Skip to main content

First-Year Focus

Welcome to the Department of German

Welcome to the Department of German. We are excited that you are interested in learning more about our department. Whether you are trying to fulfill the WCAS Language Requirement in German, or would like to continue studying German, we have the right courses for you. This page provides the most important information for Freshmen and links to other pages on our website that we think might help you decide which course(s) are right for you.

If you still need to take the placement exam, would like to discuss results, need to validate your placement results, or have general questions about studying German, please schedule a zoom meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.  She would be happy to meet with you.

If you are uncertain whether you should study German or want to know more about the German department, we strongly encourage you to visit The Academic Directions Fair (September 15, 9:30 to 12:30).

 

WCAS Language Requirement AND AP German

If you have studied German before and have done AP German courses, you will still need to take  online German Placement Exam to determine if you have passed the WCAS Language Requirement . If not, you will need to take additional classes.  Use the following table as a guideline to determine what you should do.

Score

Placement

If you have  a score 5 on the Advanced German Placement Examination (AP Exam):

You will need to take the online German Placement Exam to determine whether you will need to take additional courses to satisfy the German Proficiency Requirement. Most like, you will need only one more course (for example 205 Focus Writing, or 221-3 Introduction to German Literature or 102-3), but please check your placement test results before signing up for courses.  

If you have a score of 4 on the Advanced German Placement Examination (AP Exam):

You will need to take the online German Placement Exam to determine how many courses you will need to satisfy the German Proficiency Requirement. Most like, you will need only one or two more courses (for example 102-2 and 102-3, or 205 Focus Writing, or 221-3 Introduction to German Literature), but please check your placement test results before signing up for courses.  

If you have a score of 1, 2 or 3 on the Advanced German Placement Examination (AP Exam):

You will need to take the online German Placement Exam to determine how many courses you will need to satisfy the German Proficiency Requirement. Please check your placement test results before signing up for courses.

WCAS Language Requirement AND German STUDIES

If you had German language instruction before, and and did not take AP German classes, you also must take the online German Placement Exam before you can sign up for any classes in the German department requiring German language skills. If you have never studied German before or only one year, you can sign up for German 101-1, the first quarter of Beginning German. 

If you had just one year of High School German or less or never learned any German before:

You may place yourself into 101-1 Beginning German (Fall Quarter or Winter Quarter).

The German Placement Exam

The online German Placement Exam will place a student in the appropriate German class from which he/she will begin work towards either fulfilling the German Language Proficiency Requirement or to continue studying German for a German Major or Minor. Please follow the schedule below in order to get your results and be ready for signing up for classes.  If you have questions regarding your placement, schedule a zoom meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Majoring or Minoring in German

Once you have fulfilled the Language Proficiency Requirement in German, you are ready to sign up for a German major or minor which are open to all students at Northwestern. Earning a major or minor in German will give you a highly marketable background for a variety of career options. Meet our recent graduates who are all eager to step into what promises to be an interesting and fulfilling career. Reading their short paragraphs will convince you how versatile a German major can be and how many career opportunities there are using your German skills. If you have questions, schedule a zoom meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Studying Abroad

Study abroad is a valuable complement to language and culture studies in class. The Department of German works carefully with individual students to integrate a period of study in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland into their overall academic plans. Students have the opportunity to not only improve their language skills but also to live and interact with native German speakers and foreigners. Students typically return from their time abroad with a much firmer grasp of both written and spoken German. The varied contacts with other students, travelers, and local residents are invaluable for the development of a balanced, global perspective. Those students with special interests and needs are welcome to investigate other programs by scheduling a zoom meeting with the Study Abroad Advisor (Professor Rob Ryder).

Student Mentoring Program

If you are undecided about a German major or minor, or even if you are already a declared German major or minor, you will have the opportunity to meet a German upper classman once a quarter for a meal in a local restaurant paid for by the department. These mentoring sessions are designed to give you insights into the program from the point of view of an upper classman: You will learn more about relevant German curricula, programs, undergraduate research, internships, and study abroad opportunities from students who have direct, recent personal experience with these issues. If you have any questions about this program or would like to meet an upper classman for a meal, please schedule a zoom meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.