Honors Program in German and German Studies

Qualified German and German Studies majors may be invited to participate in the Honors Program. Within the framework of either the German major or the German Studies major, the Honors Program allows honors candidates to extend their competence by adding breadth and depth to the regular German curriculum. The Honors Program also serves as excellent preparation for graduate study in German. Students interested in pursuing Honors should consult the department chairperson by the beginning of the second semester of their junior year.

Qualifications for Admittance

Participation in the Honors Program is competitive. Except under unusual circumstances only two students will be admitted each year. Admittance to the program requires a minimum GPA within the major of 3.5 and an overall GPA of 3.0. Potential students will be asked to submit a rationale in German describing the intended substance of the two required papers (see below) and explaining also their motivation for pursuing the honors projects. The ability to speak and write German at an advanced level (as manifested in both the rationale and in previous course work) will be a consideration in determining acceptance to the German Honors Program.

Requirements

The Honors Program consists of three components:

1. Two honors papers written within the context of two 400-level courses. These papers are longer and more extensive than those normally required for the course and should incorporate the use of secondary sources. For German Studies majors, at least one paper should treat an interdisciplinary topic (e.g., art, music, history, philosophy, political science, film). The length is determined by the professor but would typically comprise ca. twenty-five pages. Students will receive one-hour of additional credit for each course in which they write an honors paper. Honors credit hours do not count toward the major. Normally the papers should be related to course work within the German Department at Oberlin. Exceptions can be made, in particular for German Studies majors and students who have studied recently at a German university, but students are expected to choose topics that fall within the range of "German Studies" as normally conceived.

2. Completion of the Honors Reading List (see sample below). This list is to be compiled in consultation with the German Department faculty. It should, particularly in the case of German Studies majors, reflect the student's training, expertise, and interests. Students are encouraged to begin preparation of the Honors Reading List as early as their junior year.

3. A two-part, written and oral honors examination conducted by a committee comprised of members of the German Department and at least one outside evaluator. The honors examination is administered toward the end of the second semester of the senior year. Evaluation: Based on an evaluation of the two honors papers and the examination, recommendations for the award of honors are made by the departmental committee to the Committee on Honors at Graduation. For further information please contact a member of the German faculty.

Honors Reading List (Sample)

For German Studies majors: the reading list should reflect course work outside the German department (e.g., artists or art periods, composers or musical periods, philosophy, historical periods, film studies).