German Studies (Bachelor of Arts, B.A.)

The program provides fundamental and wide-ranging knowledge and skills in the field of German Studies. It covers both the content and methods of linguistic and literary studies, incorporating questions and theoretical approaches from cognitive, cultural, and media studies.

Students develop the ability to analyze linguistic structures and communicative processes from both diachronic and synchronic perspectives. They also learn to analyze and interpret literary texts, situating them within their cultural and historical contexts; particular attention is given to questions of gender.

The program prepares students for careers in which linguistic communication and the handling of texts and historical-literary processes are central tasks. Such fields include school-based and extracurricular education and training, publishing, journalism, documentation, and language instruction. It may also serve as preparation for a teaching-related master’s degree, where required.

Additionally, the program provides a solid foundation for an academic career in German Studies.

German Studies as a Core subject with 120 CP

Mandatory modules (68 CP):
Module 01: Basic module Linguistics, 9 CP
Module 02: Basic module Old German Literature, 7 CP
Module 03: Basic module Modern German Literature, 7 CP
Module 04: German Language History, 6 CP
Module 05: Text and Discourse, 6 CP
Module 06: Word - Sentence Context, 8 CP
Module 07: History of German Literature III from 1800 to the Present, 6 CP
Module 08: Text and Media Analysis I, 9 CP
Module 09: Bachelor’s Dissertation, 10 CP

Mandatory elective modules (32 CP):
Students must select two of modules 10 to 12
Module 10: History of German Literature I - from the beginnings to 1650, 8 CP
Module 11: History of German Literature II - 1600 - 1850, 8 CP
Module 12: Text and Media Analysis II, 8 CP

Students must select one of modules 13 to 15
Module 13: Linguistic Communication Processes, 6 CP
Module 14: First and Second Language Acquisition, 6 CP
Module 15: Linguistic Variation, 6 CP

Students must select one of modules 16 to 17
Module 16: Practical Orientation, 10 CP
Module 17: Practical Training, 10 CP

General elective modules (20 CP)

In addition to specialised study, Students acquire subject-specific, non-specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications of 20 CP. The general elective modules can be chosen from the module catalogues of other subjects or central institutions (see: http://agnes.hu-berlin.de/).

German Studies as a Second subject with 60 CP

Mandatory subjects (52 CP):

Modules 1-6 and 8 from core subject

Mandatory elective module(8 CP):
Module 18: History of German Literature, 8 CP

German Studies with teacher training option

German Studies as a Core subject with 113 CP

Mandatory modules (91 CP):
Module 01: Basic module Linguistics, 9 CP
Module 02: Basic module Old German Literature, 7 CP
Module 03: Basic module Modern German Literature, 7 CP
Module 04: German Language History, 6 CP
Module 05: Text and Discourse, 6 CP
Module 06: Word - Sentence Context, 8 CP
Module 07: History of German Literature III from 1800 to the Present, 6 CP
Module 08: Text and Media Analysis I, 9 CP
Module 09: Bachelor’s Dissertation, 10 CP
Module 10: History of German Literature I - from the beginnings to 1650, 8 CP
Module 11: History of German Literature II - 1600 - 1850, 8 CP

Module 19: Introduction to the didactics of German teaching, 7 CP

Mandatory elective modules (6 CP):

Students must select one of modules 13 to 15

Module 13: Linguistic Communication Processes, 6 CP
Module 14: First and Second Language Acquisition, 6 CP
Module 15: Linguistic Variation, 6 CP

Teacher training modules (16 CP)

In addition to specialised study, students on a bachelor's teacher training option will complete the Educational Sciences teacher training module (11 CP) and the module Sprachbildung (5 CP). You will find information on www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 57/2024.

German Studies as a Second subject with 67 CP

Mandatory subjects (67 CP):

Modules 1-6 and 8 from core subject, in total 52 CP
Module 18: History of German Literature, 8 CP

Module 19: Introduction to the didactics of German teaching, 7 CP

General elective course offerings for students coming from other courses of studies

Module 25: Levels of linguistic description, 5 CP
Module 26: Linguistic behaviour, 5 CP
Module 27: Linguistic variation and language history, 5 CP
Module 28: Language development, 5 CP
Module 30: Introduction to the fields of work of Old German Literature & Modern German Literature, 5 CP
Module 31: History of German Literature I and II, 5 CP
Module 32: History of German Literature I and III, 5 CP
Module 33: History of German Literature II and III, 5 CP