UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

College of Letters and Science

German Studies

Garry W. Davis, Associate Professor of German, Coordinator

The German Studies Certificate Program is designed to offer UWM students the opportunity to experience first-hand contemporary German life and culture by integrating a semester of study at the Justus Liebig Universität in Giessen with their course work at UWM. This certificate program is unique in its requirement of a semester study abroad. While at Justus Liebig Universität, students take a sequence of courses that deal with the history and culture of Germany, completing 15 of the 27 credits required by the certificate program. Upon completion of the requirements, students are awarded a certificate, which evidences a concentration in course work related to the culture, civilization, and language of Germany. The courses taken in Giessen provide the student with a broad exposure to social and cultural issues in German life and society. The program will be of particular interest to students who major in German, music, art, art history, literature, history, international studies, political science, and business.

Prior to the required semester abroad, students must 1) have sophomore standing and 2) demonstrate intermediate proficiency in German (as described in the ACTFL Provisional Proficiency Guidelines) by a written and oral test or by transcript evidence of successful completion of fourth-semester German at UWM. During their semester of study in Giessen, students pay UWM tuition and earn UWM credits. Their programs of study are overseen by a select group of faculty members of the Justus Liebig Universität.

To earn the certificate, students must complete satisfactorily a minimum of 27 credits in courses beyond prerequisite language courses with an average grade of B or better. Students propose their individual programs of study from the list of required and elective courses and submit their proposals to the German Studies Certificate Committee for approval.