Fields of Concentration

Navigate different fields of concentration and learn more about concentration requirements using the tabs below.

The Language Sequence: German language is offered from beginning to advanced levels; students with prior knowledge of German should take a placement test. (Click here for more info)

If you have no prior German, you should begin to study the German language with German 10 (elementary German) or with German 10ab (intensive elementary), ordinarily in your freshman year, followed by German 20 in your second year, and at least one advanced-level course at the 60-level. Students who place out of the language requirement generally take at least one advanced 60-level course.

Year 1: Beginning German 10a (first semester), 10b (second semester), and 10ab (intensive: two semesters in one).

Year 2: Intermediate German 20a (first semester), 20b (second semester), and 20ab (intensive: two semesters in one).

Year 3: Advanced German at the 60-level. We regularly offer German 61: Advanced Grammar in the fall and German 62: Conversation and Composition, as well as several other 60-level courses with special focus on advancing language skills through special topics. These also prepare you for the 100-level courses, which usually require reading in German (and some discussion in German).

No matter where you begin in the concentration, all students will take our survey course, Introduction to German Literature, History, and Thought (GER 100x), ordinarily by the spring of your sophomore year. This course provides an overview of the program in German Studies. We also expect students to take a course that focuses on a genre, such as prose, poetry, or drama. Beyond these core courses, you have significant flexibility in shaping your studies. While we encourage a broad understanding, you may focus on specific periods—from early modern to the present—or on particular themes. See the sample Roadmaps as a guide to plan your study.

German Studies

Concentration Requirements

German Studies Requirements: 9 courses (36 credits)

Basic required courses: Nine courses (36 credits).
1. Language and culture: Up to two courses in German on the 60 level.
2. Introduction to Lit/Cultural History: GER 100.
3. Four additional courses in German on the 100 level or above.
4. Up to three additional courses either in German or in related fields with sufficient focus on the German aspect of the field. In consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, students coordinate these courses into a coherent but flexible program of study. Courses may be selected from such fields as English; Folklore and Mythology; Government; History; History of Art and Architecture; History of Science; Linguistics; Literature; Music; Philosophy; Psychology; Comparative Study of Religion; Visual and Environmental Studies; Women, Gender, and Sexuality; and others, including German itself.
  1. Note: Up to three courses (combined from 1c. and 1d.) may be courses in which the instruction and readings are entirely in English. Together, these courses should address a wide spectrum of German culture from the medieval period to the present, and at least one should address a literary genre.
Courses required for honors eligibility: same as basic requirements 1 a-c, plus

two additional courses either in German or in related fields
Junior year: GERMAN 98
Senior year: two terms of GERMAN 99 (Thesis Tutorial) and the General Examination.

Other information:

The concentration is designed to make it possible to begin with elementary German (GERMAN 10 or 10AB) in the freshman year and to complete the concentration without difficulty.
One Freshman Seminar may, upon approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, be approved for concentration credit.
At the student's request, concentration credit may be granted for second-year language courses (German 20a, 20b, and 20ab)

Click here to download Student Planning Document for German Concentration

Roadmap A: Sample concentration plan for those entering with no prior German

**Roadmap A**
	Fall	Spring	Summer Recommended
Year 1:	Beginning German: GER 10 or equivalent (through summer study) First Year Seminar
Year 2:	Intermediate German: GER 20 or equivalent (through summer study) German 100x
Year 3:	GER 60-level GER 100-level	GER 100-level GER 98 (hons only)	Work \| Study Abroad Harvard Vienna-Berlin Program (8 credits - 60- and 100-level)
Year 4:	GER 100-level Elective GER 99 (hons only)	100-level or elective GER 99 (hons only)

Roadmap B: Alternative sample plan track for those entering with no prior German.

**Roadmap B:**
	Fall	Spring
Year 1:	GER 10ab First Year Seminar	GER 20ab
Year 2:	GER 60-level 100-level	GER 60- or 100-level GER 100x
Year 3:	GER 100-level GER 100-level	GER 100-level GER 98 (tutorial - hons only)
Year 4:	GER 100-level GER 99 (hons only)	GER 100-level or elective GER 99 (hons only)

Roadmap C: Sample plan for students entering with advanced German with an optional view to completing the concurrent masters [200-level are only necessary for the A.M.]

