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- MASTER'S PROGRAM
- Requirements
Examination
Thesis
Timing of Examinations - DOCTORAL PROGRAM
- Requirements for the
Specializations
Modern German Studies
Medieval Literature
Examinations
Modern German Studies
Medieval Literature
Germanic Philology
Dissertation - Dissertation Archive
Prof. Jonathan Skolnik
Graduate Program Director
Herter Hall 522
(413) 545-4245
jskolnik@german.umass.edu
Graduate Program
The German and Scandinavian Studies Program offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in German Studies. M.A. students may choose an individualized concentration or a more general focus based on coursework. (For information on teaching certification and the possibility of study toward the Master of Arts in Teaching, please contact the Program.) Ph.D. candidates choose a specialization in either modern German studies or medieval literature.
Since the 1990s the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been a pioneer in interdisciplinary German Studies. In addition to taking our Program’s courses in literature, film, theory, philology, history, and culture, our graduate students may earn further credentials like the Graduate Certificates in Advanced Feminist Studies, African Diaspora Studies, and Film Studies. They may also participate in programs like the Anthropology Department’s European Field Studies semesters.
Interested in applying as a student? Applications should be requested from the Graduate School and can also be made online. For all other information, please contact the Graduate Program Director, Professor Jonathan Skolnik at jskolnik@german.umass.edu.
In addition to the materials sent to the graduate school upon application, two writing samples should be sent directly to the Department. One sample should be in English and the other in German, and they should be of sufficient length to demonstrate scholarly writing ability (no more than 8 pages for M.A. applicants; no more than 15 for Ph.D. applicants). Applicants, especially those seeking teaching assistantships, may be asked to demonstrate their competence in spoken German as well. We do not require the GRE for admission, but require these recent samples of your scholarly writing in both English and German as part of the application packet.
Master's Program
The M.A. degree is designed to be a meaningful professional credential in itself and a foundation for further progress toward the Ph.D. Prerequisites for admission to the M.A. Program include a relevant bachelor's degree (or equivalent such as Vordiplom or Zwischenprüfung) and indication of ability to do successful graduate work in German studies. Deficiencies in background and insufficient command of spoken or written German must be remedied before the M.A. is granted.
Program of Study: Ten courses (30 credit hours) with at least a 3.0 grade average are required of all M.A. candidates by University regulation. Full-time students are normally expected by the Department to take a minimum of three graduate courses in each semester. (Courses taken as audits are not counted among the minimum three.) Those holding teaching assistantships in the Department are expected to complete their course requirements for the M.A. within four consecutive semesters of the regular academic year.
Requirements
The Program offers a two-track Master of Arts degree dedicated to providing a sound background in the field of German studies with broad opportunity for interdisciplinary work. some M.A. students may wish to pursue an individualized concentration such as gender, migration, film and literature, national identity, German-Jewish studies, colonialism/ postcolonialism, medieval studies, philology, or German and Scandinavian relations. other m.a. students may wish to structure their master’s program around their coursework, drawing on faculty research strengths in the program, the University, the Five College Consortium, and our international exchange partner universities.
Of the ten courses required for an M.A. degree, six must be taken in the program. Students are required to take a minimum of two courses per semester within German and Scandinavian Studies. Courses outside the Program must be approved by both the student's faculty advisor and the Graduate Program Director. Full-time students must take at least three graduate courses per semester. To provide a solid basis in the tools of the profession and the foundations of scholarship in German studies, M.A. students are required to take the following courses within the department:
583 Methods of Teaching German
584 History of the German Language, or 585 Structure of German
601 Middle High German
Beyond the above, additional courses should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor to form the basis for the Master's exams. By the end of the first semester in the program, a student should have arranged for a faculty member qualified in the appropriate track above to serve as advisor for the M.A. The advisor will assist the student in designing a program of study and selecting courses appropriate for the program.
Note: All teaching assistants doing coursework for the M.A. or Ph.D. participate in a one-credit practicum each year to enhance their teaching skills and to participate in coordination of the language program.
Gender Studies |
Film Studies |
Literary & Cultural Studies |
| At least two approved courses in any department | At least two approved courses in any department | At least two approved courses in any department |
| Courses required in German and Scandinavian Studies: 583 Methods of Teaching German; 584 History of the German Language, or 585 Structure of German; 601 Middle High German; one methods course, and at least two courses in German literature | ||
Mandatory Examination Areas |
||
| History | and Method | and Cultural Products |
M.A. Examinations
The M.A. exams and reading lists for students pursuing an individualized concentration are to demonstrate working knowledge in three mandatory areas: works in the student’s concentration, methods applicable to analyzing these works, and the history of the concentration. For students pursuing the general option, each reading list will be based on course material and additional readings. In each case, students will work closely with the faculty member responsible for that exam to compile their reading lists. students are expected to address material from several centuries. The candidate can choose from the following formats for the examinations: (a) three two-hour written examinations administered in the Program during regular working hours; or (b) with the consent of the Graduate Program Director up to three eight-hour take-home examinations. Given adequate success on the examinations listed under (a) and (b) above, students will be admitted to an oral examination of approximately one hour.
