Department of Germanic Studies
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
BA with a Major in Germanic Studies
- Degree Requirements—Germanic Studies—Concentration I
- Recommended Plan of Study
- Degree Requirements—German with Business Minor—Concentration II
- Recommended Plan of Study
Minor in Germanic Studies
BA in the Teaching of German
Endorsement for the Teaching of German
Distinction
Foreign Language Requirement
Overseas Program
1722 University Hall (UH)
(312) 996–3205
http://lcsl.las.uic.edu/germanic
Administration: Head, Elizabeth Loentz, loentz@uic.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Sara Hall, sahall@uic.edu
The Department of Germanic Studies offers courses at the elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels. The undergraduate program provides the opportunity to develop skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing German and to learn about the language, literature, and culture of the German-speaking regions of the world. Courses in Yiddish language, literature, and culture are also offered.
Students who major or minor in Germanic Studies may use their training in a variety of occupations, including teaching, translation, international marketing, banking and commerce, diplomatic service, and journalism.
BA with a Major in Germanic Studies
Majors in Germanic Studies must complete either the Germanic Studies Concentration or the German with a Business Minor Concentration.
Degree Requirements—Germanic Studies—Concentration I
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Germanic Studies degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BA with a Major in Germanic Studies—Germanic Studies Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Concentration I Requirements | 31 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 89 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA with a Major in Germanic Studies | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Concentration I Requirements—Germanic Studies
| Courses | Hours |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| GER 211—Introduction to Advanced Language Study (3) | |
| GER 212—Introduction to the Study of Literary Texts (3) | |
| GER 300—Writing in the Study of Germana | 1 |
| Six hours of designated language courses (l)b | 6 |
| Twelve hours of designated literature/culture courses (l/c)b |
12 |
| Nine hours of additional Germanic Studies courses. Program must be approved by major advisor. |
9 |
| Total Hours—Concentration I Requirements— Germanic Studies | 31 |
a GER 300 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
b GER 104 is one of the designated language courses.
c For area designations at the 200-level and above, see individual course listings.
To view a recommended plan of study for the Concentration in Germanic Studies, please visit the LAS website http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
Degree Requirements—German with
Business Minor—Concentration II
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Germanic Studies degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
Concentration II must be chosen to qualify for the Business Minor. Declaration of the major must be approved by the program director.
| BA with a Major in Germanic Studies with a Business Minor Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Concentration II Requirements | 28 |
| Required Collateral Courses | 15 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 77 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA with a Major in Germanic Studies with a Business Minor | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Concentration II Requirements—German with a Business Minor
| Courses | Hours |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| GER 211—Introduction to Advanced Language Study (3) | |
| GER 212—Introduction to the Study of Literary Texts (3) | |
| GER 300—Writing in the Study of Germana | 1 |
| GER 310—Practice in German Language Skills | 3 |
| GER 311—Contemporary Germanic Culture and Society | 3 |
| GER 315—Business German I | 3 |
| GER 415—Business German II | 3 |
| GER 450—Business Operations in German-Speaking Countries | 3 |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| GER 401—Advanced Practice in German Language Skills (3) | |
| GER 408—Introduction to Translation Theory (3) | |
| Six hours of Germanic Studies courses, GER 492 and 493 are recommended.b | 6 |
| Total Hours—Concentration II Requirements—German with a Business Minor | 28 |
a GER 300 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
b GER 104 may count toward these credit hours. With the exception of 104, all courses that count as credit toward the Major in Germanic Studies must be at the 200-level or above.
Required Collateral Courses
These courses constitute a business minor.
| Courses | Hours |
| ACTG 210—Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ECON 130—Principles of Economics for Businessabc | 5 |
| IDS 200—Introduction to Management Information Systems | 4 |
| BA 200—Managerial Communication | 3 |
| Total Hours—Required Collateral Courses | 15 |
a This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
b This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category.
c Students may substitute ECON 130 with ECON 120 and 121.
To view a recommended plan of study for the major in German with a Business Minor, please visit the LAS website http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
Students from other disciplines who want to minor in Germanic Studies must complete 16 semester hours. With the exception of GER 104, all courses that count as credit toward the Minor in Germanic Studies must be at the 200-level or above, including at least one course at or above GER 290. Students must select courses for the minor with approval from an advisor.
