Overview

German is a major world language spoken in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as in some communities in the United States. Whether you are interested in literature, music, theater, film or art, German culture is a rich and exciting tradition. Temple's German program provides broad linguistic, cultural, and practical experiences to prepare students to participate meaningfully in the German-speaking world.

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers two different programs of study in German:

• a traditional German Language and Cultural Studies major (and minor), and
• an Interdisciplinary German Studies major (and minor).

The traditional Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Cultural Studies focuses on the acquisition of German language and develops that skill through courses taught completely in German from the intermediate level onward. The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary German Studies includes introductory and intermediate level German, but allows up to two electives on German culture and history to be taken outside of German (allowing for the language of instruction to be English). This allows students more flexibility in course selection and although language acquisition is important, the study of German culture is emphasized. Either program of study will help students achieve their learning goals, whether they want to go on to use German to communicate with friends in Germany, Austria or Switzerland; to engage in business with German partners; to work in government or in the media; or to participate in German culture. They develop skills in reading, writing, and oral communication while acquiring a rich understanding of the literature, cinema, history and culture of the German-speaking world.

Students who study German at Temple find that the program prepares them to do well in whatever they choose upon graduation. The German major is a good preparation for a career that requires analytical thinking and communication skills in general, which includes the domains of education, business, government service, travel and tourism. It is a good major or second major for students planning to attend law school or medical school. Studies have shown that learning a foreign language helps raise scores on the LSAT, GRE and MCAT examinations. This course of study also proves valuable to anyone who plans to work for a multinational corporation.

The German courses are often small, allowing students to get to know one another and their professors well. The program helps prepare students enrolled in the Fox School of Business and Management to acquire a special language certificate including a special course on German in the business world. Outside of class, students can share conversations and activities informally or with the Temple University German Society.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: BA-GLCS-BA

Study Abroad

Students declaring a major or minor in the department are strongly encouraged to study abroad. Temple University has programs at the universities of Hamburg, Tübingen, and Leipzig in Germany. Courses completed in these programs may be credited toward the German major or minor and in partial satisfaction of the CLA Global Studies requirement.

Students interested in Study Abroad should discuss their plans with the faculty advisor in German early in their academic program.

Distinction in Major

To be considered for Distinction in the German Language and Cultural Studies Major, students must:

• Complete the requirements for the concentration in German with a GPA of at least 3.50;
• Have an overall GPA of at least 3.25;
• Be recommended to the chair of the department by the German faculty advisor after consultation with the German department faculty.

Contact Information

Department Office
532 Mazur Hall
215-204-1760

Patricia Melzer, Chair
527 Mazur Hall
215-204–8259
pmelzer@temple.edu

Michelle Xu, Administrator
429 Mazur Hall
215-204-5628
xu.michelle@temple.edu

Stephen Walton, Academic Coordinator
539 Mazur Hall
215-204-1760
stephen.walton0002@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Cultural Studies.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

• MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses required for this major are GER 3096 and GER 4296.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
  • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
  • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
    • Distribution Requirement for Humanities majors: Six upper level credits must be earned in the Social Science, Science, and/or interdisciplinary subject areas. Select from the following CLA departments and programs: Africology & African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Human Behavior, Economics, Environmental Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, Geography and Urban Studies, Global Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies, Liberal Arts, Neuroscience (CLA), Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in all CLA/CST coursework, and in the major department.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  •  Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
    • The language requirements of the German major exceed the minimum College of Liberal Arts requirements; no additional coursework is necessary for this requirement.
  • Notes on Foreign Language Study
    • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
    • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
    • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements: Ten courses in German (30 credits/10 Courses)

Prerequisites: GER 1001 and GER 1002, with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent placement.

Course levels are incremental in skills and content. Courses must be taken sequentially or in some instances may be taken concurrently. Students who initially place beyond GER 2001 may begin with GER 2002 or another course at the 2000-level, as appropriate. Consult the faculty advisor for information.

¹

Students who place out of GER 2001 will need one additional elective; those who place out of GER 2002 will need two additional electives.

²

Indicates writing capstone for the major.

³

Up to two upper-level courses outside of the department will count as electives if they relate to the major as approved in writing by the department advisor.

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Cultural Studies

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated program may be of interest to students in the German Language and Cultural Studies BA:

College of Education and Human Development

• Secondary Education MEd with World/Foreign Languages Education concentration