German Studies Major

General Requirements for the Major in German Studies

The Major in German Studies requires eight courses numbered above the introductory first-year German language sequence GERM 001 and GERM 002. Four of these courses must be taken from among the German program offerings. GERM 033 and GERM 044 and two courses from the series numbered GERM 101 through GERM 104 are required. The other courses can be chosen freely from the program’s offerings (including half-credit courses), from the list of associated courses (up to two), or from Oldenborg’s cumulative-credit conversation classes (maximum 4) in any combination of credit points. Two full credits for these other courses must come from courses taught in German. In addition, majors must enroll in the senior exercise (GERM 191 or GERM 191H, the full or half credit) that has traditionally always resulted in a full-length senior thesis (and very rarely in the successful completion of senior exams).

Up to two courses with “pass” grade are acceptable for either the major or the minor; up to three course credits from work completed on an approved study abroad program may be applied to the major; up to two to the minor. Except for Oldenborg’s cumulative-credit conversation classes, courses cannot be repeated for credit. Most Pomona German program courses taught in English (designated GRMT ###) are offered with a German language component (designated GERM ###H, to indicate the half credit). These German-language courses may be taken without the student being enrolled in the full-credit English-language course. This also applies for correlated pairs of full-credit GERM ### and a half-credit GRMT ###H courses.
German studies majors are strongly urged to study abroad for at least one semester. All majors and minors are also encouraged to reside in Oldenborg Center for at least one year.