- Required Courses
- German Studies 352
- 4 credits in a German Studies course taught at Whitman at the 350 level or above
- 12 credits in courses taught in German Studies at the 300-level or above
- 18 credits of coursework that may include German Studies courses at the 200-level or above, or may be a combination of German at the 200-level or above and up to 12 credits in approved affiliated German Studies electives. Regularly approved affiliated electives are available in a variety of departments.
- Senior Requirements
- Comprehensive examination
- Discussion of an assigned significant text in German literature
- Discussion of an assigned selection of current scholarly work in German Studies, chosen by the faculty. In the course of the examination, students will need to demonstrate engagement in the interdisciplinary field of German Studies as well as a broad knowledge of German literature, history, and culture.
- Comprehensive examination
- Honors
- Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.
- Accumulated at least 87 credits
- Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
- Major GPA of at least 3.500
- Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
- The thesis is written in English, but students must work with texts in the original German. Because these theses are so interdisciplinary in nature, we require an outside reader whose area of academic specialization can enhance the development and assessment of the thesis. The outside reader is not necessarily from the affiliated faculty, but rather the person on the Whitman faculty who has the most expertise in the student’s subject matter and is willing to serve.
- Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
- Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
- Chair of the program will notify the Registrar of students attaining honors no later than the beginning of Week 12.
- An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
- Notes
- Up to 12 credits of transfer or study abroad courses may be applied toward the German Studies major with consent of the German Studies faculty.
- German Studies allows up to eight credits in approved courses from other majors to count toward the German Studies major requirements.
- No courses taken P-D-F after declaration of the major.
- Independent study courses may count toward the major.
Total Credits
36