German Studies

Department of History
201 Humanities
(831) 459-2982
http://history.ucsc.edu/

Program Description

German studies is a transnational and transdisciplinary major that deals with the various German-speaking regions of central Europe. Whether one thinks of philosophy, music, art, education, religion, or political and social history, German culture has exercised a profound and often decisive influence on Europe. Some of the most important ideological debates in Western culture have arisen in the German-speaking area, and changes in German culture and society have sometimes had devastating effects on world history. Events and political developments of recent years-such as the unification of East and West Germany and the emergence of the German-speaking region of Europe as a major player in world affairs-have had important impacts.

A German studies major provides students with an intellectually diverse program-covering history, history of art and visual culture, literature, and philosophy-in which students and faculty come together in exciting and demanding pursuits.

The German studies major is administered by the History Department. For additional information on curriculum and advising, go to http://history.ucsc.edu.

Major Requirements

German 5 or the equivalent is a prerequisite for all upper-division courses taught in German and for the German Studies major. Students are encouraged to take German 1 through 5 as early as possible in their academic program. All students are required to take a total of 10 courses, including a minimum of three courses in German literature and two courses in German history. No more than two of the 10 required courses may be lower-division courses, and no more than two may come from the Germany in a European or World Context list. A minimum of five of the 10 required courses must be taught in German or principally through German-language texts. Language competency to level five is required in order to pursue a German studies major.
All students must complete a senior oral examination (given by two faculty members) or an appropriate senior seminar in literature or history that has been approved by their adviser. The senior seminar must be taken in addition to the other 10 courses required for the major.
Enrollment in a two-credit comprehensive examination preparatory course, History 199F, is required in the same quarter that the senior oral examination will be given. The preparatory course will be taken with the chair of the student’s examination committee.

Regular consultation with a program faculty adviser is required.

It is strongly recommended that students spend time in residence in Germany through the University of California Education Abroad Program (EAP) to further enrich their program of study and ensure a command of the language. Students are allowed to transfer up to five courses taken at German universities toward the requirements for the major. However, the five core courses in German literature and history must be taken at UCSC.

Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement will normally be met within one to three courses already required for the major. For detailed information on this major's DC requirement, consult your major adviser or see the 2010-11 general catalog.

Honors in the German Studies Major.

All students who announce candidacy during the academic year are reviewed for honors or highest honors in the major. The German studies faculty advisers determine honors based upon narrative evaluations in courses applied towards the German studies major. Performance in courses taken elsewhere and being transferred toward the major will be considered when applicable. The minimum standard applied is excellence in most courses for honors, and excellence in all courses for highest honors. Summer graduates are reviewed for honors in fall quarter.