Earn your BA in German
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in German requires a minimum of 120 semester hours, including at least 30 semester hours of work for the major. Students must maintain a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core. Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP) credit may not be counted toward the major.
A maximum of 15 semester hours of approved transfer credit may be counted toward the major, including study abroad course work. However, students may count up to 21 semester hours earned from the Academic Year in Freiburg program toward the major in German.
The German Language and Culture Advanced Placement (AP) exam with a score of 4 or higher is considered to be the equivalent to one of the 3000-level electives. Students with previous knowledge of German language should take the World Languages Placement Test (WLPT) to determine the best level for your first enrollment in a language course.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in German offers a comprehensive undergraduate program of study in German with emphases in the culture, literature, and language of Germany, Austria, and German-speaking Switzerland. It prepares students to use German that displays intercultural competency in fields as diverse as international business, teaching, engineering, medicine, music, museum studies, and linguistic or literary studies. Students may take two German courses taught in English if enrolled in the 4-semester hour section of the course(s), but the rest of the student's courses will be taught in German.
| Course type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Core courses | 9 |
| Linguistics course | 3 |
| Literature/film courses | 6 |
| Culture course | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total hours | 30 |
Teacher licensure
Students interested in teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools should seek admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the College of Education.
To qualify for licensure in secondary teaching, students in the TEP complete a degree in education as well as a related College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree. See Teacher Education Program Application and Admission on the College of Education website for details on requirements and deadlines for applying to the College of Education and about TEP choices of majors leading to licensure.
Advanced Placement Credit Policy
Iowa offers credit for more than 30 Advanced Placement (AP) Program exams. You can earn 3 to 8 semester hours of credit per test, depending on the subject and your score. For additional information, please visit the University of Iowa's Advanced Placement Program.
German Language and Culture exam
- Students achieving a test score of 4 or 5 are given 3 semester hours and considered to be the equivalent to one of the 3000-level electives for the major or credit for GRMN:2002-Intermediate German II for the minor.
- May be used to complete the General Education Program: World Languages requirement; or applied to requirements for the German major or minor; or used as elective hours.
- NOTE: Students who earn credit for this exam are not eligible for Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP) credit for German.
| Score | Credit | German Major | German Minor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP German Language and Culture | 4-5 | 3 semester hours | 3000-level elective | GRMN:2002 |
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