Major & Minor Requirements
Note: This page is designed to assist students, faculty, and advisors by providing degree requirements and recommendations in an easy-to-use format. The course catalogue remains the official source of degree requirements -- please report any discrepancies with this page to the department chair.
Major Requirements for German
A minimum of eight course credits in German at or above the 300 level, which include:
- Composition and Conversation I (301)
- Composition and Conversation II (302) OR
Introduction to Literature (311) - Senior Tutorial (485)
Note: A maximum of two upper-level courses in other areas, approved beforehand by the department as relevant to the major, may be substituted for two of the elective German courses.
Recommended Course Sequence
Course schedules vary widely depending on whether students enter Cornell with language credits or not. The following are guidelines:
- The schedule of courses is constructed so that students may begin GER 101 as late as January of their sophomore year and still complete a major in German. Nevertheless, it is advisable to begin earlier.
- We recommend that all students, whether intending to major in German or not, complete their language course requirement by the end of their second year.
- Majors should take Composition and Conversation I (GER 301) by the fall of their third year, though many will take this course sooner.
Teaching Major Requirements
A minimum of nine course credits, to include six course credits in German at or above the 300 level, including:
- Composition and Conversation I (301)
- Composition and Conversation II (302)
- Language Teaching Methodology (LAL 308)
- One of the following four courses:
- Language, Culture, and Community (ANT 106)
- Grammar and the Politics of English (ENG 311)
- Philosophy of Language (LAL/PHI 350)
- Linguistics (LAL 352)
- Diplomacy of War and Revolution (HIS 315) OR
Modern Germany (HIS 324).
In addition to the foregoing requirements, prospective teachers must also apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program (preferably at the start of their sophomore year) and complete coursework leading to secondary certification. Prospective teachers should request a current list of the specific course requirements from the Education Office.
Minor in German
A minimum of five course credits in German at or above the 300 level, including GER 301 and either 302 or 311.
Minor in German Studies
GER 205 and at least five additional course credits chosen from the following list, or another course or courses approved beforehand by the department as relevant to German culture and civilization:
- Composition and Conversation I (GER 301)
- Composition and Conversation II (GER 302)
- Introduction to Literature (GER 311)
- Die Gründerjahre (GER 381)
- Weimar (GER 383)
- Die Trümmerjahre (GER 385)
- Europe: the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (HIS 304 )
- Diplomacy of War and Revolution (HIS 315)
- Modern Germany (HIS 324)
- History of Western Music III (MUS 323)
- The Ring Cycle of Wagner (MUS 352)
- Wagner and Wagnerism (MUS 353)
- Modern Philosophy: Nineteenth Century (PHI 306)
- Marx and Marxism (PHI 307)
- Holocaust and Hope (REL 362)
Note: A student may not minor in both German and German Studies.