BA in German Language and Area Studies

The BA in Language and Area Studies is designed for students with a strong interest in a region of the world and in a language of that region. The program, jointly designed and administered by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the School of International Service (SIS), builds on the strengths of the CAS Department of Language and Foreign Studies (LFS) and the SIS field of Comparative and Regional Studies.

This innovative program achieves a balance between humanities and social sciences courses, combined with an advanced level of foreign language study. American University is one of only a few institutions in the country which provide a degree with such combined program depth in both area studies and foreign languages. The Language and Area Studies degree program responds to the national need for foreign language skills in the global village for effective communication and improved international understanding.

Admission to the Program

To be considered for freshman admission, an applicant should have earned at least a 3.00 average in secondary school. Students from other regionally accredited collegiate institutions, and students in other programs at American University who have completed the freshman year, should maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) to be considered for transfer to the program.

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours
• Six credit hours of college writing
• Three credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination

General Education Requirements

• A total of 30 credit hours, consisting of one foundation course and one second-level course from an approved sequence from each of the five curricular areas
• No more than 6 credit hours in the same discipline

Major Requirements

A total of 51 credit hours with grades of C or better, as outlined below.

Please see AU Registrar Schedule for current offerings.

Course Requirements

Foundation Courses (9 credit hours)

• SIS-105/SIS-105G World Politics 3:1 (3)
• One intercultural communication course from the following:

  SIS-140/SIS-140G Cross Cultural Communication 3:1 (3)
  SIS-340 Foundations of International Communication (3)
  SIS-341 Intercultural Communication (3)

• One comparative politics course from the following:

  GOVT-130/GOVT-130G Comparative Politics 3:1 (3)
  GOVT-231 Third World Politics (3)
  GOVT-232 Politics of Industrial Societies (3)

Foreign Language Course work (18 credit hours)

• A total of 18 credits of course work in a single foreign language at the 300 level or above
• Demonstration of proficiency in the appropriate foreign language:

  As a requirement for completing the degree, Language and Area Studies (LAS) majors must demonstrate proficiency in the foreign language associated with their area of focus. This language proficiency will be demonstrated by achieving a B (3.00) average or better for all course work in the foreign language taken in the Department of Language and Foreign Studies.

Area Studies (with 12 credits at the 300 level or above)

(Part 1) Fifteen credits of course work in humanities courses, including 3 credits from the Department of History (HIST-xxx) and an additional 3 credits of course work with a strong historical component, from the following (other appropriate area studies courses may be substituted with the approval of the major adviser):

• ARTH-101 European Art: Renaissance to the Present (3)
• GERM-336 German Topics (3)
• GERM-338 Introduction to German Translation (3)
• GERM-432 Studies in German Film (3)
• GERM-336 Business German
• GERM-438 German Civilization I (3)
• GERM-439 German Civilization II (3)
• HIST-239 Modern Germany Since 1848 (3)
• HIST-318 Nazi Germany (3)
• LFS-230 The Modernist Explosion
• PHIL-311 Modern European Movements (3)

(Part 2) Six credits of course work in social science courses, selected from the following (other appropriate area studies courses may be substituted with the approval of the major adviser):

• ANTH-339 Culture Area Analysis: Europe (3)
• ECON-351 Comparative Economic Systems (3)
• ECON-318 Economic History
• ECON-361 Economic Development
• GOVT-232 Politics of Industrial Societies (3)
• GOVT-432 Political Institutions and Processes in Selected Countries: Germany (3)
• GOVT-532 Political Institutions and Processes in Selected Regions: Western Europe (3)
• HIST-239 Modern Germany Since 1848 (3)
• HIST-318 Nazi Germany (3)
• SIS-331 overview of the European Community (3)
• SIS-355 The Relations of West European Nations (3)
• SIS-530 Colloquium on the Common Market (3)
• SIS-551 Politics and Society in Europe Since 1945 (3)
• SIS-557 Foreign Policy Formulation in West European States (3)

Senior Capstone (3 credit hours)

Students should enroll either in an SIS comparative seminar or in an approved topics or seminar course in Language and Foreign Studies.

Other Options

• Students may, where appropriate, and with the Undergraduate Advisor’s approval, select special topics courses to fulfill requirements.
• Student may also apply up to 3 credit hours toward the major from an approved internship or Cooperative Education Field Experience.
• Study abroad course credits may be used toward the major with the approval of Undergraduate Advisor.

University Honors Program

Students in the University Honors Program have the opportunity to graduate with University Honors in the major. To do so, students complete 12 hours of advanced-level Honors work in the department and, upon departmental recommendation, graduate with University Honors in the major. The department's Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding departmental options. See the University Honors Program for details.