Program: German Studies - Davidson College

Placement

Students who have studied German prior to entering Davidson but have not been awarded college credit for it will take an online placement test administered by Davidson. They will be placed in German 202 if their preparation is exceptional; such students may request an additional oral examination with the department chair to certify completion of the language requirement without additional courses. Students are placed in German 201 or 202 if their preparation is strong; in German 102 if less strong. In some cases, the department will recommend that a student who has studied German in high school begin in German 101. No student who has studied German in high school, however, should expect to take German 101 for credit without the express permission of the department chair.

Major Requirements (A.B. Degree)

Ten courses are required for the major in German Studies, including German 202, 301, 302, a 400-level seminar, German 495 (our senior capstone course), and five electives. No more than two courses taught in English may be applied to the major. During the senior year at Davidson, students must take at least two courses at the 400-level, one of which must be German 495, the other a seminar taught in German. By the spring of their senior year, students must complete a thesis written in German. The Department strongly recommends students study abroad.

Minor Requirements

Six courses are required for the minor in German Studies, including German 202, 301, 302, a 400-level seminar, and two electives. No more than one course taught in English may be applied to the minor. The Department strongly recommends students study abroad.

Honors Requirements

To receive honors, a student must at the time of graduation have fulfilled all the requirements for the major, and the department must judge the thesis (written for German 495) and its defense worthy of honors. In the case of an exceptional thesis, the department may confer high honors.

Study Abroad

German Studies majors and minors should plan to study abroad if possible. All courses taken abroad may count as electives in accordance with the requirements for the major and minor. Please refer to the Office of Education Abroad for approved programs.

Courses

Course Numbers and Levels

German Studies 100-level courses are language and culture courses for beginners that span from the Novice level to the Intermediate Low level on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale. Students are introduced to and develop the basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing across all modes of communication. Students are introduced to the fundamental structures of the German language as well as the characteristics of German-speaking cultures, with particular attention to the question “What Is German?”.

The language proficiency level of the German Studies 200-level courses falls in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate High range. Students continue to hone their language skills and engage critically with German-language culture, literature, and history. German 201 satisfies Davidson’s language requirement. Its sequel, German 202, is a prerequisite for all subsequent courses that are taught in German. No German language prerequisite is required for courses 230-250, which are taught in English.

German Studies 300-level courses require an Intermediate Mid to High proficiency level. Students continue to build their linguistic systems and deepen their critical engagement with German-language culture, literature, and history. Courses in the 303 to 320 range are independent, special topics courses that share a proficiency level and prerequisites but are not thematically linked. German 301 (or German 302) serves as a prerequisite for 400-level courses. Courses numbered 330 to 350 are taught in English. Courses in the 371 to 390 range are reserved for study abroad courses.

The German Studies 400-level courses are advanced seminars with Intermediate High to Advanced Mid proficiency expectations. Students continue to improve their German while deepening their critical engagement with German-language culture, literature, and history. All seminars presuppose familiarity with basic methods of literary and cultural criticism. Courses in the 401 to 420 range are independent, special topics seminars that share a proficiency level and prerequisites but are not thematically linked. German 495 is the research-oriented capstone course open only to senior majors writing their theses.

German Studies