Please Note: We are not able to accept new German special major students at this time. Please contact our Department Chair about the latest update.
The special major in German Cultural Studies is offered SSU's Interdisciplinary Studies Program. The major offers students an interdisciplinary B.A. that incorporates German language courses plus course work in other disciplines. It enriches students' academic and career opportunities by providing them with important skills to find employment in our increasingly interconnected world. The special major prepares students for international or cross-cultural careers in the USA or abroad that require a basic knowledge of the German language, history and culture as well as skills in cross-cultural communication. Recognizing the increasing interconnections in our global world, and Germany as one of the key players within the EU and in the international arena, the B.A. program prepares students for graduate school and careers in a field of their interest.
The special major provides students with a stimulating and supportive learning environment, as well as personal advising within a vibrant community of German language students. The interdisciplinary structure of the B.A. program allows students to focus on their interests and thus work towards individual study and career plans. Moreover, the special major assists students to graduate within a timely manner. Please review the Sample Four-Year-Plans that suggest two different pathways toward timely graduation. “Track A” offers a pathway for students who study abroad for one year, and "Track B" suggests a pathway for students who do not study abroad.
Exciting information for students who study abroad through the CSU International Programs for one year
With careful planning, students will receive credit (up to 30 units) for their studies abroad. Their year abroad will be incorporated within the students' four year-study plan. Please review "Track A" in the Sample Four-Year-Plans, and consult with your major advisor. We encourage studying abroad, and gaining valuable language and culture skills that are desired by an increasing number of employers in a wide array of international and German-American professional sectors here and abroad.
Goals of the Special Major in German Cultural Studies
The objectives of the special major in German Cultural Studies are twofold: First, the B.A. program facilitates the acquisition and improvement of German language skills in all areas of competency (speaking, reading, writing and aural comprehension, including cultural competency). Second, it connects these skills and competencies with knowledge gleaned from other disciplines, which focus on the students' interests and prepare them for life after graduation from SSU. Most importantly, studying within the interdisciplinary framework helps students gain secondary important competencies and skills that are highly desired by many employers.
Major Requirements
The major requirements include a prerequisite, major core courses, and major elective courses. As part of the core requirements, students also complete an internship (German culture or language experience in a professional setting in the US or abroad) and a senior project. Additionally, German Cultural Studies majors must pass the "Goethe-Zertifikat B1"-Proficiency Examination, the internationally recognized language certificate offered annually at SSU under the auspices of the Goethe Institute.
AP Policy for German
- If a student scored a 3 on the German AP Exam, the student earns credit for GER 101 (4 units), GER 102 (4 units), and GER 210 (4 units) for a total of 12 units.
- If a student scored a 4 or 5 on the German AP Exam, the student earns credit for GER 101 (4 units), GER 102 (4 units), GER 200 (4 units), and GER 210 (4 units) for a total of 16 units.
"German Cultural Studies" Special Major Advising Sheet
Name: __________________________________
*Note: You must check with the appropriate departments or programs because courses may not be offered every semester or every year. This list may change; you should consult with your special major advisor before enrolling in these courses.
--> Please track units as you progress!
Prerequisite (4 units):
___ GER 101: First Semester: The Personal World (4; C3)
Major Core Courses (42 units):
___ GER 102: Second Semester: Contemporary Germany (4; C3)
___ GER 200: Intermediate German: The German-Speaking World Today (4; C3)
___GER 210: Intermediate German through Film (4; C3)
___ GER 314: Literature of the German-Speaking World (4; C2)
___ GER 315: German Language and Literature (1)
___ GER 300: Advanced German Cultural Studies (4; C3)
___ GER 499: Internship; (2; Cr/NC)
___ GER 495: Senior Project (4)
___ HIST 415: Eastern Europe, 1815-1918 (4)
or: HIST 416 Eastern Europe: 1918-1989 (4)
or: HIST 418 Fall of European Communism (4)
___ POLS 307: Perspectives on the Holocaust and Genocide (4; D5)
___ POLS 350: European Parliamentary Democracies (4)
___ ARTH 464: History of Modern Art: 20th Century (3-4; C1)
Additional Requirements and Information for the Special Major in German Cultural Studies:
___ All German Cultural Studies majors must pass the "Goethe-Zertifikat B1"-Proficiency Examination, the internationally recognized language certificate offered each spring at SSU under the auspices of the Goethe Institute.
