Germanic Studies
Mailing Address:
Department of Germanic Studies (MC 189)
Office 1722 University Hall
601 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7117
Campus Location: 1729 UH
Program Codes: 20FS1292MA (MA); 20FS1292PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-5218
E-mail: mexotic@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.uic.edu/depts/germ/index.shtml
Head of the Department: Elizabeth Loentz
Director of Graduate Studies: Elizabeth Loentz
Graduate Program Administrator: Rocio Garcia
The Department of Germanic Studies offers the Master of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Germanic Studies. Doctoral students may concentrate in the fields of Film Studies, Jewish Cultural Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Second Language Acquisition, or Literature and Culture.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:
Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy
- Baccalaureate Field No restrictions. A substantial background in German literature or culture is expected, as is proficiency in written and spoken German.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 in all German courses and in the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
- Tests Required GRE General scores are mandatory for university fellowship candidates.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score
- TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
- IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
- Letters of Recommendation Three required from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
- Personal Statement Required; 250 words. The statement should address the applicant’s purpose and goals.
- Other Requirements Applicants must submit a sample of their academic writing.
- Nondegree Applicants Nondegree applicants must submit a transcript from their baccalaureate institution.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:
Master of Arts
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 32.
- Course Work At least 12 hours must be at the 500-level. These courses will be chosen from LCSL 502; GER 513, 514, 515, 531, 540, 550, and 593. LCSL 502 is required for students with a teaching assistantship.
- Comprehensive Examination Required for students who do not complete a thesis; written and oral examinations administered by a committee of one exam coordinator and two other faculty members.
- Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options available.
- Thesis: Optional; requires a committee of a supervisor and two other faculty members. No more than 8 hours of GER 598 can be applied to the degree.
- Other Requirements Language proficiency test as determined by the department for all nonnative speakers of German.
Doctor of Philosophy
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 72 beyond the master’s degree.
- Course Work 40 hours exclusive of credit for thesis research, with a minimum of 32 credits in Germanic Studies.
- Required Courses: LCSL 502 and GER 599.
- Examinations Preliminary Examination: Required; written and oral.
- Dissertation and oral dissertation defense. Required.
- Other Requirements By the time of the dissertation defense, candidates must have taught the equivalent of three one-semester courses. Students must demonstrate a reading proficiency in two foreign languages other than German that are relevant to their plan of study. Language proficiency test as determined by the department for all nonnative speakers of German.
Concentration in Jewish Studies
Students earning a graduate degree in Germanic Studies may enroll in a Graduate Concentration in Jewish Studies. The requirements for this concentration are application to the director of the Jewish Studies Program; approval by a Jewish Studies faculty member, who becomes the student’s Jewish Studies advisor; a total of 16 hours graduate course work, including JST 478 and JST 494; and eight additional hours of course work approved by the student’s Jewish Studies advisor. Up to four of these hours can be in directed study or thesis research on an appropriate topic approved by the Jewish Studies advisor. Language competence in Hebrew or Yiddish is required.
Interdepartmental Concentration in Central and Eastern European Studies
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Central and Eastern European Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Central and Eastern European Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.
Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies
Students earning a graduate degree in Germanic Studies may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog for more information.
Interdepartmental Concentration in Second Language Teaching
Students earning a graduate degree in the department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Second Language Teaching. See Second Language Teaching in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog for more information.
