Germanics

The Department of Germanics focuses on the language, literature, and civilization of the German-speaking countries; on the role of their history, literature, and philosophy in Western civilization; and on linguistic analysis, especially historic, of the Germanic languages.

Undergraduate Program

The Department of Germanics offers the following programs of study:

• The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Germanics with options in German language and literature, and German cultural studies
• A minor in Germanics with options in cultural studies, language and literature, and linguistics.

Bachelor of Arts

Department Admission Requirements

Major Requirements

German Language and Literature: 53 credits as follows:

1. 15 credits to include: GERMAN 311, GERMAN 312, and either GERMAN 322 or GERMAN 323
2. 15 credits from the following: GERMAN 411, GERMAN 412, GERMAN 421, GERMAN 422, GERMAN 423, or GERMAN 495
3. One of the following (for 5 credits):  GERMAN 333, GERMAN 334, GERMAN 401, or GERMAN 403
4. 18 credits in any upper division Germanics courses not taken for requirements 1, 2, or 3, above.  These may include no more than 4 credits from GERMAN 395 and GERMAN 396 combined, and no more than 5 credits each from GERMAN 446 and GERMAN 447. Up to  two of the following lower division courses may also be counted toward this requirement:  GERMAN 210, GERMAN 220, GERMAN 243, GERMAN 293, GERMAN 295.
5. Specialization in Linguistics: Students desiring this specialization must take GERMAN 451 and GERMAN 452 as part of the 18 elective credits shown in item 4, above, and may, with the adviser's permission, count relevant courses in linguistics outside Germanics as well.

German Cultural Studies: 50 credits as follows:

1. 15 credits as follows: GERMAN 322, GERMAN 323, and either GERMAN 311 or GERMAN 312
2. 15 credits from the following: GERMAN 411, GERMAN 412, GERMAN 421, GERMAN 422, GERMAN 423, or GERMAN 495
3. 20 credits in any upper division Germanics courses not taken for requirements 1 and 2, above.  These may include no more than 4 credits from GERMAN 395 and GERMAN 396 combined, and no more than 5 credits each from GERMAN 446 and GERMAN 447. Up to two of the following lower division courses may also be counted toward this requirement: GERMAN 210, GERMAN 220, GERMAN 243, GERMAN 293, and GERMAN 295. With the permission of the adviser, the student may also count toward this requirement courses relevant to German culture offered by other departments, such as history, political science, art history, music history, comparative literature, international studies, or comparative history of ideas.

For both options above, a grade of at least 2.0 must be earned in every upper-division German course; an overall GPA of 2.50 is required for all courses counted toward the major.

Minor

Minimum 30 credits from one of the following three options:

• Language and Literature:
  1. 15 credits as follows: GERMAN 311, GERMAN 312; either GERMAN 322 or GERMAN 323
  2. At least one upper-division language course beyond 302
  3. 10 credits in upper-division Germanics which may include (a) no more than 4 credits total of GERMAN 395 and GERMAN 396; (b) no more than 5 credits of GERMAN 446; and (c) no more than 5 credits of GERMAN 447. Credits from any two of the following may be included: GERMAN 210, GERMAN 220, GERMAN 243, GERMAN 293, and GERMAN 295.
• Linguistics:
  1. 10 credits of GERMAN 451 and GERMAN 452
  2. One 300- or 400-level language course (5 credits) beyond 302 
  3. One course from GERMAN 311, GERMAN 312, GERMAN 322, or GERMAN 323
  4. 10 upper division elective credits in Germanics or other departments offering linguistics.

• Cultural Studies:
  1. 15 credits of GERMAN 322, GERMAN 323; and either GERMAN 311 or GERMAN 312
  2. 5 upper-division credits in Germanics offered in English
  3. 10 credits in upper-division Germanics which may include (a) no more than 4 total credits of GERMAN 395 and GERMAN 396; (b) no more than 5 credits of GERMAN 446; and (c) no more than 5 credits of GERMAN 447. Credits from any two of the following may be included: GERMAN 210, GERMAN 220, GERMAN 243, GERMAN 293, and GERMAN 295.

A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for each course counted toward the minor.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: The department's objective is the dissemination of the intellectual and artistic traditions of the German-speaking countries. Toward this goal the department offers courses conducted not only in German but also in English on aspects of German culture and history for general humanistic education.

