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German
First Year Advising 2008-2009
The Department of Foreign Languages offers majors for Liberal Arts and Teaching in German. Within the Liberal Arts major, students may choose a Business/Professions Emphasis.
First- and second-year German courses are sequential. A student should enter the course indicated by the placement test as soon as possible or enroll in Germ
101 (Beginning German) if he/she has never studied German. Germ
313 (Grammar Review and Composition) and Germ 314 (Current Events: Speaking, Reading, and Writing) or (Germ
315, German for Business I) and Germ 316 (German for Business II) should be taken prior to taking 300- and 400-level civilization and literature courses. All German majors must also complete one course from this list: ArtH 319, 321; Geog 301; Hist 102, 184, 315, 324, 326, 362; Hnrs 103; Phil 338; Pols 327; Rels 378. A Capstone Project is required for all majors (see Catalogue and adviser for details).
COURSE SELECTION
The following is a suggested sequence of required courses for German majors that allows students to graduate in four years. Please note that not all courses are offered every semester.
This suggested course sequence assumes no prior preparation in German:
(See Catalogue for further distinctions between Teaching vs. Liberal Arts majors)
ESSENTIAL COURSES
The following is a suggested sequence of required courses for German
majors that allows students to graduate in four years. Please note that
not all courses are offered every semester. (See Typical Schedule
below or Catalogue)
TEACHING MAJOR
First Year: Germ 101 and Germ 102 (Beginning German)
Second Year: Germ 201 (Intermediate German) in fall and Leipzig in Spring
Third Year:
Fall: Germ 313 (Grammar Review and Composition) or 315 (German for Business I); Germ 325 (The German Sound System); Germ 340 (Introduction to Reading German Literature)
Spring: German 314 (Current Events: Speaking, Reading and Writing) or Germ 316 (German for Business II); German 351 (German Civilization and Culture to 1871) or Germ 352 (German Civilization and Culture, 1871-1945)
Fourth Year:
Fall: Electives; Capstone project
Spring: Germ 413 (Structure of German in Contrast)
LIBERAL ARTS
First Year: Germ 101 and 102
Second Year: Germ 201 in fall and Leipzig, Germany in spring
Third Year:
Fall: Germ 313 or 315, Germ 325, Germ 340 (Introduction to Reading German Literature)
Spring: Germ 352 (German Civilization and Culture, 1871-1945)
Fourth Year:
Fall: 400-level literature class, Electives, Capstone Project
Spring: Germ 351 (German Civilization and Culture to 1871)
Liberal Arts: Business/Professions Emphasis
First Year: Germ 101 and 102
Second Year: Germ 201 in fall, Leipzig in Spring
Summer: Flg 275 (Off-campus experience in a German speaking country)
Third Year:
Fall: Germ 315, 358 (German Translation)
Spring: 316, 352
Fourth Year:
Fall: Germ 314, (Current Events: Speaking, Reading and Writing), Electives, Capstone Project
Spring: 400 level literature class, Electives, Capstone
Note: Students interning for a German company (Praktikum) may receive credit for FLG 375 (Internship Experience)
Students entering at a higher level of proficiency should adjust their course sequence accordingly with the help of their advisors, taking as many German courses as possible. Below is an example of a possible schedule for a Liberal Arts major who places into Germ 201.
First Year: Germ 201 and 202
Second Year:
Fall: Germ 313 or 315, Germ 325
Spring: Leipzig Germany
Third Year:
Fall: Germ 340, Germ 351
Spring: 314 or 316, 352
Fourth Year: 400 level literature class; Elective, Capstone Project
STUDY ABROAD
A study-abroad or immersion experience, typically in Leipzig/Germany, is required of German Teaching majors and minors and highly recommended for German liberal arts majors and minors. We also strongly recommend a year's study at the University of Graz/Austria or Marburg, Germany. Summer programs in Germany, though usually less desirable, are also available.
