Requirements for German Majors and Minors

 

A major in German consists of 28 hours*, with a minimum of 14 hours in courses numbered 300 or above. German majors must complete the Zertifikat Deutsch examination with a passing grade (minimum of "ausreichend bestanden'').

A minor in German consists of a minimum of 18 hours*, to include GER 311 and two other 300-level courses.

* In all FLL majors and minors, lower-division requirements may be exempted as a result of examination or evidence of prior training or experience.



Why are German majors required
to take the Zertifikat Deutsch exam?


 

The small size of the German program at Mercer University has the distinct advantage of allowing you to work more closely with a professor than might be the case at larger institutions. However, this intimate environment has the disadvantage of having your proficiency in German assessed by only one or two faculty members.

The Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache examination, which is administered every Spring by the Goethe Institut in Atlanta, Georgia, is an internationally recognized certification that assesses objectively your degree of proficiency in the German language (i.e. reading, writing, listening, speaking). The Zertifikat Deutsch is also the preferred language examination for people wishing to acquire German citizenship. This certificate, combined with your record of German study at Mercer University, will help distinguish you as a candidate for employment in a wide variety of professions.

For samples of the Zertifikat Deutsch exam, click here. Additional ZDF self-tests are available on the WebCT server. Ask Dr Weintraut for instructions on how to access these exercises.