College of Arts & Humanities
Department of Modern Languages
227 Armstrong Hall
Phone: 507-389-2116
Website: Department of Modern Languages
Chair: Kimberly Contag
Evelyn Meyer, Patricia Wilcox Peterson
Education in the German language provides insight into the literature and culture of German-speaking countries. It also gives students a knowledge of language that enables them to work and travel in areas where the target language is used.
Admission to Major is granted by the department. Minimum university admission requirements are:
A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in all German courses. Contact the department for application procedures.
Elementary German or other proof of skill is needed.
The intermediate sequence counts toward the major.
Required for Major: Students must "demonstrate intermediate-high level speaking proficiency" as defined in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages or equivalent. Contact the department for details. Also required for the major are first-hand experiences with the target cultures.
Required for Major: (Professional Education, 30 credits): See the Secondary and K-12 Professional Education section for admission requirements to Professional Education and a list of required professional education courses.
Required Minor: None.
Required for Minor: Elementary German or other proof of skill is needed. The intermediate sequence counts toward the minor.
Choose 24 credits of German courses, including at least 14 credits at the upper-division level. Eight of the upper division credits must be in skills courses selected from the list below:
GPA Policy. A grade of C or better must be earned for major or minor credit.
P/N Grading Policy. Work done for a major or minor must be done for a letter grade above the second-year level. A grade of P must be earned for major or minor credit in all work done on a P/N basis.
Proficiency Policies. Students with high school language experience may take the CLEP test for a maximum of 12 credits. Students who wish to receive credit by examination may take tests to evaluate their proficiency. Students may not take a proficiency test for a course in which they are enrolled. The department reserves the right to deny admission to courses for those students whom a faculty member determines to have mastered the material already.
Fulfilling BA Language Requirement. Students who wish to validate the BA Language requirement for previous study in French, German, or Spanish may do so by taking a language competency exam under the rules for credit by exam (see above section). Students do not meet the BA language requirements merely because they have taken two years of high school language.
Residency Requirement. Transfer credits will be applied only if they are the equivalent of work offered by the Department of Modern Languages for the major or minor in that language. In addition, a minimum of work must be taken at Minnesota State University, Mankato as follows.
Major: a minimum of eight credits upper division courses other than Independent or Individual Study. At least one of these courses must be at the 400 level.
Minor: a minimum of one upper division courses other than Independent or Individual Study, for a total of at least four credits.
Courses not required for a student's specific baccalaureate degree should be chosen according to these general guidelines:
GER 101 (4) Elementary German I
Introduction to German for students with little or no language experience.
GE-8
GER 102 (4) Elementary German II
Pre: GER 101 or equivalent
GE-8
GER 201 (4) Intermediate German I
A review of German structure and its application to reading, conversation, and composition.
Pre: GER 102 or equivalent
GE-8
GER 202 (4) Intermediate German II
Pre: GER 201 or equivalent
GE-8
GER 293 (1-4) Supervised Foreign Study: Intermediate
GER 299 (1-4) Individual Study
Pre: as appropriate for level of project
GER 340 (1-4) (German) Topics in Language
Topics will vary and course and course may be repeated for credit. Language topics include pronunciation and intonation, advanced grammar, etc. The focus is on advanced oral or written communication.
Pre: Two years of university level German or equivalent.
GER 341 (4) (German) Composition and Conversation
Intensive practice in speaking and writing for students who have completed the intermediate sequence or equivalent.
Pre: completion of 202 or equivalent.
GER 342 (1-4) Selected Readings
Discussion and analysis of major themes and movements based on selected readings from representative authors from the German-speaking world.
Pre: Completion of 202 or equivalent
GER 343 (1-4) German Civilization
Major cultural and historical aspects of German from ancient times to the present.
Pre: Completion of 202 or equivalent
GER 393 (1-6) Supervised Foreign Study
Study for credit must be approved by the department prior to departure.
Pre: Intermediate Sequence
GER 441 (4) Conversation and Composition
Intensive practice in speaking and writing German.
Pre: Completion of at least one 300 level course in German.
GER 442 (1-4) German Literature
Topics vary and course may be repeated if a different topic/genre is the focus. Major writers from German speaking countries. Genres include novel, poetry, theatre, short story, etc.
Pre: Completion of readings 302 or equivalent
GER 445 (1-4) Topics in German Linguistics
Topics may vary. Course may be repeated for credit. Discussion and analysis of German phonetics and syntax and historical linguistics, for example.
Pre: Completion of a least one 300 level German course.
GER 493 (1-6) Supervised Foreign Study
Study for credit must be arranged by contract prior to departure.
Pre: Experience appropriate for level of credit
GER 497 (1-6) Internship
Pre: Experience appropriate to project
GER 499 (1-4) Individual Study
Pre: As appropriate for level of project
