The Major

Students can choose a concentration in German or Scandinavian Studies. Students may also specialize in STEM-German. Prerequisites for the German concentration are GERMAN 110, 120, 230, 240, or their equivalents. Prerequisites for the Scandinavian concentration are SWEDISH 110, 120, 230, and 240, or their equivalents. Students interested in applying for the major should meet with the undergraduate program director, who will help them determine their language proficiency. In general, four years of high school German or Swedish should guarantee proficiency through the 240 level. Students must complete 10 major courses. For the German concentration, these include courses in advanced German language, culture, and composition. The Scandinavian concentration includes courses in advanced Swedish and Scandinavian culture and history. All students choose electives in history and society, literature and linguistics, film and visual culture, and cultural studies. Majors in both concentrations must also complete a capstone project under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

Students who wish to do so may combine study in the program with work in a different field. Our students frequently have a second major or a minor in Linguistics, History, Political Science, Business, English, or one of the many other languages offered at UMass. We also regularly have majors and minors combining their German and Scandinavian Studies major with a major or minor in, for example, Environmental Studies, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Anthropology. Double majors are encouraged.

Requirements for the Major

German Concentration

Prerequisites: German 110, 120, 230, and 240 or their equivalents

Group A – Four German language courses above the 240 level
GERMAN 310 Advanced German I
GERMAN 311 Reading German Culture
GERMAN 320 Advanced German II
GERMAN 425 Advanced German III
*Or their equivalents*

Group B – Six additional courses, approved by German and Scandinavian Studies from the following distribution areas
1. History and Society
2. Literature and Linguistics
3. Film and Visual Culture
4. Cultural Studies
5. Junior Year Writing+
6. Capstone/Integrative Experience+
+ Junior Year Writing and Capstone/Integrative Experience must be replaced by an approved elective course if taken in another major
* Exceptions, equivalencies, approvals, and substitutions may be made by the Undergraduate Advisor

Scandinavian Concentration

Prerequisites: Swedish 110, 120, 230, and 240 or their equivalents

Group A – Six required Courses in Scandinavian Studies
SWEDISH 310 Advanced Swedish I
SWEDISH 320 Advanced Swedish II
SCAND 250 Hans Christian Andersen
SCAND 597D Ibsen and Strindberg
Junior Year Writing+
Capstone/Integrative Experience+
+ Junior Year Writing and Capstone/Integrative Experience must be replaced by an approved elective course if taken in another major
*Exceptions, equivalencies, approvals, and substitutions may be made by the Undergraduate Advisor

Group B – Four additional courses approved by German and Scandinavian Studies

Joint major in German and Linguistics
Students may elect an interdisciplinary major in German and Linguistics offered by the Linguistics Department. Requirements include the successful completion of four courses (12 credits) in German (110, 120, 230, and 240, or equivalent) and 30 credits distributed between Linguistics and German.

Study Abroad
We strongly encourage our majors and minors to spend a semester or a year studying abroad in Germany and/or in Scandinavia. The University of Massachusetts has long-standing partner agreements with all nine research universities in the German state of Baden-Württemberg as well as with Linköping University in Sweden. Our students consistently tell us that their study abroad is one of the most important experiences of their lives.