German

Throughout history, German writers and thinkers have played a central role in the development of world culture. Today, Germany's economy is the largest in Europe, ranking third in the world, and Germany is the world's leading export nation. Students in OU's German program learn to read, write, and speak the language fluently.

Degrees Offered

A student majoring in German graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Most German majors are also double majors, combining language study with fields as diverse as business, chemistry, anthropology, and music. Students can go on to pursue Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, or Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

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German at OU

Why Study German at OU?

The only Arabic program in Oklahoma to offer various options to students who are interested in majoring, minoring, or even satisfying a language requirement
Courses for learners of Arabic as a second language, heritage learners of Arabic, and native speakers of Arabic
Five faculty members who are trained in the latest teaching methodologies
Proficiency-based program that helps students learn both academic Arabic and Arabic dialects
Language lab equipped with access to tutoring in addition to cultural and educational visual and audio materials
Students explore the Arabic-speaking world from different perspectives that challenge the stereotypical portrayal of people from the Middle East
Arabic skills could support students planning to pursue graduate work across various disciplines
Students studying Arabic have excellent opportunities in securing competitive scholarships.
The Arabic program welcomes and encourages diverse backgrounds.

Career Opportunities

Universities
Government agencies
Media
Museums
International corporations

Courses Offered

GERM 1115 Beginning German
- An elementary course in understanding, speaking, reading and writing German. This course does not count for major credit in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics.
GERM 1225 Beginning German (Continued)
- An elementary course in understanding, speaking, reading and writing German. This course does not count for major credit in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics.Prerequisite: GERM 1115.
GERM 2113 Intermediate German
- Develops reading skills and control of grammar. Emphasis on expansion of vocabulary and strong reinforcement of grammatical structures. Reading and discussion of texts of literary and cultural interest. Oral and written assignments. Prerequisite: GERM 1225.
GERM 2223 Intermediate German (Continued)
- Continues developing language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) at the intermediate level, with more emphasis on reading and writing. Continues to expand into more complex structures, wider communicative situations and vocabulary relating to practical, social, cultural and media topics. Prerequisite: GERM 2113; GERM 2013 or concurrent enrollment.
GERM 3423 Advanced German Composition
- May be repeated once with a change of topic (dialect); maximum credit 6 hours. Develops communicative functional abilities, in particular speaking and listening, in one of the regional spoken dialects of the Arab world. The direct connection between the colloquial dialect taught and Modern Standard Arabic will be explored. Relevant aspects of local culture will be covered, as well as the cultural appropriateness of communicative functions introduced. Prerequisite: ARAB 1225.
GERM 3853 Literature and Film
- Introduction to representative works of contemporary German literature and film. Within the context of reading and writing assignments and the viewing and discussion of films, the course is designed to improve language skills and knowledge of German culture.
GERM 4333 Topics in the Twentieth Century German Literature and Culture (Capstone)
- From 1900 to the present. A survey of literature, art, film, social relations, music and history. Prerequisite: 3423 or 3853.
MLLL 3823 German Culture and Thought
- Introduces major themes in German cultural history and analytical tools students can bring to the further study of German and/or other European literatures and cultures in translation. Specific topics may vary. Prerequisite: junior standing.
ARAB 4413 Arabic Structure
- Detailed explanations of the structure of the Arabic language at both the theoretical and pedagogical levels. The different phonological, morphological, and syntactic rules are presented and discussed holistically, combining both form and function, to achieve adequate knowledge of Arabic structure. The course is conducted mostly in Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 3223.
ARAB 4433 Arabic Media and Politics
- Exposes students to various types of mass media covering contemporary political, economic, historical, and social issues in the Arab world. Sociolinguistic features of news reports are examined to understand the content, political underpinnings, and the framing or packaging techniques used in media discourse. The course is conducted entirely in Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 3223.
ARAB 4443 Readings Islamic Texts
- Representative texts in Arabic from the Qur'an, Qur'anic Exegesis, Prophetic Hadith, Prophet Muhammad's biographies, and legal, mystical, and theological treatises. The objectives are to understand major Islamic doctrines, and themes, and to develop working knowledge of genre specific vocabulary and style. Class is conducted in Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 3223.
ARAB 4993 Readings Contemporary Arab Culture
- Deeper understanding of major cultural issues by examining critical texts of intellectual figures throughout the contemporary Arab world. Prepares students to write their final project in Arabic, and provides opportunities for developing their language skills further for adequate mastery of the language. Course is conducted entirely in Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 4413 and ARAB 4433.