Degree Requirements—Teaching of German
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of German degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Germanic Studies degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BA in the Teaching of German Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Major Requirements | 34 |
| Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure | 25 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 61 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA in the Teaching of German | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Major Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| GER 300—Writing in the Study of Germana | 1 |
| Teaching Methodology | |
| GER/SPAN 448—Foundations of Second Language Teaching | 3 |
| GER/SPAN 449—Teaching Second Language Literacy and Cultural Awareness | 3 |
| Language Focusc | |
| Minimum of 9 credit hours from the following courses: | 9 |
| GER 211—Introduction to Advanced Language Study (3) | |
| GER 214—German Conversation and Pronunciation (3) | |
| GER 310—Practice in German Language Skills (3) | |
| GER 315—Business German I (3) | |
| GER 401—Advanced Practice in German Language Skills (3) | |
| GER 415—Business German II (3) | |
| Culture Focusbc | |
| Minimum of 12 credit hours in the following courses:b | 12 |
| GER 212—Introduction to the Study of Literary Texts (3) | |
| GER 217—German Cinema (4) | |
| GER 218—Opera in Germanic Cultures: From Mozart to Berg (3) | |
| GER 219—Vikings and Wizards: Northern Myth and Fairy Tales in Western Culture (3) | |
| GER 290—Introduction to Germanic Literature (3) | |
| GER 311—Contemporary Germanic Culture and Society (3) |
|
| GER 316—Periods of Germanic Literature and Culture (3) |
|
| GER 318—Topics in Germanic Literatures and Cultures (3) |
|
| GER 333—Topics in Genres in Germanic Studies (3) | |
| GER 411—The City as Cultural Focus (3) | |
| GER 420—Germanic Cultural Studies I: Genres (3) | |
| GER 421—Germanic Cultural Studies II: Authors, Movements, Periods (3) | |
| GER 422—Germanic Cultural Studies III: Themes (3) | |
| GER 437—Contemporary Germanic Literature (3) | |
| GER 438—The Faust Legend (3) | |
| GER 439—Gender and Cultural Production (3) | |
| GER 450—Business Operations in German-Speaking Countries (3) | |
| GER 470—Exploring the Field of Germanic Studies (3) | |
| Interdisciplinary Focusc | |
| Minimum of 6 credit hours in the following courses: | 6 |
| GER 315—Business German I (3) | |
| GER 401—Advanced Practice in German Language Skills (3) | |
| GER 415—Business German II (3) | |
| GER 450—Business Operations in German-Speaking Countries (3) | |
| GER 470—Exploring the Field of Germanic Studies (3) | |
| GER 487—Computer Assisted Language Learning (3) | |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 34 |
a GER 300 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
b Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog to determine if any of these courses are approved General Education courses.
c Courses may appear on multiple focus lists, but any given course may be applied to only one focus area.
Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure
| Courses | Hours |
| ED 200—Educational Policy Foundations | 3 |
| ED 210—The Educative Process | 3 |
| ED 330—Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation in the Secondary School | 4 |
| SPED 410—Survey of Characteristics of Learners with Disabilities | 3 |
| GER 494—Educational Practice with Seminar I | 6 |
| GER 495—Educational Practice with Seminar II | 6 |
| Total Hours—Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure | 25 |
In addition to specified course work in the major field, the teacher education student must fulfill certain other requirements and must maintain a minimum departmental GPA of 3.00/4.00, a cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00, and a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in education courses. For detailed information, see the Program Guide for Teacher Education in German, available from the secondary education coordinator in the Department of Germanic Studies.
Programs must be approved by the major advisor in Germanic Studies. Licensure requirements need to be approved by the Licensure Officer in the Council on Teacher Education.
The teaching license is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of licensure and degree requirements. Before the license is issued, the candidate must file an application for the Illinois teaching license with the Council on Teacher Education. The candidate must also pass a series of examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education. The Basics Skills Test must be passed prior to applying for candidacy with the Council on Teacher Education. The Content Area Test must be passed before the candidate is allowed to student teach. The Assessment of Professional Teaching must be passed prior to licensure. For information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education located in 3015 EPASW. See Council on Teacher Education and Secondary Education Program in the College of Education section of the catalog.
To view a recommended plan of study for the Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of German, please visit the LAS website http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
Endorsement for the Teaching of German
Endorsement is available to students obtaining full licensure in an approved UIC Teacher Education major. To teach German as a second subject in Illinois public schools one must apply for and receive an Endorsement from the State Board of Education and meet all of the additional course and other requirements the Board has established.
The teaching license is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of licensure and degree requirements. Before the license is issued, the candidate must file an application with the State of Illinois and take a subject content examination administered by the State Board of Education. For information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education in the College of Education.
Students who complete the major with a GPA of 3.60/4.00 in courses applied to the major are recommended for Departmental Distinction. Students who qualify for Distinction and complete GER 398—Honors Project may qualify for High or Highest Distinction.
The courses required for completing the foreign language requirement are GER 101, 102, 103, and 104; or GER 106 and 107.
A portion of the credits toward the majors offered by the Department of Germanic Studies may be earned through the Study Abroad Program conducted either in Berlin, Germany, or in Vienna, Austria. GER 103 level language proficiency or higher is required for the UIC program in Berlin. GER 104 level language proficiency or higher is required for the Austria Illinois program in Vienna. Students should apply through the Germanic Studies Department.