  The major in German language and literature offers training in verbal interpretation and analysis useful for any career that involves formulating and solving problems, especially for those with some special interest in Europe and Germany. It provides excellent preparation for students planning to do graduate work in German literature or linguistics, and also for those who wish to teach German in K-12 settings. Stress is placed on the critical analysis of texts, both in English and in German, and the development of high proficiency in language fluency, grammar, and style.

  The major in German cultural studies also offers training in interpretation and analysis useful for any career that involves formulating and solving problems. It is designed for students who wish to study the German-speaking countries and their culture in the broadest context and encourages students to develop critical skills to analyze various aspects of culture and society, such as literature, film, art, architecture, and political and social institutions.

• Instructional and Research Facilities: None
• Honors Options Available: With College Honors. With Distinction. See adviser for details.
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: Undergraduates may count 5 credits of internship (conducted either here or in a German-speaking country) toward their major or minor in German. Students must sign up in GERMAN 446. A list of internships is available on the departmental Web page. They include local businesses and training sites, as well as internship options abroad. The Office of International Programs and Exchanges offers a number of different study abroad options for Austria and Germany. Students can consult their Web site at depts.washington.edu/ipe. The Department of Germanics offers a "Spring in Vienna" program. Students can consult the departmental Web site for more information, or pick up a brochure in the main office.

• Department Scholarships: The department's German Express program consists of a series of intensive courses able to take a student from no knowledge of German to fluency in one year. The best five students are awarded stipends of $1,000 each to be applied toward study during spring quarter at a German university.
• Student Organizations/Associations: German Club.

Of Special Note: Qualified students are invited to take part in the department's Spring in Vienna program. Every spring quarter the department sends a group of approximately 20 students to Vienna to participate in a program of studies in German language and Austrian culture for which students are able to earn 16 credits. Program costs are commensurate with in-state tuition at the University of Washington.

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
345 Denny, Box 353130
206-543-6025
uwgerman@u.washington.edu

The M.A. and Ph.D. programs concentrate on German literature, civilization, cultural history, and philosophical traditions, with an option to include Germanic linguistics and courses outside the department.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements

• 40 hours of coursework as determined in consultation with adviser
• One critical M.A. paper
• Text analysis in one of the M.A. areas of expertise (see below)
• Written comprehensive examination in one of the M.A. areas

Students must demonstrate foundational competency in three of the four areas of expertise. Evaluation of this expertise is based on three procedures: one comprehensive examination (based on the M.A. reading list); one text analysis (text selected by the M.A. committee from the M.A. reading list); one critical M.A. paper (based on work in a graduate seminar). Students choose the way these three evaluation procedures are distributed across their selected areas of expertise.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Ph.D. complete 60 credit hours at the 500 level or higher (GERMAN 411, GERMAN 451, GERMAN 452, GERMAN 497, GERMAN 498, GERMAN 499 may be counted toward this requirement if not already counted toward the M.A.); complete the foreign language requirement; submit two Ph.D. papers and a dissertation prospectus (or three Ph.D. papers); write three doctoral examinations; pass an oral examination; and complete a dissertation.

• The 60 hours of coursework are selected at the student’s discretion with an eye toward developing distinct areas of specialization, though students are encouraged to define their areas broadly.
• Ph.D. papers: Students have the option of submitting either two doctoral papers and a dissertation prospectus (all to be submitted before the written examinations); or three doctoral papers with the prospectus submitted one quarter after the examinations. Any material submitted before the examinations must be in the candidate’s file by the time the written examinations are scheduled. Doctoral papers should be in different areas. The first doctoral paper must be submitted by the beginning of the student’s second doctoral year.
• Reading lists: Guided by the Ph.D. reading list, students prepare their own reading lists for each of the three doctoral examination areas in consultation with the members of the Ph.D. supervisory committee.
• Knowledge of a foreign language other than German, by completion of a literature course – with readings in the language and a grade of 3.0 or higher – or by standard examinations in the target language approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator, must be demonstrated.
• After students have completed the required 60 hours of coursework, met the language requirement, and had the dissertation prospectus approved they may register for 800-level coursework.
• Students write three four-hour examinations organized in consultation with the supervisory committee according to one of the following patterns: one period exam, one genre exam, one special topic exam; two period exams, one genre exam; two period exams, one special topic exam; one period exam, two special topic exams (for students specializing in linguistics).

Financial Aid

A limited number of teaching assistantships and fellowships are available. The teaching load consists of a five-hour course on the first- or second-year level. The teaching assistants are supervised by experienced faculty members.