Students who plan to major in German are encouraged to begin their language studies as soon as they enter Washburn University, and should continue to enroll in at least one language course each semester until graduation. Learning a foreign language is a cumulative process and any period of time away from the language is highly detrimental to developing and maintaining necessary skills in the language. The department also strongly recommends study for a period of time in a country where the foreign language is spoken (a summer or a semester) as a component of the student’s preparation for the major. Substantial scholarships for study abroad are available each year from the department and the International Education Committee.

In order to major in German, students must complete *30* hours of course work beyond courses numbered 102. The 30 hours of course work must include: GE 211, 212, 302, 400 plus 12 hours of upper division course work. (GE 207 or GE 214, GE 304 or GE 306 and ED 368 are required for majors planning to teach.)

Nine hours of correlated course work are required of all foreign language majors. These courses are selected in consultation with an advisor.

All majors are required to present a portfolio after the 212 level course in each language. They are then required to keep updating their portfolio which is then turned in as part of their grade in the 400 level course before graduation. This has the advantage of giving the department an initial assessment as well as an outcome assessment.

Transfer students and students desiring validation of foreign language competencies for teaching certification normally must take a minimum of 6 hours in the target language at the 300-level at Washburn.

Students whose native language is one of those taught by the department may not enroll in or challenge 100 and 200 level courses by examination.