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Department of Germanic Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Germanic Studies

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements GERBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Germanic Studies offers a full curriculum including German language, linguistics, literature, and culture, as well as courses in Dutch, Yiddish, and Norwegian. Faculty members teach at all levels; class sizes are moderate to small; and there are many opportunities for direct student-faculty contact, including a departmental honors program.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Gateway Courses*. Two (2) courses:
    • GER-G 332 Introduction to German Literature and Media
    • GER-G 334 Introduction to German Thought and Culture
    • GER-E 336 Introduction to the Structure of Germanic Languages
  2. Electives.
    1. Advanced Electives Taught in German. 12 credit hours:
      • GER-G 400 Advanced College German
      • GER-G 403 Medieval German Literature
      • GER-G 404 Modern German Literature
      • GER-G 415 Perspectives on German Literature
      • GER-G 416 Studies in German Authors
      • GER-G 418 German Film and Popular Culture
      • GER-G 421 Contemporary Germany: Overview
      • GER-G 422 Contemporary Germany: Special Topics in German Studies
      • GER-G 424 Literature and Society since 1945
      • GER-G 448 Introduction to German Phonetics and Phonology
      • GER-G 451 Introduction to German Syntax
      • GER-G 453 Introduction to German Sociolinguistics
      • GER-G 458 Introduction to German Morphology
      • GER-G 459 Introduction to the History of the German Language
      • GER-G 464 German Culture and Society
      • GER-G 496 Advanced German Language Abroad
      • GER-G 499 Honors Thesis
    2. Additional Electives. Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements.
      • GER-E 211 Global Germany
      • GER-E 212 Multicultural Germany
      • GER-E 311 Tradition and Innovation in German Literature
      • GER-E 321 Gender and Sexuality in Germany
      • GER-E 322 German Cultural History
      • GER-E 323 German Film Culture
      • GER-E 341 Dutch Culture: The Modern Netherlands
      • GER-E 342 Topics in Dutch Culture and History
      • GER-E 343 Topics in Dutch Literature
      • GER-E 351 Topics in Yiddish Literature
      • GER-E 352 Topics in Yiddish Culture
      • GER-E 361 Vikings and Sagas
      • GER-E 362 Topics in Scandinavian Culture
      • GER-E 363 Topics in Scandinavian Literature
      • GER-E 371 Special Topics in Germanic Studies
      • GER-G 200 Intermediate German I
      • GER-G 250 Intermediate German II
      • GER-G 300 Fifth-Semester College German
      • GER-G 305 Introduction to German Literature: Types
      • GER-G 306 Introduction to German Literature: Themes
      • GER-G 330 Sixth-Semester College German
      • GER-G 333 German Translation Practice
      • GER-G 361 Contemporary Austria
      • GER-G 362 Introduction to Contemporary Germany
      • GER-G 363 Introduction to German Cultural History
      • GER-G 375 Conversational German
      • GER-G 396 German Language Abroad
      • GER-G 397 Residential Workshop
      • GER-G 399 Honors Tutorial
      • GER-G 400 Advanced College German
      • GER-G 403 Medieval German Literature
      • GER-G 404 Modern German Literature
      • GER-G 415 Perspectives on German Literature
      • GER-G 416 Studies in German Authors
      • GER-G 418 German Film and Popular Culture
      • GER-G 421 Contemporary Germany: Overview
      • GER-G 422 Contemporary Germany: Special Topics in German Studies
      • GER-G 424 Literature and Society since 1945
      • GER-G 448 Introduction to German Phonetics and Phonology
      • GER-G 451 Introduction to German Syntax
      • GER-G 453 Introduction to German Sociolinguistics
      • GER-G 458 Introduction to German Morphology
      • GER-G 459 Introduction to the History of the German Language
      • GER-G 464 German Culture and Society
      • GER-G 491 Elementary German for Graduate Students
      • GER-G 492 Readings in German for Graduate Students
      • GER-G 496 Advanced German Language Abroad
      • GER-G 499 Honors Thesis
      • GER-K 200 Intermediate Norwegian I
      • GER-K 250 Intermediate Norwegian II
      • GER-K 300 Advanced Norwegian I
      • GER-K 330 Advanced Norwegian II
      • GER-N 200 Dutch Reading, Composition, and Conversation I
      • GER-N 250 Dutch Reading, Composition, and Conversation II
      • GER-N 300 Advanced Dutch I
      • GER-N 330 Advanced Dutch II
      • GER-N 400 Topics in Dutch Culture and Literature
      • GER-S 491 Scandinavian Languages for Reading Knowledge
      • GER-X 371 College Teaching Internship
      • GER-X 490 Individual Readings in Germanic Literature
      • GER-X 491 Individual Readings in Scandinavian Studies
      • GER-X 492 Individual Readings in Netherlandic Studies
      • GER-X 493 Individual Readings in Yiddish Studies: Language, Literature, Culture
  3. Courses Taught in German. At least 21 credit hours toward the major must be completed in courses taught in German.
    • GER-G 200 Intermediate German I
    • GER-G 250 Intermediate German II
    • GER-G 300 Fifth-Semester College German
    • GER-G 305 Introduction to German Literature: Types
    • GER-G 306 Introduction to German Literature: Themes
    • GER-G 330
    • GER-G 332 Introduction to German Literature and Media
    • GER-G 334 Introduction to German Thought and Culture
    • GER-G 361 Contemporary Austria
    • GER-G 362 Introduction to Contemporary Germany
    • GER-G 363 Introduction to German Cultural History
    • GER-G 375 Conversational German
    • GER-G 396 German Language Abroad
    • GER-G 400 Advanced College German
    • GER-G 403 Medieval German Literature
    • GER-G 404 Modern German Literature
    • GER-G 415 Perspectives on German Literature
    • GER-G 416 Studies in German Authors
    • GER-G 418 German Film and Popular Culture
    • GER-G 421
    • GER-G 422
    • GER-G 424 Literature and Society since 1945
    • GER-G 448 Introduction to German Phonetics and Phonology
    • GER-G 451 Introduction to German Syntax
    • GER-G 453
    • GER-G 458 Introduction to German Morphology
    • GER-G 459 Introduction to the History of the German Language
    • GER-G 464 German Culture and Society
    • GER-G 496 Advanced German Language Abroad
  4. 400–499 Level Residency. At least three (3) credit hours in German courses at the 400–499 level must be taken on the Indiana University Bloomington campus.
  5. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the GER subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement (unless otherwise noted) :

