Students planning to continue a language studied in high school must take a language placement exam before enrolling. Your score on the placement exam will be used to determine the appropriate level German course for enrollment. If you plan to continue studying a language in your first year, you must complete the language placement exam online by June 28, 2019. Registration instructions for completing the language placement exam can be found on pages 6–7 of this guide. Please consult with Prof. Schmitz-Burgard if you are concerned that the exam results do not accurately reflect your competency level.
Advanced Placement: A score of 4 or 5 on a Language Exam earns college credit and counts toward the Language Studies Common Area Requirement; a score of 4 or 5 on a Language Literature Exam earns college credit and counts toward the Language Studies or Literature Common Area requirement. Students who receive a score of 4 or 5 on either exam are not required to complete a Language Placement Exam and can enroll directly in GERM 301, Composition and Conversation. Students with AP credit who take a course below the level of GERM 301 will forfeit the AP credit.
Successful completion of a course at or above the 300 level in the same language as the AP award will satisfy the Language Studies Common Area Requirement. Students with AP credit in a modern Language or Literature earn placement in the curriculum but not progress toward the minimum number of courses required by the major.
Majors: Students who are considering a German major should enroll in the appropriate level course based on the results of the placement test or Advanced Placement score.
GERM 101
Elementary German 1
Common Area: Language Studies
This course, designed for students with no previous study of German, offers an introduction to German language and culture through addressing the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Five class hours weekly.
GERM 201
Intermediate German 1
Common Area: Language Studies
This course reviews the fundamentals of the language through oral and written expression as well as the reading of literary and cultural material. Eligibility for this course is determined by the results of the language placement exam. Students must complete the language placement exam online before enrolling in this course. Five class hours weekly.
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