German, BA

This is the first version of the 2024–25 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

Learning Outcomes

The BA in German is directed toward graduates’ ability to converse effectively in German; write coherent short texts; interpret literary, cultural, and linguistic phenomena; and exhibit an understanding of alternative cultural perspectives.

  • Interpersonal speaking: the capacity to engage effectively in conversations in German on a range of topics, recount events and personal experiences, and produce explanations and descriptions; correlates with "intermediate high" on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale.
  • Writing: the capacity to produce a cohesive piece of writing in German, such as an essay, a paper, or a narrative.
  • Interpretation and analysis: the capacity to critically interpret and analyze literary texts and other cultural artifacts written in German using appropriate sources to support their arguments.
  • Cultural understanding: the capacity to demonstrate understanding of alternative cultural perspectives acquired through coursework, study abroad, and other cross-cultural experiences.