Required for the German major
- Sixty units beyond German 202, including German 285 and 312. At least half of these units must be taken at Lawrence, and 24 units should be at the 400 level or above. Only 12 units taught in English may count toward the major, but tutorials taken in conjunction with English courses may count as German credit.
- Students usually complete a capstone project in the senior seminar or in conjunction with a departmental course taken during the senior year.
- Students who expect to graduate will present a portfolio by the second week of their final term. The portfolio will be reviewed and approved or returned to the student for revisions before the end of the term. The student's advisor and one other member of the department will review a portfolio consisting of the following materials submitted electronically:
- a brief statement in which students evaluate their development as German majors
- a list of courses taken for the major
- sample pages of Lesejournale from all German courses numbered 300 and above taken at Lawrence
- four papers from upper-level courses, two of which may be from courses taken abroad
- a copy of the capstone paper
Required for the German minor
Thirty-six units beyond German 202, including German 285 and 312. At least half of these units must be taken at Lawrence, and 12 units should be at the 400 level or above. Only six units taught in English may count toward the minor, but tutorials taken in conjunction with English courses may count as German credits.
A C average in the minor is also required.
Teaching Certification in German
Teaching certification in German
The German department offers a course of study that prepares its majors to teach German
at the elementary and secondary levels. Students interested in teaching German, K-12,
should plan to complete the major and should consult with the
education department, about certification requirements.
Senior Experience in German
The German Department's revised Senior Experience consists of a senior seminar (winter term) in which students first read a set of texts centered on a theme that they and the instructor have determined in advance. By the midpoint of the term, students will have developed individual paper topics that they will develop during the remainder of the term. The capstone project may be completed during winter term, or it may spill over into an independent study during spring term.
In either case, the senior seminar allows students to help each other develop their ideas and arguments; they will also present their findings to the entire seminar. Although these papers all touch on a common theme, the individual focus may emphasize literature, history, music, art, etc.
Students who are pursuing a double major or teaching certification should work with all concerned departments to assess the feasibility of an interdisciplinary capstone.