Courses typically offered during the Leipzig/Germany Study Abroad Program include
Germ 202
Germ 360 (German Regional Studies)
Germ 314 (Current Events: Speaking, Reading and Writing)
Germ 353 (Postwar German Culture and Civilization)
Germ 395 (Modern German Lit)
NOTE: During their semester in Leipzig, UW-Eau Claire students may usually complete a 15-hour service learning project, in partial fulfillment of a UWEC graduation requirement. It may be possible for students to arrange a one-month internship experience.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHERS
In addition to the Praxis I and Praxis II examinations, to be certified to teach German in Wisconsin, teaching majors and minors must now attain a level of proficiency in spoken German equivalent to Intermediate High on the ACTFL--American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages--Oral Proficiency Scale. See Catalogue and a German Program faculty member for details.
PROGRAM READINESS
German readiness - Students starting German majors enter with different backgrounds. If German has been previously studied at a secondary school, the placement test is required.
Academic maturity and motivation - To start with German in the first semester requires strong motivation and ample time to study and practice the language.
GENERAL EDUCATION
Schedules should include one or two General Education requirements each semester. Teaching majors follow the requirements for Early Childhood/Adolescence majors (see Catalogue). Liberal Arts majors can choose a B.A. or B.S. (Most German majors choose the B.A.)
Germ 101, Germ 102, Germ 201, Germ 202, Germ 313 and Germ 314 can be used to fulfill General Education Category IA.
German literature and most civilization courses can be used to fulfill General Education Category IVD.
We strongly recommend that German majors take one and preferably more of the following courses: Engl 125 (English Grammar and Usage), Engl 210 (Introduction to Texts) or Engl 211 (Writing about Literature). Other recommended courses are: Anth 315 (Language in Culture and Society), CJ 301 (Intercultural Communication), Flg 378 (Second Language Acquisition in the Classroom) and Psyc 378 (The Psychology of Language).
Students enrolled in the University's Honors Program should also take Hnrs 103 (German Immigration to Wisconsin) and Hnrs 301 (Language: Mirror of the Mind).
MESSAGES FOR NEW MAJORS
- Students are encouraged to join the German Club and attend Stammtisch (conversation table) for further German practice.
- Students who have taken at least one literature course and have a GPA of 3.30 in German and 2.8 overall are eligible for Delta Phi Alpha, the National German Honor Society.
- Students also are encouraged to keep abreast of issues concerning Germany and other German-speaking countries through media, scholarly publications and campus events.
- Contact with alumni and students visiting from Germany can provide helpful information about job opportunities involving German.
MINORS
An increasing number of jobs require employees competent in one or more foreign languages in addition to other skills. The German liberal arts minor may greatly increase the possibilities of those seeking careers in education; governmental and international agencies; the health sector; the travel, communication, and entertainment industries; and international business firms and corporations. A German minor is an excellent choice for majors in Communication, Journalism, Business (Finance, Business Administration, Management, Marketing), and Professional Studies (Foundations of Education, Library Science)
Non-majors or non-minors in German who choose to study abroad in Leipzig/Germany, usually accumulate enough credits in German to declare a minor or make a strong start on a major in German, either in Liberal Arts or in Teaching.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Assess your desire and your natural ability to learn a foreign language before you start majoring in this field.
Students with a strong interest in the practical, job-related side of language may choose the Business/Professions Emphasis within the Liberal Arts major (see Catalogue). The German 315 / 316 sequence can lead to an internationally recognized certificate in Business German (current testing fee $80).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.uwec.edu/flang/index.htm
Dr. Johannes Strohschänk, Chair
Department of Foreign Languages
Hibbard Humanities Hall 364
UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715) 836-4549
strohsj@uwec.edu
To learn how to declare this major, visit http://www.uwec.edu/registrar/chgofmajor/procedures/index.htm
Academic requirements change every year. For the most current information, refer to your catalogue and degree audit.