German Studies, BA

Location(s): Main Campus

The program emphasizes language fluency and cultural competency at all levels of study. A flexible curriculum and individualized advising allow majors to develop a program of study and explore personal interests in other humanities disciplines or beyond, such as the social sciences, business, natural sciences, engineering, and more. The program focuses on culture in the broadest sense and approaches language, literature, linguistics, visual arts, history, philosophy, and contemporary society in an interdisciplinary manner through the lens of German studies. Students in German studies develop an awareness of the cultural context of the German language in its various forms as well as an understanding of the German contribution to culture, the history of ideas, and the development of academic and professional disciplines.

Program Requirements

University General Education Requirements

All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the General Education page for more information.

Harpur College Requirements

All students in Harpur College must fulfill additional requirements designated by Harpur College to complement and extend the general education requirements. Please refer to the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences page for more information.

Major Requirements

Requirements for German Studies Major

Students must complete (40 credits) for the German Studies major, with the following requirements:

GERM 203 Intermediate German I AND GERM 204 Intermediate German II
At least three upper-level (300/400) courses taught in the German language
- Language Placement fulfilled by completing this requirement or by exam administered by Department
Three courses (12 credits) of coursework must be taken in German literature and culture (excludes language sequence)
- Students should consult the Undergraduate Director on the courses they should complete to fulfill this requirement

Additional Program Rules

In addition to the requirements above, students should work with the Undergraduate Director on how to complete the remainder of the 40 credit program
GERM courses 102 and below may not count toward the major
At least 24 credits must be taken at the upper-level (300/400)
If placed in advanced German language courses, students must take additional German studies courses (taught in either German or in English) in order to satisfy the 40 credit program requirement

Requirements for German Studies Double-Major Option

Students must complete (40 credits) for the German Studies Double Major, with the following requirements:

GERM 203 Intermediate German I AND GERM 204 Intermediate German II
At least three upper-level (300/400) courses taught in the German language
- Language Placement fulfilled by completing this requirement or by exam administered by Department
Three courses (12 credits) of coursework must be taken in German literature and culture (excludes language sequence)
- Students should consult the Undergraduate Director on the courses they should complete to fulfill this requirement

Additional Program Rules

In addition to the requirements above, students should work with the Undergraduate Director on how to complete the remainder of the 40 credit program
One course must come from a secondary major
GERM courses 102 and below may not count toward the major
At least 24 credits must be taken at the upper-level (300/400)
If placed in advanced German language courses, students must take additional upper-level German language courses in order to satisfy the 40 credit program requirement

Language Requirements

Students may be placed into one of the following:

Elementary German Language Placement

GERM 101 Elementary German I AND GERM 102 Elementary German II

Note: Depending on prior exposure to the language, introductory German courses may be required prerequisites for the major. If placed in these GERM courses, they will not count toward the major credit total. Intermediate and advanced level courses must also be completed in order to achieve required proviciency level for the major.

Intermediate German Language Placement

GERM 203 Intermediate German I AND Intermediate German II

Note: If placed in the intermediate level, advanced-level courses must also be completed in order to achieve the required proficiency level for the major.

Advanced German Language Placement

At least two upper-level (300/400) courses taught in the German language

Additional Information About the Program

GERM 221, GERM 222, and the teaching practicum (GERM 491) may be counted only once toward fulfilling the major requirements.
Credits for courses taken abroad may be counted toward the major with the permission of the departmental advisor. Upon return from education abroad, majors are expected to take at least one additional advanced German studies course in residence.
NOTE: Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that this may impede their ability to study abroad. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives.
Residency Requirement: Completion of the German studies major and the German studies double major requires that students take at least 20 credits of coursework while in residence in Binghamton or as part of study abroad with the German studies program’s partner universities in Graz, Austria, or Leipzig, Germany.

For more information on the German Studies BA program, please refer to the German and Russian Studies website. To apply to the German Studies BA program, please visit the University Admissions website.