Thesis in Lieu of Examinations
In rare circumstances where a student has amassed a concentration of work in a topic area after three semesters of graduate study, the M.A. thesis option may be approved. This option must be agreed to by the advisor and the GPD, and a three-person thesis committee must be formed, at least one semester prior to the proposed graduation date. Approval of the thesis option is not automatic.
Timing of Examinations
M.A. exams are scheduled and taken to allow for processing by the Graduate School before graduation deadlines. (Degrees are granted in September, February, and May.) With approval of the GPD and all members of the student's committee, exams may be scheduled at other times. All three examinations are ordinarily scheduled within a two-week period. Drafts of reading lists should be given to all members of the student's committee at the beginning of the graduating semester. Students should be aware that the timing of their exams may affect their eligibility for teaching assignments.
German & Scandinavian Studies reserves the right to grant the M.A. as a terminal degree; admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. requires the faculty's permission and does not follow automatically upon completion of the M.A.
Doctoral Program
The Ph.D. Program provides a more advanced course of study and requires a greater degree of individual work than does the Master's Program. Admission requirements are a Master's Degree or equivalent (e.g., Staatsexamen) in German Studies or a related field, and demonstration of scholarly potential. The Ph.D. candidate specializes in one of two major areas — Modern German Studies or Medieval Literature — and within the chosen area is encouraged to concentrate on particular fields of interest. The Ph.D. requires at least eight courses (24 credits) beyond the M.A. degree. Full-time students are normally expected by the Department to take a minimum of three graduate courses in each semester. (Courses taken as audits are not counted among the minimum three.)
Note: All teaching assistants doing coursework for the M.A. or Ph.D. participate in a one-credit practicum each year to enhance their teaching skills and to participate in coordination of the language program.
Requirements
Specializations
Modern German Studies
The structure of the Ph.D. program allows for a great deal of individual flexibility in defining study areas and the opportunity for interdisciplinary work. To coordinate an individualized course of study that also provides a good familiarity with principal issues of the field, Ph.D. students should choose an advisor by the end of their first semester in the program. Courses should be chosen by the student in consultation with the advisor and Graduate Program Director in order to provide the basis for comprehensive examinations, reflecting expertise in the knowledge areas and practices of the discipline, and a foundation for dissertation work. Demonstration of these skills is then provided by the four comprehensive examinations, usually scheduled for the student's fourth semester of Ph.D. work.
Areas of examination: Four areas are determined by the candidate in consultation with her/his advisor and are subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Director. These areas may include: a literary period, a genre or theme (over two centuries), an author, or another topic, issue, or problem: e.g., film, literary theory, feminist theory, German women writers, the German Lied, exile literature, or theories of resistance.
Parallel to their coursework in modern German Studies, students are also expected to explore the cultural, historical, and linguistic precedents in the ancient, medieval, and early modern periods. To do so, students must have at least three courses treating language and literature before 1700, at least one of which must be in the language and literature of the Middle Ages. The customary pattern for this is the following:
- Middle High German (601), plus at least two of the following three options:
- one course in Germanic philology (702 Old High German; 703 Gothic; 704 Old Norse; 705 Old Saxon, or English 702 Old English or French 511 Old French);
- one course in medieval literature (715 The Heroic Epic; 716 The Courtly Lyric Epic; 717 The Courtly Epic; 718 Narrative and Didactic Middle High German Literature);
- one course in the literature of the 15th, 16th, or 17th century (730 Literature of the 15th and 16th Centuries; 733 17th Century Poetry and Prose; 734 17th Century Drama).
With approval of the GPD, component courses may be substituted or an equivalent course taken at another institution. Students are required to take a minimum of two courses per semester within German & Scandinavian Studies.
The remaining courses will be chosen from the courses in German Studies offered by the Department in consultation with the advisor and the Graduate Program Director. Students are encouraged to explore fields of specialization necessitating taking courses in other departments, but these must be discussed with the advisor and approved by the Graduate Program Director.
Medieval Literature
The University and the Five Colleges, in addition to their strengths in Modern German studies, offer excellent resources for the study of languages, literatures and cultures of the Middle Ages and earlier periods. Both literary and cultural studies and study of historical linguistics provide students with avenues to explore the origins of modern languages as well as cultural phenomena such as ubiquitous literary tropes, narratives of history, and concepts of nationhood, ethnic and gender identity.
- Middle High German (601);
- 702 Old High German;
- one of the following: German 703 Gothic, 704 Old Norse, 705 Old Saxon, or English 702 Old English or French 511 Old French;
- two courses in German literature from the 15th century to the present.
The remaining courses will be chosen from the medieval literature courses in the department (715 The Heroic Epic; 716 The Courtly Lyric Epic; 717 The Courtly Epic; 718 Narrative and Didactic Middle High German Literature) or relevant courses in, for example, History, Philosophy, Music, or Art History. Students are required to take a minimum of two courses per semester within German & Scandinavian Studies.
