German, M.A.

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The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers programs leading to the Master of Arts in German. It is also possible to pursue a dual Master of Arts in German and Political Science, History, French, Spanish, or Music History, as well as other disciplines.

The graduate programs in German are flexible enough to meet a variety of student needs and career goals, including in education, government service, and the private sector. Students interested in teaching can work on obtaining teacher certification while earning a master’s degree. Students can pursue a Ph.D. preparatory program with a strong concentration in literature, film, and culture, or focus more on pedagogy and language acquisition. The department also has a writer-in-residence program.

M.A. students ordinarily fulfill part of their degree requirements in Salzburg, Austria, through the department’s academic year abroad (AYA) program. Students usually spend their first year of study in Salzburg and complete their degree on the main campus the following year.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, students in the German program are expected to be able to:

Attain “Advanced Mid” or higher (following ACTFL guidelines) proficiency in German;
Demonstrate understanding of the aesthetic qualities and socio-historical contexts of a set of representative texts from German culture;
Utilize advanced intercultural and international competence - compare and assess cultural, political, historical, economic or other similarities and differences between North American and a German speaking country;
Be able to employ different interpretive approaches to cultural, historical, political, or economic text;
Demonstrate ability to interact in professional contexts with German native speakers;
Demonstrate ability to analyze and solve real life professional problems collaboratively in a professional setting in a German speaking country.

Admission Requirements

Documents required:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
Three Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose
Writing Sample

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (24 credits)

Select 1 course from:

German courses. Select 12-15 credits from:

GERM 5000 to GERM 7999

Electives

Beyond the minimum, students may apply courses in cognate areas toward their degree, subject to the approval of the graduate coordinator.

Culminating Experience (1-6 credits)

Plan I (3-6 credits):
GERM 6990 - Thesis Research
Plan II (1-3 credits):
GERM 6910 - Capstone Experience
Or
GERM 6980 - Readings for Comprehensive Examination

Other Requirements

Language proficiency Exam: All students (non-native speakers of German) must pass Austian State Exam (B2-Osterreichisches Sprachdiplom).

Minimum Total Credits (30 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher
Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at BGSU
All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.