German Studies (BA) 

• Program Description
• Learning Outcomes
• Special Requirements
• Degree Requirements
• Distribution Areas

Program Description

The German Studies major is a flexible, interdisciplinary program for students interested in German culture, history, art or other topic specific to German speaking countries. The major draws upon Webster University’s strengths in both the liberal arts and professional schools. Students will have the opportunity to study at Webster’s Vienna campus. Alongside their rigorous academic training, German studies majors may also opt to do an internship in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

Graduates of this program will be able to demonstrate broad knowledge of German culture and language. They will be well-equipped for international careers in business, the arts, and government service or graduate study in a range of professional and liberal arts fields.
The major is offered for students based in St. Louis or at any of our European campuses.
For more information about the program, please contact Professor Paula Hanssen (St. Louis campus) at hanssen@webster.edu.

This program is offered through the International Languages and Cultures Department in the College of Arts & Sciences. Please see the Schools and Colleges section of this catalog for further information.

Requirements for Admission to the Department

• Successful completion of at least one course in advanced grammar and one course in literature, both in the language of the major. If transfer students have taken these courses at another university, they must complete at least one upper-division course in the language of their major at Webster University before requesting admission. The cumulative grade average in all upper-division courses in the language of the major must be B or better.
• Students should demonstrate intermediate level proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking according to ACTFL guidelines.

Students will be notified in writing of their acceptance. This decision is made in consultation with the students’ advisor(s) and the other full-time members of the department

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Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students should:

• Recognize and appraise the complexities of a culture or cultures different from their own.
• Identify multiple cultural perspectives based on original texts and cultural materials.
• Critically analyze their own culture and its place in the world.
• Question cultural stereotypes.
• Demonstrate successful and sensitive communication, both orally and in writing, with people from another culture through an understanding of their language and culture (according to linguistic level).
• Relate their personality, values and complex thoughts in a language other than their native one (according to linguistic level).

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Special Requirements

Courses completed with a grade lower than C do not count toward fulfilling the specific course requirements of the major. Courses at the 3000 level may only be taken pass/fail with permission of the chair of the department.

Courses used to fulfill a major may not also be used to fulfill a requirement for a minor.

Teacher certification courses (e.g., ILC 4060) may not be used to satisfy upper-level coursework in the appropriate language.

Students whose primary language is not English must take English as a Second Language (ESLG) courses until they pass their English Language Proficiency requirements.

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Degree Requirements

A minimum of 128 credit hours consisting of the following:

• 45 credit hours in German language and literature, divided into the following distribution areas:
  • 3 credits in History and Politics of a German speaking country
  • 3 credits in Commerce and Communications in a German speaking country
  • 3 credits in Arts and Expression in a German speaking country
  • 12 credits in German language courses 1000-2000 (not including workshops)
  • 24 credits in German language / literature courses 3000-4000
• Applicable university global citizenship or general education program hours
• Electives

Other Program Requirements

• At least one term of study at Webster University’s campus in Vienna (Students may, with the approval of the program director, also fulfill this requirement at a university in a German-speaking country in Europe that is outside the Webster network)
• German Studies Overview (ILC 4700). May be taken for 0 or 1 credit.

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Distribution Areas

• An asterisk (*) indicates that the course must have an appropriate subtitle or relevant course-content to qualify toward the major. Prerequisites may be waived by department offering the course.  
• Other courses may be substituted with the permission of the Program Director.

History & Politics

Communications

Arts & Expression  

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