Examinations
Examinations are usually administered in April, September, and December. As a rule, students take them at the end of their fourth semester in the program, although they can be taken earlier if a candidate has fulfilled the prerequisite course work. By the end of the third semester of the Ph.D. program, the candidate must choose an examination committee and areas of examination. This should be communicated in writing to the Graduate Program Director. A committee consists of four committee members from the Graduate Faculty of the Department. If necessary, members can be invited from outside the Department with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. Students should be aware that the timing of their exams may affect their eligibility for teaching assignments.
Modern German Studies
Areas of examination: Four areas are determined by the candidate in consultation with her/his advisor and are subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Director. These areas may include: a literary period, a genre or theme (over two centuries), an author, or another topic, issue, or problem: e.g., film, literary theory, feminist theory, German women writers, the German Lied, exile literature, or theories of resistance.
Reading Lists: After choosing their committee and determining their topics, candidates devise reading lists in consultation with their committee members. All of the lists should be coordinated by the committee chair (advisor) to avoid duplication. These lists must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Program Director by the end of the candidate's third semester. They are placed on record in the candidate's permanent file in the main office. Reading lists may include literary texts, philosophical or theoretical texts, films, musical works, art works, or historical documents. Secondary literature is not usually included as part of the lists, but it is expected that candidates are conversant with relevant scholarship in their areas.
Examination Format: The qualifying examinations consist of four written examinations and one oral examination, pending successful completion of the written work. At the discretion of the student and with the approval of the academic advisor and the Graduate Program Director, the candidate can choose from the following formats for the written examinations: (a) three-hour written examinations administered in the Department during regular working hours; or (b) with the consent of the Graduate Program Director, eight-hour take-home examinations. Paper Option: An extended research paper (30-50 pages, including bibliography) can be substituted for one of the examination areas. That paper must be submitted to the committee not less than one week before the oral examination. It will be discussed during the examination. This paper may be based on course work, but may not be used to satisfy course requirements. If a candidate does sufficiently well on the written examinations, an oral examination will be scheduled.
Medieval Literature and Culture
The examination will consist of three parts of three hours each, covering five of the following areas in addition to “Old High German Literature and Philology” (six areas total). The candidate may elect to write one examination in a single area.
- The German Heroic Epic
- The Courtly Epic
- Courtly Lyric Poetry
- Didactic Literature
- Early Middle High German Literature (1050-1170)
- Late Medieval Literature
- A topic from European Medieval Literature or from German Literature after 1500 suggested by the candidate and approved by the advisor.
If a candidate does sufficiently well on the written examinations, an oral examination will be scheduled.
Dissertation
In order to retain a place in the Graduate School after the successful completion of course work and qualifying examinations, candidates must register under a program-fee schedule until the degree requirements have been met.
Dissertation Credits: The Graduate School requires ten Dissertation Credits (German 899) as a formality for completion of the degree. Graduate School regulations do not permit registration for more than 9 credits of German 899 during one semester. Ph.D. candidates should take these credits concurrent with their course work while they have a tuition waiver instead of waiting until after their qualifying examinations.
Dissertation Committee: Immediately following the qualifying examinations, candidates choose a Ph.D. committee in consultation with their dissertation advisor. The committee should consist of two Graduate Faculty members from the Department (including the advisor) and one member from a discipline other than German (from the University or area colleges). Additional members may be added if a candidate wishes. The committee is formally constituted when the Graduate Program Director notifies the Graduate School in writing.
Dissertation Proposal: After the qualifying examinations, candidates should present a dissertation proposal that outlines their topic, explains its importance, and describes its methodology (sample proposals are available from the Graduate Program Director). The dissertation proposal must be typed in accordance with the Graduate School Guidelines and the cover page must be signed by all three dissertation committee members and the Department Head. The proposal must be submitted to the Graduate School Degree Requirements Office at least six months before a dissertation defense.
Dissertations Written in German: Candidates are encouraged to write in their native language (if English or German). If the dissertation is written in German, candidates must submit a proposal to the Graduate School in English.
Submitting the Dissertation: Candidates make individual arrangements with their advisors and committees as to how the research and writing process should proceed. Some candidates submit their chapters to all committee members from the outset; others work closely with their advisors and submit the full manuscript only after the primary advisor has accepted it.
Scheduling a Defense: After all committee members agree that the manuscript is ready to be defended, a public dissertation defense is requested by the student's advisor and the Graduate Program Director notifies the Graduate School in writing. The defense can be held three weeks later. The date and time are announced publicly.
Completion of the Degree: Once all revisions have been made to the committee's satisfaction, the members sign the cover page. The candidate must format the dissertation according to the specifications of the Graduate School and submit the requisite copies to the Degree Requirements Office. The Department also requests that a bound copy of the dissertation be placed in the Departmental Library.
Degrees are granted in May, September, and February. A graduation ceremony is held in May of each year, in which degree recipients of the previous year can participate.
Dissertation Archive
You can see what kinds of dissertations have been produced in German & Scandinavian Studies. Visit http://scholarworks.umass.edu/germanic_diss/.
© 2008-2012. Department of Languages, Literatures, & Cultures
College of Humanities & Fine Arts
University of Massachusetts Amherst • Amherst, MA 01003