major is designed to be combined with any other Major offered at Pacific University, where both majors can be completed in time for the anticipated graduation date. 

Major Requirements


Study Abroad; 8 Credits in German*


Students must register for 12 credits while abroad to keep full time status. However, only a minimum of 8 credits of work taken in German is required for the German Studies major. Students may take other credits taught in English. Up to 4 elective credits taken in German beyond the 8 required credits for the German Studies major may be applied as elective credits (see below) towards the major. Students should consult International Programs regarding availability of courses taught in English. Students should consult with the Advising Center and/or advisors from other departments about the possibility of courses taken abroad counting towards core requirements or another major/minor.

Writing in the Discipline: 4 Credits


Upper Division GER Elective: 4 Credits


Total: 38 Credits


*Short-term travel abroad courses may not count towards upper-division hours earned abroad. They may, however, count towards electives, with approval from the German Program Coordinator.

** Other classes not listed here may be proposed to the German Program Coordinator for consideration.

Eight credits may be waived for students able to start at the 201-level. Twelve credits may be waived for students able to start at the 202-level or above. A student placing higher than the 202-level will have to successfully complete enough German courses to meet the minimum number of 24 credits for the major.

DOUBLE-MAJOR EMPHASIS

Most students who major in German also major in another discipline. There are many options available for students to double-major. Please contact Prof. Lorely French, German program advisor, for more information.

Program Details


Program Length

Four years for a complete BA degree.  Two years for students transferring in with an AAOT degree.  Program length may vary depending upon the student’s course load and academic progress. Note: If Study Abroad is for a year, only 12 credits are required, otherwise 16 are required. Students enter the sequence at a level appropriate to their previous preparation and may be exempt from up to 16 credits of lower division coursework in the major unless otherwise noted.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the German major will:

  • Acquire tools of thought and language that embody a liberal-arts education, including those specifically related to modes of inquiry, critical thinking and analysis, creativity, and written and oral language;
  • Develop multicultural, diverse, and global perspectives;
  • Achieve at least ACTFL Intermediate High or Advanced Low proficiency and thereby work towards developing an advanced level of proficiency in all four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, writing;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of cultural competence related to social norms, behaviors, values, and taboos;
  • Identify some career options and graduate/professional studies related to the study of German when seeking employment in a broad spectrum of career possibilities, including those in education, health professions, translation, business, and international law.

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