  • GER-E 121 An Introduction to German Culture
  • GER-E 122 Fairy Tales from the Grimm Brothers to Today
  • GER-E 124 Marx, Nietzche, Freud, and Company
  • GER-E 141 Amsterdam
  • GER-E 142 Dutch Footprints
  • GER-E 162 Scandinavian Culture
  • GER-G 100 Beginning German I
  • GER-G 105 Accelerated First-Year German
  • GER-G 150 Beginning German II
  • GER-K 100 Beginning Norwegian I
  • GER-K 150 Beginning Norwegian II
  • GER-N 100 Beginning Dutch I
  • GER-N 105 Accelerated Elementary Dutch
  • GER-N 150 Beginning Dutch II
  • GER-G 100 Beginning German I*
  • GER-G 105 Accelerated First-Year German*
  • GER-G 150 Beginning German II*
  • GER-K 100 Beginning Norwegian I*
  • GER-K 150 Beginning Norwegian II*
  • GER-N 100 Beginning Dutch I*
  • GER-N 105 Accelerated Elementary Dutch*
  • GER-N 150 Beginning Dutch II*
  • GER-S 100 Beginning Swedish I*
  • GER-S 150 Beginning Swedish II*
  • GER-Y 100 Beginning Yiddish I*
  • GER-Y 150 Beginning Yiddish II*

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) will count toward the College Breadth requirement.

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Certificate in Business German (BUSGRMACRT)
  • Minor in German (GERMIN)
  • Minor in Germanic Studies (GERSTMIN)
  • Minors (GERMANMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.