Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the German major, a student will have demonstrated that they are able to:
- discuss German-language works from different eras and genres;
- discuss a range of literary-critical essays and works of philosophy, history, and cultural theory;
- execute a systematic, sustained, and original research project;
- choose and define a complex topic from the major field;
- independently investigate that topic with the support of an advisor;
- develop and pursue a critical methodology appropriate to the research topic;
- analyze literary texts or cultural phenomena, including through close reading;
- use appropriate secondary sources as part of that analysis;
- read and understand German at a level sufficient to perform such a research project;
- write a clear and coherent document that is substantially longer than a traditional term paper or project;
- present, discuss and defend their work orally.
The primary assessment tool for learning in the major at 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ and the level of student achievement in the major area is the senior thesis; the junior qualifying examination, which assesses a student's readiness for thesis, provides a second assessment tool. For more information on the thesis, the Junior Qualifying Exam and the academic program, see Requirements.