German Major and Minor

German is the official language of Germany and Austria and one of the official languages of Switzerland. It is also widely spoken in Eastern Europe. In the US, German-Americans are one of the largest ethnic groups. Today’s reunified Germany has the largest population and the most powerful economy in the European Union. (On a per-capita basis, Germany is the leading exporting country in the world.) Many German corporations (e.g., BMW, Mercedes, and Siemens) have moved parts of their manufacturing and research operations to the US. In the political arena, the Germans now play a more significant role than they did during the Cold War, and the German army (the Bundeswehr) now contributes to peacekeeping missions in such areas as the Balkans and Afghanistan. The capital Berlin, centrally located in the newly expanded EU, is becoming a vibrant metropolis with an avant-garde cultural scene – augmenting traditional strengths in the areas of museums, music, and theater. Other cities such as Cologne, Dresden, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Munich cultivate a similar mix of the old and the new, as do Vienna, the capital of Austria, and Zürich, the Swiss German hub. The cultural, scientific, and technological achievements of the German-speaking peoples are known and valued throughout the world. Environmental protection is high on the national agenda. The system of graduate education at US universities was patterned after the German model. Suffolk students have two choices with regard to the study of German. They can pursue a traditional German BA, which entails a thorough study of language, literature, and civilization, or choose the major in German Studies, which involves taking a number of courses in other areas such as Art History, Government, History, Music History, and Philosophy. A double major (with Business, Government, etc.) is also a viable option. A minor also broadens one’s qualifications. All students in the major are strongly encouraged to study abroad for at least one semester before completion of the degree.

German Major requirements

Prerequisite:

• GER 201
• GER 202

To qualify for admittance to the German major, a student must complete the prerequisite with an average grade of B.

8 Advanced Courses including the following:

• GER 302
• GER 304
• GER 310
• GER 412

Note:  GER 306 and GER 420 may be counted toward the major (with supplemental activities in German).

Notes:

• AP Credit: Incoming students who receive a score of 4 or 5 on the AP German Examination have fulfilled the prerequisite for the major.
• A maximum of 4 courses taken at other institutions or as part of a study abroad program in a German-speaking country may apply toward either major.
• Any Seminar for Freshmen with a topic related to the German-speaking countries (e.g., culture, politics, society) counts toward the major program.
  
• Departmental Honors: Candidates must register for GER 502 in the fall semester of the senior year and complete a senior thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. GER 502 counts toward completion of the major.

German Minor requirements

Prerequisite:

• GER 201
• GER 202

To qualify for admittance to the German minor, a student must complete the prerequisite with an average grade of B.

4 Advanced Courses including the following:

• GER 302
• GER 304

Note:  GER 306, GER 412, and GER 420 may be counted toward the minor (with supplemental activities in German).

Notes:

• AP Credit: Incoming students who receive a score of 4 or 5 on the AP German Examination have fulfilled the prerequisite for the minor.
• A maximum of 2 courses taken at other institutions or as part of a study abroad program in a German-speaking country may apply toward the minor.
• Any Seminar for Freshmen with a topic related to the German-speaking countries (e.g., culture, politics, society) counts toward the minor program.