Germany and Scandinavia boast some of the world's most fascinating cultures, most beautiful landscapes, most advanced economies, and highest quality of life. At UO you can learn to speak, read, and write in German, and chart your own path through the literature, history, philosophy, music, art, politics, and society of Germany. The German minor correlates well with studies that have an international or European concentration.
Students at UO can minor in German, Scandinavian, German and Scandinavian Studies, or work toward an undergraduate certificate.
German Minor
The German minor correlates well with studies that have an international or European concentration. It is particularly useful for students of global studies, international business, European history, philosophy, medieval studies, sociology, political science, journalism, linguistics, art history, music history, other languages, theater, and related fields.
German minors achieve proficiency in the German language, typically as demonstrated by satisfactory completion of the Third-Year German language sequence (GER 313).
The German minor requires the successful completion of seven German courses beyond the first year of language (28 credits in total). These must include the second-year-German and third-year-German language sequence and beyond this may include (depending on where the student begins) courses in language, literature, or culture. Grades of higher than C- or P (pass) must be earned in all courses used to satisfy requirements. Among these seven courses:
- Only one course taught in English may be applied to the minor.
- One course may be taken pass/no pass.
- At least 12 credits must be taken in the UO Department of German and Scandinavian.
- No courses from other departments count toward the minor in German.
- The following courses cannot be used to satisfy requirements: GER 199 Special Studies, GER 405 Reading and Conference, GER 406 Special Problem, GER 408 Workshop, GER 409 Practicum (excepting the teaching practicum).
Since all courses are not offered every year, plans should be made well in advance so that students can take prerequisites for 400-level courses. Specific questions should be addressed to departmental advisors.
Scandinavian Minor
The Scandinavian minor correlates well with studies that have an international or European concentration. It is particularly useful for students of international business, European history, sociology, political science, theater arts, and art history. The minor requires:
- Successful completion of one year of Swedish or equivalent (12 credits).
- Six Scandinavian literature or culture courses (24 credits).
Of the requirements listed above, the following rules apply:
- Three courses must be taken at the UO Department of German and Scandinavian.
- One literature or culture course may be taken pass/no pass.
Minors in Scandinavian must demonstrate basic aptitude in Swedish, demonstrated either by evaluation by the Scandinavian advisor or by successful completion of First-Year Swedish (SWED 103) with a grade of mid-C or better.
Specific questions about the Scandinavian minor should be addressed to departmental undergraduate advisors in Scandinavian.
German and Scandinavian Studies Minor
German and Scandinavian studies offers a menu of customizable pathways through the language, literature, history, philosophy, music, art, politics, and societies of the region, plus personal guidance from a faculty mentor. Like all of our degree programs, it can be pursued by both BA and BS students and as either a major or minor.
Students desiring advanced language ability should consider our regular majors in German or Scandinavian.
This program requires:
- Proficiency in German or a Scandinavian language, typically demonstrated by satisfactory completion of at least GER 203, SWED 203, or GER 205, or an equivalent placement.
- Three upper-division courses taught in German or a Scandinavian language (12 credits).
- Two approved* upper-division courses taught in any language (8 credits).
- One approved* upper- or lower-division course taught in any language (4 credits).
- Three of the 6 courses in criteria 2, 3, and 4 above (i.e. 12 credits) must be taught by the UO Department of German and Scandinavian.
- No more than one course may be taken P/N. Grades of at least a mid-C or P must be earned in all courses used to satisfy requirements for the major.