program
major in german
Program I: German Language and Literature
Students majoring in German are required to take at least 30 hours from courses numbered higher than 105, not including German 245–246. German 223 is highly recommended. The following are required:
6 hours in German 213, 214, 216 6
6 hours in German 221, 222 6
9 hours in German beyond 222 9
9 hours in German electives 9
Total hours: 30
Please note that majors are permitted a maximum of 6 hours of German courses in which the language of instruction is English. Majors are expected to consult their advisers before registration each semester.
Program II: German Studies
Students majoring in German Studies are required to complete a total of 30 hours of course work beyond GER 105, including the following:
German 201 3
3 hours in German 213, 214, or 216 3
6 hours in German 221 and 222 6
6 hours of German beyond 222 6
6 hours in “German text” courses (defined below) 6
6 hours in “German content” courses (defined below) 6
Total hours: 30
Program I + II
In addition, students selecting this concentration will be tested for language proficiency their junior year and will be required to write a senior paper due the semester prior to graduation. The director of undergraduate studies in German should be consulted for precise details on these special learning outcome assessments.
minor in german
Program I: German Language and Literature
The minor in German consists of a minimum of 18 hours of course work beyond or above the level of German 105, excluding German 245–246 and courses taken as independent study. Specific requirements are as follows:
3 hours from German 213 or 214 3
6 hours from German 221 and 222 6
6 hours from German 220 and above 6
3 hours of one elective course 3
Total hours: 18
Program II: German Studies
The minor in German Studies consists of a minimum of 18 hours of course work as follows:
German 201 3
3 hours from German 213, 214, or 216 3
6 hours from German 221 and 222 6
3 hours of German above German 223 3
3 hours of one elective course 3
Total hours: 18
A “German text” course is one in a discipline other than German literature (such as German history, women’s and gender studies, political science, religious studies, philosophy), which may be taught in English and in which the student reads course texts in German to a significant degree (e.g., more than half the texts would be read in the original German). A “German content” course focuses on German literature or a neighboring discipline (such as German history, German political science, or German philosophy) in which course texts may be read in English or German. Students must consult the instructor of the course regarding “German text” courses, and they must secure the approval of the director of German Studies for both “German text” and “German content” courses. An “elective” course must be pre-approved by the minor advisor.
honors program
Candidates for honors in German who meet College of Arts and Science and departmental requirements must complete all requirements for the concentration in German and, in addition, must study a minimum of one semester at a German-speaking university (or gain the equivalent experience), complete 6 hours of 300-level courses beyond the basic course requirement; maintain at least a B+ average in their German courses and a B overall average; write an honors thesis; and pass an oral examination during the last semester.
vanderbilt-in-germany program, regensburg
Students who have completed German 103 or the equivalent are invited to spend the spring semester during their sophomore, junior, or senior year at the University of Regensburg in southern Germany. Regensburg is a beautiful medieval city on the Danube, near Munich, with a vibrant university campus. The Vanderbilt in Germany program is unique in that, following an intensive language review, students are permitted to enroll full time at the university. They select courses from a wide variety of disciplines, including literature, history, economics, the natural sciences, and the fine arts. A faculty member accompanies the students throughout the semester as resident director. Students receive full academic credit for course work completed in Regensburg.
Students with a strong interest in spending an entire year at the University of Regensburg should consult with the department.
summer program, berlin
The objective of the seven-week, seven-credit Vanderbilt in Berlin summer study abroad program is to offer students an opportunity to begin studying German, improve German language skills, and take courses in English and German. After participating in a weeklong orientation course
on the history and culture of Berlin (1 credit), students take two six-week courses (6 credits) or one intensive language course (6 credits) for those without previous knowledge of German. All courses include regular excursions to course-related locations. Students benefit from daily linguistic and cultural contact in the authentic environment of Berlin, the historical and cultural nexus of Germany.
fellowships
It is not uncommon for Vanderbilt undergraduate students to receive prestigious fellowships and awards such as Fulbright, DAAD, Mellon, and Delta Phi Alpha scholarships, all of which have been received by our students in recent years.
