Bachelor's degree in German Studies
For better orientation in study matters
Transition period
Until 30.9.2024 (= end of summer semester 2024), students can continue and complete their studies according to the expiring Curriculum 17W; transferring to the new curriculum (2020) is voluntary.
If the degree programme is not completed within the transition period, the student will be subject to the respective new (current) curriculum by law, i.e. students must transfer if they wish to continue to study and complete the degree programme.
The most important changes to the bachelor's degree programme in German Studies 2020W
Module B (German Studies introductory module)
The course "Literary Text Analysis" will be offered as a lecture with exercises and in several parallel groups from now on. The VO "Literature and Culture" is no longer a prerequisite for attending the VU "Literary Text Analysis".
Module C "Modern German Literature" (2017W: Module 1)
The PS "Literary Research" will remain the same in terms of content, but will be renamed "Topics in Literary Studies".
Module F "German Language: Structure, Meaning, Use" (2017W: Module 4)
In the module, the proseminars "Grammar II" and "Text Linguistics" will be replaced by the proseminars "Syntax-Semantics Interface" and "Semantics-Pragmatics Interface".
The proseminar "Text Linguistics", which is recommended as preparation for the subject examination "German Language", is offered in the elective module L "Language - Text - Culture".
Module G "German Language: Variation, History, Change" (2017W: Module 5)
The proseminar "Pragmatics and Variety Linguistics" is replaced by the proseminar "Variation Linguistics and Sociolinguistics".
Module H "Practical German Studies" (2017W: Module 6)
In Module H, the two courses H.2.b 'Oral Communication' and H.2.c. 'Argumentation and Discussion' are replaced by a course entitled 'Rhetoric and Argumentation'. The course 'Writing' is omitted.
Module K "Literature and Culture - Interculturality" (2017W: Module 9)
The module is supplemented by the following courses:
K.2 "Literary and cultural theories" (UE, 2 ECTS)
K.6 "German-language literature in the context of European culture and cultural history" (VU, 3 ECTS) K.7 "Dialectal literatures and cultures" (VU, 3 ECTS)
K.8 "Archives of literature - literature as an archive" (VU, 3 ECTS)
The course "German-Nordic Interrelations" (VU, 3 ECTS) will continue to be offered in Module K - as a specification on the topic of "German-language literature in the context of European culture and cultural history".
In return, the following courses will be deleted: "Greek Literature in Overview I and II", "Roman Literature in Overview I and II", "Survey of Anglophone Literatures (Focus Britain)", "Survey of Anglophone Literatures (Focus America)".
Module L "Language - Text - Culture" (2017W: Module 10)
The following courses of the module are canceled: "Introduction to Sociolinguistics", "Introduction to Psycholinguistics", "Semantics".
By completing the one-hour VO "Introduction to DaF/DaZ", 2 ECTS instead of the previous 1.5 ECTS must be acquired. The VO "Languages of the World" is worth 4 ECTS credits instead of the previous 2 ECTS credits.
The VO "Communication, Language and Literacy" will be replaced by the VU L.3 "Text and Culture" (2 ECTS).
The module is also supplemented by the proseminar L.7 "Text Linguistics" (3 ECTS).
Prerequisite chains
The prerequisite chains have been relaxed in the 2020 curriculum in order to make the BA degree programme in German Studies easier to study. From now on, attending individual courses no longer requires the completion of entire modules, but rather those courses in which the knowledge and skills required for the corresponding course were acquired.
Information for people switching
During the transition period, students can voluntarily switch to the new/current curriculum (in official diction: transfer to the new curriculum). The following steps must be taken:
- Check the advantages and disadvantages of switching, using the equivalence lists and taking into account the individual study situation. Additional information: The equivalence lists are published with the new curriculum (as Annex IV): Equivalence lists BA 2020
- Report the change to the study department, which is only possible within the admission period. Additional information: During the transition period, the student can decide the time (semester) of the transfer themselves; the transfer can take place at any time (during the admission period).
- Have the courses or examinations completed so far recognized in UNIGRAZonline in accordance with the equivalence lists (instructions under Recognitions or Equivalence Entries). Information and assistance with UGO technical questions can be obtained from the Dean's Office staff member Ms Bianca Redhead-Trettenbrein (but please read the guidelines carefully first!).) Additional information: Since there are published equivalence lists, individual, official recognition is generally not necessary; if individual recognition appears necessary, the Cuko chairperson should be consulted before applying for recognition.
- Courses/examinations that are prerequisites for further courses according to the new curriculum must be completed as soon as possible! The Cuko chairperson can only grant exemptions for registration for further courses in the absence of a prerequisite in justified cases and for a limited period of time.
Bachelor's thesis
In the bachelor's seminars, which students can choose according to what is on offer, they will deal in depth with questions of modern German-language literature, German medieval studies and the German language. They also serve to develop topics for the bachelor's thesis.
The topics for the bachelor's thesis can be developed from the topics of the bachelor's seminars or can be chosen in consultation with a lecturer of a course of the three subjects "German Language", "German Medieval Studies" or "Modern German Literature".
The bachelor's thesis is uploaded to UNIGRAZonline and automatically subjected to a plagiarism check. You can find instructions for uploading here.
The bachelor's thesis is worth 5 ECTS credits.