Placement Guidelines

Students with previous study of German should follow these guidelines for choosing their first German course at Rutgers–Camden: one year of high school German, take 101; two years of high school German, take 102; three years of high school German, take 131. Students with four or more years of high school German should usually start with 131, but may be ready for a more advanced course, especially if any of their high school German courses were honors or AP; they should consult the department for proper placement.

Please consult the department website for any updates to these placement guidelines.
Please remember that the College of Arts and Sciences graduation requirement is one foreign language course at the 102 level or higher, depending on placement.

50:470:101 Elementary German I (R) (4) Training in pronunciation, grammar, composition, conversation, and in the reading of simple texts. Two lab periods per week required. For students with no knowledge of German or with usually no more than one year of high school German. See placement guidelines above. Students with three or more years of German in high school may not take 50:470:101 for credit.

50:470:102 Elementary German II (R) (4) Continuation of 50:470:101. Prerequisite: 50:470:101 or equivalent. For students with little knowledge of German or with usually no more than two years of high school German. See placement guidelines above. Students with more than four years of German in high school may not take 50:470:102 for credit. Note that 50:470:102 is the minimum level for fulfilling the college general degree requirement in foreign languages.

50:470:131 Intermediate German I (G) (3) Practice in writing and speaking German, a review of grammar, and a study of significant texts. Prerequisite: 50:470:102 or equivalent or proper placement. Students with three years or more of high school German will usually start at this level. See placement guidelines above.

50:470:132 Intermediate German II (G) (3) Continuation of 50:470:131. Prerequisite: 50:470:131 or equivalent or proper placement.

50:470:203,204 Verbal Skills in Everyday Situations I, II (3,3) Practice speaking and understanding spoken German in everyday situations. Level and materials will be adapted to individual needs. Can be taken concurrently with Intermediate German or by more advanced students for additional practice with the spoken language. Prerequisite: 50:470:102.

50:470:261,262 German Literature in Translation (G) (3,3) Surveys German literature from the beginnings to modern times with a study of selected works. Taught entirely in English. For students with no knowledge of German.

50:470:271 German Cinema in English Translation I (G) (3) Study of German film from the beginnings through the Nazi era, including expressionist film and other Weimar-era masterpieces. Films of Fritz Lang, Friedrich Murnau, and others. Short literary and/or historical readings may be included. Taught entirely in English. May be taken as part of a minor in media studies.

50:470:272 German Cinema in English Translation II (G) (3) Study of German film since World War II. Includes a variety of cinematic responses to the war and the Nazi past, as well as films of the "New German Cinema" and others. Films of Rainer Maria Fassbinder, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner Herzog, and others. Short literary and/or historical readings may be included. Taught entirely in English. May be taken as part of a minor in media studies.

50:470:301 Advanced German Grammar and Stylistics (G) (3) Intensive study of the problems of idiom, diction, and style, with a review of forms and syntax. Prerequisite: 50:470:132 or permission of instructor.

50:470:305,306 German Conversation and Composition (G) (3,3) Practice in speaking and writing German, stressing the development of an adequate vocabulary and idiom for dealing with everyday subjects and German culture. Prerequisite: 50:470:132 or equivalent as determined by placement examination.

50:470:310 Communication in German Media (3) Understanding of linguistic variation in diverse communicative situations. Development of abilities in reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension in a variety of communicative situations and style registers.
Prerequisite: 50:470:132 or permission of instructor.

50:470:315 Written Translations (G) (3) Emphasis on literary, scientific, and technical translations. Practice of translation skills for various professions. Prerequisite: 50:470:306 or permission of instructor. Preparatory course for future translators.

50:470:339,340 German Culture and Civilization I,II (G) (3,3) Social, intellectual, religious, and artistic developments within the major German-speaking areas. Prerequisite: 50:470:132 or permission of instructor.

50:470:386 Special Topics in German Cinema (G) (3) Study of a particular filmmaker, historical period, theme, or other topic in German cinema. Short literary and/or historical readings may be included. May be taught in English or German. Check the Schedule of Classes for details. May be taken as part of a minor in media studies.

50:470:391,392 Special Topics in German Literature in English Translation (G) (3,3) A course in a specially selected topic, such as Franz Kafka, Bertolt Brecht, women in medieval German literature, or literature in a divided and unified Germany. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher, with or without a knowledge of German. Open to all students, although primarily, but not exclusively, for advanced students. Course may be presented in two seven-week segments teaching more limited subjects. For further information, consult the German faculty.

50:470:401 Germany Today (G) (3) Cultural, social, and political life of Germany, with emphasis on everyday situations. Development of oral skills; preparation for travel or work abroad. Prerequisite: 50:470:306 or permission of instructor. Course taught in German.

50:470:402 The Living German Language (3) Introduces students to the variability that is always part of a living language--how German varies across time, space, and communicative situation. Develops students' ability to understand and use different types of language in different situations.
Prerequisite: 50:470:132 or permission.

50:470:445,446 German Literature from 1750 to 1849 (G) (3,3) The Aufklärung, Sturm und Drang, classicism, romanticism, and the beginnings of realism, as exemplified particularly in the works of Lessing, Goethe, Schiller, Novalis, Kleist, and Grillparzer. Prerequisite: 50:470:132 or permission of instructor.

50:470:447,448 German 20th-Century Masterpieces (G) (3,3) Realism, naturalism, and outstanding writers of the 20th century. Prerequisite: 50:470:132 or permission of instructor.

50:470:457,458 Readings in Special Fields (G) (BA,BA) If the needs of the student cannot be met by the regular offerings, special supervised programs can be arranged according to need or interest.

50:470:493,494 Individual Study in German (G) (BA,BA) For advanced students under exceptional circumstances. Approval of the instructor must be secured, but may not be granted if the needs of the student can be met by the regular offerings.

Honors Program in German (BA) Course numbers for the honors program are arranged by the department.