Studying German at Penn State Behrend
Courses meeting the 12-credit language requirement
- German 1 (4 credits) taught every fall semester
- German 2 (4 credits) taught every spring semester
- German 3 (4 credits) taught every fall semester
Required Textbook
- Terrell, Tschirner, Nikolai: Kontakte. A Communicative Approach. Ninth Edition (package textbook and workbook) McGraw Hill. (Available at the bookstore and on reserve in the library.)
Note: The textbook and the workbook will be used for three semesters in German 1–3.
Material covered
- German 1: Kontakte, A & B, Chapters 1–4
- German 2: Kontakte, Chapters 5–9
- German 3: Kontakte, Chapters 10–12
Teaching Methods
All German language classes are taught with a communicative approach, which means we will learn a structure and immediately use it in German. Tricky concepts will be explained in English; otherwise, we will communicate in German—Auf Deutsch—from day one! Oral interviews, cultural projects, and essay writing are part of German 1–German 3.
German Studies Certificate
The 16-17 credit German Studies Certificate is designed for students who wish to specialize in interdisciplinary German Studies. Students acquire advanced German language skills and take courses in the culture, film, history, literature, music, or politics of German-speaking countries. In-depth knowledge of these countries prepares students for a global workforce and careers in international business, engineering, finance, politics, or the sciences.
Language courses for the German Studies Certificate
- German 3 - level 3, 4 credits, offered every fall
- German 201 - level 4, 4 credits, (GN/GHW), GH, GS, GA
- German 301 - level 5, 3 credits, offered on demand
AP Placement
- Students with an AP score of 3 place into German 201. Credit is awarded for German 1–3.
- Students with an AP score of 4 place into German 301.
- Students with an AP score of 5 place into German 302W, currently not offered at Behrend.
A German minor must be completed at the University Park campus. Students interested in pursuing a German major need to request an early Change of Campus.
Study Abroad in Germany/Austria
Students interested in studying abroad are eligible for all Penn State Global Programs. In the past, students of German have studied in Berlin, Freiburg, Marburg, Rosenheim, and Pforzheim.
Students have also been awarded fully funded fellowships and assistantships, such as:
Cultural Vistas Fellowship
- Summer 2016 – Berlin
DAAD RISE Fellowship
- Summer 2022 – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Summer 2009 – University of Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
U.S. Teaching Assistantship
- AY 2020-21 – Vienna, Austria
- AY 2019-20 – Vienna, Austria
- AY 2014-15 – Bad Hofgastein, Austria
Contact Information
All students interested in taking German at Behrend, and especially those with placement questions, can reach Dr. Eva Kuttenberg via email at [email protected]. She is also happy to meet with you while fall and spring classes are in session.
Viel Glück und viel Spaß mit Deutsch!