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All German Cultural Studies majors must complete an internship in the US or abroad. You choose where you wish to gain this experience that may range from working in a German business, to tutoring German or working as a Teaching Assistant at a school. You may also apply for summer internships, offered through International Cooperative Education (ICE) in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland (http://www.icemenlo.com). You may be eligible to work in a variety of employment venues including business organizations (i.e. Porsche, BMW, Airbus, Siemens, Infineon, Nestle, Wacker chemical plants), banks (i.e. Stadtssparkasse München), health clinics, nursery facilities, stores (i.e. Edeka Markets; Migros in Switzerland), Kindergärten, or hotels, depending on your language skills.
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Major Electives (21 units required)
Track the number of units completed as you progress and add the total amount of units completed at the end:
__ ANTH 200: Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (3; D5) This is a Prerequisite course for ANTH 380, 382, and 480
__ ANTH 203: Intro. to Cultural Anthropology (3; D1)
__ ANTH 380: Language, Culture and Society (4) Prerequisite: ANTH 200, ANTH 203, or instructor's consent
__ ANTH 382: Language Change (4) Prerequisite: ANTH 200, ANTH 203, or instructor's consent
__ ANTH 480: Studies of Language Use (4) Prerequisite: ANTH 200, ANTH 203, or instructor's consent
__ ARTH 466: Contemporary Art (3-4) No prerequisite required, but ARTH 211 recommended (Intro to Art History, 3-4, C1)
__ BUS 391: Cross-cultural Communication and Negotiation (4)
__ BUS 393: Intro. to International Business (4)
__ COMS 321: International Communication (4)
__ ECON 204: Intro. to Macroeconomics (4; D5)
__ ECON 303: International Economics (4) Prerequisite for non-ECON majors: ECON 204: Intro. to Macroeconomics (4; D5);
for double majors: ECON 204 and ECON 205 (4; D1)
__ ECON 313: Economics of the European Integration (4)
__ ENG 341: Explorations in Language (4)
__ ENG 343: Youth and Literature (4)
__ ENG 379: Structure of English: Pedagogical Grammar (4)
__ ENG 491: Seminar in Teaching Composition (4)
__ ENG 492: Reading and Responding to Literature (4)
__ GEOG 320: Geopolitics (4)
__ HIST 202: Development of the Modern World (3; D2)
__ HIST 380: Twentieth-Century World (3; D2)
__ HIST 401: The Roman Empire (4)
__ HIST 406: The Crusades (4)
__ HIST 408: The Early Middle Ages (4)
__ HIST 409: The High Middle Ages (4)
__ HIST 410: Early Modern Europe: 1350-1789 (4)
__ HIST 412: Europe since 1914 (4)
__ MUS 250: Survey of European Music (3; C1)
__ MUS 251: History of Western Music: Ancient World to 1750 (3); Prerequisite: MUS 110, or instructor's consent
__ MUS 252: History of Western Music: 1750-Present (3); Prerequisite: MUS 210, or instructor's consent
__ MUS 310: Theory III: Form and Analysis (3) Concurrent requirement: MUS 320; Prerequisites: MUS 105 (C1), MUS 120, MUS 220 or equivalent
__ MUS 316: Diction: French and German (1-2)
__ MUS 325: SSU Chorus (1-2) Prerequisite: consent of instructor
__ MUS 410: Theory IV: 20th Century Techniques (3) Prerequisite: MUS 210, MUS 220, MUS 150 and MUS 250 or instructor's consent
__ MUS 343: Studies in Musical Genres (3; C1) Prerequisites: MUS 101, MUS 201, or instructor's consent*
__ MUS 344: Studies-Specific Composers (3; C1) Prerequisite: MUS 101, MUS 201, or consent of instructor*
__ PHIL 207: Philosophical Movements (4)*
__ PHIL 303: Social and Political Philosophy (4)*
__ PHIL 307: Philosophical Figures (4)*
__ POLS 352: Politics of Eastern Europe (4)
__ SOCI 375: Sociological Theory (4) Note: Contact Sociology Chair to request a seat
__ THAR 203: Introduction to the History of Drama
and Dance: 1800 to Present (4; C1)
__ THAR 320A: Intermediate Acting Block (5) Prerequisite: THAR 120A or B, THAR 220A, THAR 220B, THAR 145A, and THAR 145B, and consent of instructor.
__ THAR 371B: History of Dance B (3) Prerequisite: THAR 371A, or instructor's consent
__ THAR 420A: Advanced Acting Block (2-5) Prerequisite: THAR 300, THAR 320A and B, and consent of instructor.
(THAR 320 and THAR 420 are taught concurrently)
Total of major elective units: ______
Total units: 120
(including 50 units in General Education, 42 units of Major Core Courses, 21 units of Major Elective Courses, and 19 units of General Elective Courses)
* Only applied to special major if composers/philosophers from the German-speaking world are taught.
For additional information about the special major please contact Dr. Michaela Grobbel, (707) 664-2637.