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German Language and Literature M.A.

Degree Requirements for the M.A. in German Studies:

We offer two courses of study for M.A. students with slightly different degree requirements, the thesis option and the non-thesis option.

The thesis option is recommended for students who plan to apply to a Ph.D. program and for those who would like to pursue an in-depth independent research project. The thesis option requires 24 hours of coursework, completion of the thesis of approximately 50-75 pages (6 credits) with oral defense, and a written M.A. exam. In addition, students will prepare a reflection paper (5-10 pages) that addresses their development of a personal theoretical and methodological standpoint in the course of the master’s program.

The non-thesis option is recommended for students who would like to enroll in a diverse range of courses rather than specialized research. The non-thesis option requires 24 hours of coursework, 6 hours of GERS699 Colloquium in German Studies, completion of a revised scholarly paper of approximately 25-30 pages with oral defense. In addition, students will prepare a reflection paper (5-10 pages) that addresses their development of a personal theoretical and methodological standpoint in the course of the master’s program.

Course Requirements for the M.A. in German Studies

We encourage students to shape an individualized course of study tailored to their own interests and in consultation with their advisor. Students are required to complete between 24 credit hours of courses at the 600 level and an additional 6 credit hours of either GERS699 or GERS799, depending on the non-thesis or thesis option. Students must be recommended by the departmental faculty to pursue a thesis option. Courses at the 400 level may be counted toward the degree only with the approval of the advisor and director of graduate studies. Students are expected to maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average.
 

Required courses include the following:

  • GERM618: College Teaching of German (1 credit)
  • Six (6) courses drawn from core offerings in German culture, literature, and language studies (18 credits)
  • Up to three (3) credits of elective courses, which may include the following:
    • Interdisciplinary SLLC graduate courses or graduate-level courses pertaining to students’ interests offered campuswide (e.g., in comparative literature, English, history, philosophy, women’s studies, etc.). Students may opt to take an additional SLAA course, if that is where their interest lies.
  • One (1) course (usually SLAA610 or SLAA611) from the interdepartmental SLAA program (3 credits)
     
  • Students who pursue the non-thesis option will enroll in six (6) credits of GERM699.
     
  • Students who pursue the thesis option will enroll in six (6) credits of GERM799.

Who to Contact

Julie Koser

Associate Professor, German Studies
Affiliate Associate Faculty, Classics
Associate Professor, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

3210 Jiménez Hall
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-4106