**Roadmap C**
	Fall	Spring	Summer Optional \| recommended
Year 1:	GER 60-level First Year Seminar	GER 60-level GER 100x	Harvard Vienna-Berlin Program (8 credits - 60- and 100-level)
Year 2:	GER 100-level	GER 100-level (GER 100x)	Work \| Study Abroad
Year 3:	GER 100-level [GER 200-level]	GER 100-level [GER 200-level] GER 98 (tutorial)	Senior thesis research
Year 4:	GER 100-level [GER 200-level] GER 99 (thesis)	GER 100-level [GER 200-level] GER 99 (thesis)

Honors:

Concentrators desiring to be considered for honors write a thesis of ca. 50 pages. The thesis is designed to demonstrate that a candidate can read and interpret a literary text or a complex cultural or social phenomenon with authority, insight, and originality, and demonstrate familiarity with the major critical writings on the subject. All seniors are required to pass a one-hour oral or a three-hour written examination. The questions for this examination, designed to give students the opportunity to synthesize the knowledge they have gained from their studies, are based on individual reading lists submitted by each senior to a faculty committee.

Scandinavian Studies

Summary

The concentration in Scandinavian Studies consists of ten courses, including:

6 courses in a Scandinavian language
4 courses in related subjects

To graduate with honors, students complete:

12 courses
Scand 99 (two terms); senior thesis

Concentration Requirements

This option is intended for students who wish to combine the study of Scandinavian literature and culture with the study of some aspect of Western civilization closely related to a special area of the larger field of Scandinavian Languages and Literatures. Programs in Scandinavian and other literatures (including German), drama, folklore, history, linguistics, or an aspect of the social sciences may be submitted for approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Note that this is not considered a joint concentration and that the level of honors will be determined solely by the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.

Basic required courses: ten courses (40 credits)
1. Six courses in Scandinavian (may include Scandinavian 91r and Scandinavian 97 and 98)
2. Four courses in related subjects
Courses required for honors eligibility: same as Item 1, plus two terms of Scandinavian 99 (Thesis Tutorial)
Other information: For a list of approved related courses, see the Director of Undergraduate Studies, who must also approve each concentrator's courses. One of the Frameworks courses in the Humanities (Hum 11a-c) may count toward concentration credit.

Joint Concentration

Concentration Requirements

This option is intended for students who wish to combine the study of German culture and literature with the study of one other field significantly related to some aspect of the larger field of Germanic languages and literatures. Programs in German and history of art and architecture, German and music, German and government, German and TDM, German and Classics, German and philosophy have been approved by the departments concerned. Programs in German and another literature, or German and another field may be submitted for approval of the departments concerned. For information about other possible combinations, consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Required courses: 5 courses (20 credits)

Five courses in German beyond German 20, which should include GER 100.
For German primary: German 98 (junior tutorial) and 99a and b (two terms). Senior thesis.

Click here to download Student Planning Document for Joint Concentration

Roadmap D: Sample plan for joint concentration entering no prior German - honors only.

**Roadmap D**
	Fall	Spring	Summer Optional \| recommended
Year 1:	Beginning German: GER 10 or equivalent (through summer study) [freshman seminar]
Year 2:	Intermediate German: GER 20 or equivalent (through summer study) German 100x
Year 3:	GER 60-level GER 100-level or elective	GER 100-level GER 98 (tutorial)	Work \| Study Abroad Harvard Vienna-Berlin Program (8 credits - 60- and 100-level)
Year 4:	100-level or elective GER 99	100-level or elective GER 99

Double Concentration

Concentration Requirements

What is the difference between the double and joint Concentration?

The double concentration facilitates coursework in two separate concentrations. The requirements are the same in German as the single concentration – with or without honors – and differs from the joint

A limit of 8 credits (2 courses) may be double counted between the two concentrations;
Unlike the joint concentration, a senior thesis is not required;
Only eligible for honors in one of the two concentrations, which must be designated on the declaration form;
A thesis is required for honors in German;
Does not require joint approval from both departments; each concentration is approved separately.

Click here to download Student Planning Document for Double Concentration

Roadmap F: Sample plan for double concentrators entering no prior German

**Roadmap F**
	Fall	Spring	Summer Options
Year 1:	Beginning German: GER 10 or equivalent (through summer study) First Year Seminar offered by GLL faculty
Year 2:	Intermediate German: GER 20 or equivalent (through summer study) German 100x
Year 3:	GER 60-level GER 100-level	GER 60- or 100-level GER 100-level GER 98 [hons only]	Work \| Study Abroad Harvard Vienna-Berlin Program (8 credits)
Year 4:	GER 100-level Elective or double-counted course GER 99 [hons only]	GER 100-level Elective or double-counted course GER 99 [hons only]