Bachelor in Germanistik

Why Study German?

Did you know that:

• German is spoken by more than 124 million people worldwide?
• German has traditionally been at the core of liberal arts environments such as Aquinas College because of the interdisciplinary connections between literature, history, the arts, and philosophy, as well as the social and natural sciences?
• German is the most commonly used language on the Internet after English?
• German is an official language at many international conferences?
• Almost two out of every ten books published in the world are published in German?
• People of German descent constitute one of the largest heritage groups in the U.S. with many intact German-speaking communities?
• More than 1,100 companies from German-speaking countries have U.S. subsidiaries?
• More than 700 American companies do business in Germany and have created 800,000 related jobs?
• Despite its reputation as a difficult language, the proximity of German and English as Germanic languages makes German in many regards easier for English speakers
• German at Aquinas offers you many opportunities to study the various facets of a German Studies curriculum while enjoying German-related activities on and off-campus:
• Enjoy a German class at the beginning, intermediate or advanced level in a communicative, learner-centered, highly interactive and fun(!) environment (German Culture & Civilization, Studies of German Culture and Society through Film, Contemporary Short Stories, 19th Century Literature: Fairy Tales, etc.)

How We're Different

The German Studies Program at Aquinas College promotes an understanding of and exchange with German-speaking cultures both within and outside the United States. Our integrated program of language learning incorporates all of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students learn to use the German language in a communicative, interactive and technology-enhanced environment within the classroom. The German Studies Program offers a variety of upper-division courses for the study of culture, business, film, literature, and translation and interpretation. Community involvement activities that focus on service learning are also available. These courses and activities are designed to enhance an understanding of the richness of the human experience across times and cultures and integrate the Dominican charisms of study, community, and service.

Major Requirements

Thirty-three (33) credit hours (exclusive of 101 and 102). Required courses:

• GN201
• GN202
• GN301
• GN302
• One literature course (GN325 or 326)
• One culture course (GN309 or 310)

Students seeking to major in French, German, or Spanish must complete all courses that are applied towards the major with a grade of “C” or higher (i.e. in 201, 202, 301, 302 and any other 300-and 400-level courses). At graduation, the student must have a cumulative G.P.A. of B (3.0) or higher in those courses used to fulfill the major requirement. Overseas language study is strongly recommended for all majors. At least 18 credit hours must be taken at Aquinas College, which may include courses taken while studying abroad. Aquinas College conducts a variety of Study Abroad programs representing the Modern Languages offered by the Department.

Participants in study abroad programs remain registered at Aquinas College and the student’s financial aid package may be applied in full. All French, German and Spanish majors and students who wish to enroll in FH/GN/SH496 and 497 must demonstrate proficiency at the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) standard of Advanced-Low in Writing and Speaking through examination in FH/GN/ SH301 and 302. This standard may equally be met by French students who pass the DELF B2 (Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française), or the DFP Affaires B2 (Diplôme de français professionnel Affaires), and by German students who pass the ZMP (Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung Deutsch des Goethe Instituts).

Students transferring credits for FH/GN/SH 301 and/or 302 from other institutions will be required to take a proficiency exam. Students must consult with the department chairperson to arrange the proficiency exam

Courses

• GN201 Third Semester German(4)
• GN202 Fourth Semester German(4)
• GN301 Advanced Composition and Grammar Review (4)
• GN302 Advanced German Conversation (3)
• GN325 Seminar in German Literature: 17th and 18th Centuries (3)
• GN326 Seminar in German Literature: 19th and 20th Centuries (3)
• GN309 Studies in German Culture and Society through Film (3)
• GN310 Special Topics (Variable)

The close-knit educational environment at Aquinas develops students who thrive in all dimensions of life. Learn more, in our students' words about the Aquinas experience and the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, service, and community.

The Dominican tradition is two-fold: contemplative and communal. At Aquinas, we are committed to gathering for liturgical prayer nourished by God's Word and the Spirit. Prayer leads us into the deeper Truth needed to live out God's call for us in the world. We commit ourselves to a love of learning, both formal and informal. This necessitates an openness to learn from the most unlikely sources as well as tried and true scholarship. Aquinas encourages students to engage in service projects and service-learning programs. It also offers preparation for careers that will enable graduates to spread the truths that they have learned - "to make a difference in the world."