Areas of specialization available include philology, German literature before the baroque period, and German literature and culture of the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Requirements for the master's degree are 30 credits of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree (or 24 credits and a thesis) and an examination covering the general field of German literature and, optionally, film. In addition, students must display knowledge of the history of the German language and of Middle-High German.
Students pursuing the doctorate must take a minimum of 48 credits of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree and possess a reading knowledge of one additional language, as deemed appropriate by the candidate's advisers. In addition, a candidate must complete successfully a written examination based on a core reading list and an oral examination in his or her area of specialization. Finally, each candidate must submit an acceptable dissertation. No more than 3 credits for the master's degree and no more than 6 credits for the doctorate may be taken in independent study courses without the approval of the graduate director. A master of philosophy degree can be obtained by candidates who complete their coursework and qualifying examination within four years. Although there is no formal residency requirement, the candidate must be available for close supervision and consultation.
Courses at the 500 and 600 levels are open to all graduate students and constitute the major portion of the program. As part of their graduate training, doctoral students are given the opportunity to assume certain teaching obligations under faculty supervision. Further details concerning the program, including additional information about the qualifying examination and the dissertation, as well as information about teaching assistantships, can be found on the department's website.
