Concurrent BA/MA Degree in Germanic Studies

The concurrent BA/MA degree in Germanic Studies recognizes the need for master's-level training upon entering the job market in a variety of sectors that call for highly advanced proficiency in the German language, knowledge of the German-speaking central Europe and its cultures, and the skills afforded to BA and MA graduates in the Humanities (research, analysis, interpretation, translation, communication).

The degree gives highly-motivated BA students the opportunity to earn an MA degree using an accelerated undergraduate program in combination with a fifth year of study. Applications can be obtained in the Germanic and Slavic office (McKenna 129). It is recommended that applications be turned in by the spring semester of the sophomore year.

Students must have an overall 3.25 GPA to apply to the program, and should have completed most of their MAPS/core requirements by the end of their sophomore year. No GRE is required.

Concurrent BA/MA Requirements

The concurrent BA/MA degree in Germanic Studies requires 58 hours of coursework (with grades of 3.0 or above in all degree courses and an overall 3.0 GPA); students who test out of GRMN 2020 are required to complete only 57 credit hours. Students are mentored by the undergraduate advisor in consultation with the graduate director.

Undergraduate Courses

Students complete requirements listed under Sections A-C on the German Studies Major page. Six 3000/4000 hours taken for the German BA may be counted toward the German MA.

Graduate Courses

• GRMN 5010-3 Bibliography and Methods of Research (required)
• Pick either thesis or no thesis option. Students are strongly advised to pursue the non-thesis option; consent of both the undergraduate advisor and graduate director is required to take the thesis option.

Non-thesis option

GRMN 5010 and any seven 5000-level German courses, COML 5410, COML 5610 or any 5000-level course(s) from another department (such as history, political science) for which the student has consent of the graduate director. (This does not include the six 3000/4000-level hours that can be counted toward both the BA and the MA.)

Thesis-option

Examinations

All BA/MA students will complete a written comprehensive exam followed by an oral examination. Students should follow the guidelines for the first comprehensive exam for German MA students in the German MA Handbook on GSLL’s German program website. Non-thesis students should take their exams in their final semester.

Students pursuing the thesis option should take their comprehensive exams in the first semester of their final year. Thesis option students will have their thesis defense in their final semester. (See the German MA Handbook on GSLL’s German program website for more information)

Please Note: students are strongly advised to pursue the non-thesis option; consent of the graduate director is required to take the thesis option.