Please take note of our upcoming graduate student conference on 15-17 February, 2008.

Visit the websites of the graduate student conferences that took place 26-27 March 2004 and 18-19 February 2006.

Application Information

Master of Arts

Doctor of Philosophy

Recent Dissertations

Fellowships

Assistantships

Study in Germany

Information for Students from Abroad

German and Scandinavian Studies offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), each divided into three optional tracks. For an M.A. a student may choose gender studies, film studies or literary/cultural studies as an emphasis. (For information on teaching certification and the possibility of study toward the Master of Arts in Teaching, please contact the Department.) Ph.D. candidates choose among the specializations in Modern German Studies, Medieval literature, or Germanic Philology.

Reflecting the recent dramatic changes in Europe, the move toward globalization and changes in the fields dealing with the languages, literatures and cultures involved, the Department has strengthened the interdisciplinary basis of its modern German studies programs. Courses dealing with issues of representation, historical investigation, and social science methodology are being introduced in combination with literary and cultural studies related to many historical periods. Graduate students in German studies may also pursue interdisciplinary work toward additional credentials, like the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Feminist Studies as well as dual Master's degrees in subject areas like Anthropology and History. For additional information, please contact the Graduate Program Director (Professor Barton Byg at byg@german.umass.edu).

Master of Arts Degree 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.

M.A. Degree Requirements

The Department offers a three-track Master of Arts degree dedicated to providing a sound background in the field of German studies with broad opportunity for interdisciplinary work. A dual Master's degree in German Studies and Anthropology is under consideration and dual degrees with other disciplines are also possible. Reflecting faculty research strengths in the Department, the University and the Five College Consortium, the three tracks are Gender Studies, Film Studies, and Literary and Cultural Studies (see chart below). Of the ten courses required for an M.A. degree, six must be taken in the Department. Courses outside the Department must be approved by the student's advisor and the Graduate Program Director. 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.

M.A. Examinations

The M.A. exams and reading lists are to demonstrate working knowledge in three mandatory areas: the history of the student's area of concentration, methods applicable to its analysis, and analysis of works appropriate to it. The candidate can choose from the following formats for the examinations: (a) three two-hour written examinations administered in the Department during regular working hours; (b) with the consent of the Graduate Program Director up to three eight-hour take-home examinations; or (c) a paper option that yields an extended research paper (30-50 pages including bibliography) that can be submitted for one of the examination areas. That paper must be submitted to the committee not less than one week before the oral examination. Given adequate success on the examinations listed under (a), (b), or (c) 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 ordinarily taken in April, September, or November. 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.

The Department reserves the right to grant the M.A. as a terminal degree; admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. requires the Department's permission and does not follow automatically upon completion of the M.A.

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Doctor of Philosophy Degree 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 three major areas — Modern German Studies, Medieval Literature, or Germanic Philology — 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.

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.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

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.

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 and Germanic Philology

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.

Candidates in Medieval Literature are required to take the following courses:

• 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.

Candidates in Germanic Philology must take the following courses:

• Middle High German (601);
• German 702, 703, 704, and 705 (Old High German, Gothic, Old Norse, and Old Saxon, respectively);
• one course in Linguistics;
• 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 modern literature and culture above the 700 level.

The remaining course(s) will be chosen from the Department's offerings.

Ph.D. 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 second 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 normally 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.

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.

Germanic Philology

The examination will consist of three parts of three hours each, covering six of the following areas:

• Medieval literature
• Old High German
• Gothic or Old Norse
• Old Saxon or Old English
• Germanic linguistics
• Dialectology or Indo-European grammar

If a candidate does sufficiently well on the written examinations, an oral examination will be scheduled.

Language Requirement

Candidates for the Ph.D. will be required to show advanced proficiency in one foreign language (other than German or English) pertinent to their field of specialization.

The 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.

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Fellowships

Graduate School Fellowships
A limited number of Graduate School Fellowships are awarded to graduate students on a University wide basis by competition. They are intended to encourage and assist superior students in pursuing graduate study and in completing the requirements for graduate degrees in the minimum possible time.

The award stipend is payable from September through May. Graduate School Fellowship awards are for one year and may be renewed upon departmental nomination and Fellowship Committee recommendation. These fellowships also provide for waiver of tuition, curriculum fee waiver, and arrangements for payment of the Health Benefit (if the Health Benefit is not covered by another appointment, i.e., Research Assistantship, Teaching Assistantship), but not general fees. A recipient of a Graduate School Fellowship must enroll as a full-time student.

Prospective students may indicate their desire for a fellowship or an assistantship as part of the admissions application form supplied in the regular admissions material by the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Interested incoming students should have their completed applications packet on file in the Graduate Admissions Office no later than January 15. Current students should check with their graduate program director for this information. Awards are announced for incoming students by mid-March.

Federal Fellowships
The University participates in the various federal fellowship programs sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Education. For further information, contact the department or the Graduate Student Grants Service, tel. (413) 545-3428.

Other Fellowships
Direct fellowship awards are available from a number of sponsors. Students may obtain information concerning these fellowships from the Graduate School, through Peterson's Guides, and by calling the Graduate Student Grants Service.

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Assistantships

The University offers a number of graduate assistantships and associateships in the research and instructional programs of the various departments. Graduate assistants and associates making at least the minimum stipend set by the campus are not required to pay tuition, Curriculum Fee, and most of their Health Fee. For further information, contact the Graduate Program Director of the department involved or the Assistantship Office of the Graduate School.

Research Assistantships
A number of research assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. These are made possible through funds provided by various industries, and research grants awarded to members of the Graduate Faculty from sources outside the University or from funds provided by the University's internally sponsored programs. Stipends vary with the type of work and the amount of time involved. A full-time research assistant is normally required to devote 20 hours per week to research. For further information, contact the department involved.

Teaching Assistantships
Many departments offer teaching assistantships to qualified graduate students. A full-time teaching assistant is normally required to devote 20 hours per week to preparation and teaching. The stipends vary with each department. For further information, contact the department involved.

Assistant Resident Director Positions
The UMass Housing Office employs graduate students as Assistant Resident Directors. These are about equal to a TAship. Interested students should contact the Graduate Program Director or the Housing Office. The deadline for application is usually in February for the next academic year.

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Study in Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands

The University has a partnership agreement with the univesites of Baden-Württemberg. Students may enroll in any of the universities of Baden-Württemberg at any time during their graduate studies. Financial aid for study in Germany may be available.

Programs in other countries that speak Germanic languages are also available. See the Department's study abroad pages for more information.

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Application Information

Interested in applying as a student? Applications should be requested from the Graduate School and can also be made online: http://www.umass.edu/gradschool/application/online/. For all other information, please contact the Graduate Program Director, Professor Barton Byg (byg@german.umass.edu).

In addition to the materials sent to the graduate school upon application, 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.

Students who are not citizens of the United States should specifically also refer to Information for Prospective Graduate Students from Other Countries.

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