{"id":785,"date":"2011-06-07T10:54:50","date_gmt":"2011-06-07T14:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/?page_id=785"},"modified":"2026-08-07T11:04:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T15:04:13","slug":"german","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/undergraduate\/degree-programs\/german\/","title":{"rendered":"German"},"content":{"rendered":"

Major in German Language and Literature (1133)<\/h2>\n

The major in German Language & Literature allows students to gain a high level of proficiency (ACTFL intermediate-mid) in the German language and develop an in-depth critical understanding of German-language cultural life, past and present. Graduates are prepared to communicate effectively in German and English, to function well in cross-cultural contexts, and to contribute meaningfully to addressing today\u2019s global challenges. This flexible 10-course program works well as a second major alongside a STEM major or social sciences major such as International Relations, History, Psychology, or European Studies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like all World Languages & Literatures (WLL) majors, German Language & Literature majors generally begin with CAS XL 100 Leaving Home: Explorations in World Literature, a team-taught course in which students meet the WLL faculty through guest lectures and become oriented in the rich diversity of the world\u2019s literary traditions. This requirement can be substituted with CAS LG 250 Masterpieces of German Literature (in English Translation) for students declaring the major at a later stage in their study. Students start German language study as early as possible and complete at least five courses taught in German above the third-term language level (CAS LG 211).<\/span><\/p>\n

Two additional courses in German language, literature, film, linguistics, and\/or culture conducted in English or German (CAS LG 220 or higher) provide greater depth in areas of interest to the student.<\/span><\/p>\n

German majors reconvene with other WLL majors in the department\u2019s CAS XL 379 Writing about Literature course, which will improve students\u2019 writing in the discipline of literary studies and prepare them for their senior project. They join other WLL majors in the senior capstone seminar CAS XL 479, where they share the expertise they have gained and work with a faculty mentor on a final project using German language materials. The course provides students with structure and research guidance for developing and discussing their projects, while meetings with a faculty language mentor will hone students\u2019 advanced language skills as applied to the area of their research. Student presentations build oral communication skills and the ability to describe one\u2019s work to others. Possible final projects could include a research paper on literature, film, or popular culture; an annotated translation or work of subtitling; a video essay; or a digital humanities project. Students producing excellent capstone projects will be encouraged to develop them into senior honors work.<\/span><\/p>\n

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University\u2019s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience.<\/span> BU Hub requirements<\/span><\/a> can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major (or minor) as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in German Language & Literature will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in many Hub areas and will select from a wide range of available courses outside the major for the rest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Major in German Course Requirements<\/h4>
<\/p>\n

A total of <\/span>10<\/b> four-credit courses is required, all completed with a grade of C or higher.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • CAS XL 100<\/b>\u00a0Explorations in World Literature: Leaving Home. <\/span>OR<\/span> LG250 Masterpieces of German Literature (in English)<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Five<\/b> courses taught in <\/span>German numbered LG 212 or higher*<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Two\u00a0<\/b>LG courses in German language, linguistics, literature, film, or culture numbered LG220 or higher, taught\u00a0<\/span>in German or in English<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • XL 379 Writing About Literature – WLL Junior Seminar<\/b>: Trains WLL majors in the craft of academic writing in preparation for their senior capstone projects.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • CAS XL 479 – <\/strong>WLL Senior Seminar.<\/strong>\u00a0A capstone course with a paper or translation project that makes use of German-language sources.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    *Students placed higher in the language sequence, according to placement test results, should begin with the appropriate level for them.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

    Major in German Learning Outcomes<\/h4>
    <\/p>\n
      \n
    1. Proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and the understanding of spoken German, at the <\/span>intermediate-mid to intermediate-high\u00a0level<\/b> as measured by ACTFL guidelines, and the ability to use these skills in a range of academic and everyday situations.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. knowledge of major themes in German literature and culture in their historical contexts, including links to other European and world literary traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. The ability to read critically and closely, to interpret texts, and to evaluate arguments about literary and cultural texts and topics.<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. The ability to formulate an organized, well-supported argument in writing; to write clearly and persuasively; and to locate and cite effective secondary materials in writing.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. The ability to demonstrate cross-cultural understanding, communication, and adaptability and to make connections across disciplines and areas of study.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

      Graduating with Honors<\/h4>
      <\/p>\n

      To graduate with honors, <\/b>students will maintain a GPA in the major of at least 3.7 and will take one additional four-unit course beyond the 10 required for the major. This course could be CAS LG 401\/402 (senior honors thesis work), CAS LG 491\/492 (directed study), CAS TL 540 (literary translation seminar focusing on a literary work in German), or any LG course numbered above CAS LG 350 and taught in German.\u00a0<\/span>Note that CAS TL 540 requires the zero-unit corequisite CAS TL 542.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

      While pursuing a German major, you may be able to fulfill up to 22 out of 26 BU Hub requirements for an undergraduate degree.<\/b><\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

      Minor in German (1128)<\/h2>\n

      The minor in German is for students who seek to become proficient in the German language and acquire a good grasp of German cultural life, past and present. The minor\u2019s six-course program of study is simple in structure, requiring a minimum of four courses taught in German above the third-term language level (CAS LG 211), and two additional courses in German language, linguistics, literature, film, or culture taught in German or in English.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Minor in German Course Requirements<\/h4>
      <\/p>\n

      Six CAS LG courses completed with a grade of C or higher. All required courses are 4 credit hours.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Four<\/b>\u00a0advanced courses taught\u00a0<\/span>in German<\/span>\u00a0numbered LG 212 or higher. *<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Two\u00a0<\/b>LG courses in German language, linguistics, literature, film, or culture numbered 220 or higher, taught\u00a0<\/span>in German or English<\/span>. Courses or internships during a Study Abroad program in a German-speaking country may also be counted with approval of your Minor advisor.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        *Students placed higher in the language sequence, according to placement test results, should begin with the appropriate level for them.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

        With advisor\u2019s approval, students may include up to three equivalent transfer courses from other colleges, universities, or non-Boston University study abroad programs and must take a minimum of three courses on the Charles River Campus.<\/span><\/p>\n

        HUB:<\/b> Courses taken for the German minor can also satisfy BU Hub requirements in several different areas; see individual course descriptions for details.<\/span><\/p>\n

        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

        Minor in German Learning Outcomes<\/h4>
        <\/p>\n
          \n
        1. Knowledge of major themes and genres in German literature and culture in their historical contexts, including links to other European and world literary traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n
        2. Critical thinking, communication, and writing skills within areas of content and cultural knowledge.<\/span><\/li>\n
        3. Proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension in German at or above a level (ACTFL intermediate-mid) where these skills can be used for communication in everyday and academic situations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

           <\/p>\n

          German courses according to the BU Hub:<\/em><\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Major in German Language and Literature (1133) The major in German Language & Literature allows students to gain a high level of proficiency (ACTFL intermediate-mid) in the German language and develop an in-depth critical understanding of German-language cultural life, past and present. Graduates are prepared to communicate effectively in German and English, to function well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2184,"featured_media":0,"parent":98,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/785"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2184"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=785"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20921,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/785\/revisions\/20921"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/98"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}