Objectives

During the phase of early language acquisition, German courses build students’ language skills and intercultural awareness, while they consolidate language and cultural competence on the intermediate level. The upper-division Mastery of German course is geared toward perfecting the students’ German in preparation for the internationally recognized proficiency tests that are offered at LMU each Spring semester. Literature courses range from a general survey of German literature over the centuries to the study of specific genres, such as drama, the novella, and the German fairy tale. In addition to literary studies, the German section also offers a course on German film and two courses on German culture and civilization that provide an overview of German history, society, politics, arts, and sciences. For students interested in the language of business, the German section offers two business-related courses.

German Student Learning Outcomes

Students minoring in German will know:

• The principal aspects of the German language
• The principal aspects of the history of German literature and film
• The principal aspects of the history and culture of German-speaking countries;

Students minoring in German will be able to:

• Speak, understand, read, and write German in meaningful contexts
• Use the latest relevant applications in educational technology
• Read literary texts in German and discuss their content, techniques, and social significance
• Prove their advanced proficiency through an internationally recognized proficiency test;

Students minoring in German will value:

• German language, literature, and culture
• Expressing independent critical opinions
• Increasing intercultural awareness.

German courses at LMU foster communication with an understanding of other people as essential aspects of the education of the whole person. Students thus embark on a road of lifelong learning that will take them into a richer future.

Minor Requirements

The German minor consists of 20 semester hours above the 1000 level: (GRMN 1101  and GRMN 1102 ): GRMN 2103 , GRMN 2104 , and GRMN 3105 , and two other courses from upper division offerings (3000-4000 level). Within this minor a professional German emphasis is possible, with GRMN 3716  and GRMN 4760  offered as upper division course options for the business-oriented student.

The German 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4  series is recommended for those who seek a basic speaking, writing, and reading knowledge of the language.

Students of German are encouraged to take advantage of LMU’s semester or full year New Europe Program in Bonn, Germany, to improve their language skills. Lower division elementary and intermediate German language courses as well as the Mastery of German  course are available in Bonn on a regular basis.

German minors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 are eligible to apply once per year for the Conrad Lester merit-based scholarship.

Students that need more semester hours to complete the minor because of their language placement must take additional courses in the language. In the event that there are no courses in the language, students may take MDLG 3400 , MDLG 4400 , or FNLT 4200  (provided it is related to language concentration). If additional classes are not available in the Modern Languages and Literatures Department, students may fulfill those credits with courses in the appropriate cultural studies areas (e.g., EURO, HMNT) in consultation with the language advisor and the Department Chair.

German Placement and Proficiency Testing

To know when and how a student should take a language placement exam in German, please refer to the guidelines provided under Modern Languages and Literatures .

Once per year, in the spring, the German section offers general proficiency tests in German (ZD [B1, B2, and C1]) for its graduating minors. The tests are internationally recognized and certify the language skills of the student to prospective employers in the public and private sector.