Master of Arts (M.A.) in German

Arizona State University

Arizona State University's main campus is in Tempe, a city of 156,000 in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Strong academic programs and faculty are complemented by the attractions of year-around sunshine, cultural diversity on campus and in the surrounding community, and the resources of one of the nation's fastest growing cities. Libraries which house over seven million items and free computing facilities throughout the campus support the research of students and faculty. Of ASU's 47,000 students, 11,000 are pursuing graduate study.

Graduate Studies in German

The faculty in the School of International Letters and Cultures offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts degree with a major in German. Students admitted to the M.A. program with a major in Secondary Education may elect German as their subject matter field.

Graduate Students in German at ASU form part of the local German community of more than 60,000 people. In addition to the German Air Force training facility at Litchfield Park and a growing number of German businesses in the Valley of the Sun, the German American National Congress and Austrian Society of Arizona regularly sponsor German cultural events.

Students have opportunities to travel and practice their skills through exchange programs with the German universities of Heidelberg, Tübingen, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Konstanz and Regensburg. In addition, students can participate in a five-week summer program in Tempe's sister city of Regensburg.

Program of Study

The program of study for the M.A. degree includes a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate-level work, as approved by the candidate's supervisory committee. The program must include a 500-level Bibliography and Research Methods course. When approved by the candidate's supervisory committee,up to nine hours in another language or in closely related courses may be included in the program.

Concentrations are available in the following areas: (1) literature; (2) language and culture; and (3) comparative literature (in cooperation with the Department of English).

For Comparative Literature students, credits must include the following areas: theory and methodology (six semester hours), interdisciplinary topics and literary periods, and literature courses in German and the other language(s) of specialization.

Students pursuing their graduate studies in a program with a concentration in literature, or comparative literature present an acceptable thesis for which 6 hours of credit are granted (GER 599). Students who are primarily interested in teaching on the secondary and community college levels may select, with the approval of the supervisory committee, a program of study with a concentration in language and culture. Students in this program also present a thesis for 6 hours of credit (GER 599).

Students also have the option of presenting a non-thesis project. In this scenario, students either choose to write an Applied Pedagogical Project or produce a Paper Portfolio consisting of two expanded graduate seminar papers. Both projects should be discussed in depth with the Graduate Advisor. Students completing either an applied pedagogical project or portfolio option are required to complete 27 hours of coursework and 3 hours (GER 593) of credit devoted to the preparation and defense of the non-thesis culminating experience. Students pursuing the non-thesis option will generally not be expected to eventually pursue a Ph.D.

As is current policy, students pursuing either the thesis or non-thesis option will be required to complete a written and/or oral comprehensive examination as well.

Financial Assistance

Each year the German program appoints approximately five teaching assistants who teach first- and second-year language classes. Non-resident tuition is normally waived for TAs. TAs for whom English is a second language and who are not U.S. citizens must take the Test of Spoken English (TSE), administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), or the SPEAK text, upon arrival on campus.

Opportunities for Study and Research

Commitment to professional research in the School of International Letters and Cultures is evidenced by the large number of faculty publications and conference papers. Faculty members are engaged in editorial work for scholarly presses and journals. In addition to general coverage of German literary topics, faculty members are engaged in research on the following topics: literature and music, Baroque drama and theatre, Austrian literature, German media and film studies.

The ASU Library collection has extensive holdings in foreign languages, including German. Particular strengths are German philology and the Age of Goethe. ASU is a member of the Center for Research Libraries and has standing orders for the acquisition of current research materials with all German-speaking countries.

The Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies organizes programs at all three Arizona Universities relating to the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Further Information

For further information on the graduate program, please contact Dr. Alberto Acereda, Graduate Director, School of International Letters and Cultures. In addition, students may access an electronic version of the German Graduate Student Handbook.

For additional information regarding Graduate College requirements, please see the Arizona State University Graduate College.

Application Procedures

The deadline for priority assignments for the next academic year is February 1.

You may apply on-line for an admission application to the Division of Graduate Studies.

The following items are required by the Graduate Admissions Office:

• Official application and $50.00 application fee
• Official Transcripts

One set of official transcripts from every college and university attended. All international records must be submitted in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Translations must be literal, complete versions of original records, and the documents must be translated by a university, a government official, or an official translation service. You cannot do your own translation.

• Test score reports

  International Students -TOEFL score, reported by ETS directly to Graduate Admissions (Effective Spring 2005, Permanent Residents will also be required to take TOEFL).

• Check List for degree applications: http://www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions/application_checklist.html

The following documentation must be submitted to:

German Graduate Program
School of International Letters and Cultures
Box 870202
Tempe , AZ 85287-0202

1. At least two letters of recommendation addressing your academic experience and potential in studying German at the Master's level.
2. A brief personal statement describing your goals related to achieving this degree (in German if your native language is English, or vice versa).
3. A scholarly writing sample in German (e.g. a research paper, thesis chapter, etc.)
4. Audiotape recording of candidate speaking in German -- in English for native speakers of German.

Additional materials required for Teaching Assistantship positions include:

5. In addition to item '1' listed above, at least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can address themselves to your competence in your language and your ability, potential or demonstrated, to conduct a university-level language course.
6. Graduate Assistantship application form (also referred to as a Teaching Assistantship or TA-ship) may be downloaded from: http://www.asu.edu/forms/list.html

International Students:

All Graduate Teaching Assistant/Associate applicants, for whom English is not their native language, must have a minimum TOEFL score of 500, on the paper-based exam, or 173, on the computer-based exam. The exam results must be sent directly to the graduate admissions office by ETS. Self reported scores are not official. (Effective Spring 2005, Permanent Residents will also be required to take TOEFL)

International student applications for admission, will not be considered, without an official, minimum, TOEFL score on file with the ASU Graduate Admissions Office.

Potential TA's must also pass the Test of Spoken English (TSE), with a score of 55, in order to secure their position. It is advisable that these students take the TSE test in their home country; preferably at the time they take the TOEFL. If potential TA's do not take and pass the test prior to being offered a TA contract, they will have to arrange it as soon as possible-this is often logistically difficult and may put a TA position in jeopardy if not handled well in advance. If a potential TA does not receive the minimum passing score, their contract will automatically be voided. Please refer to the Graduate College admissions website for further information: http://www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions/index.html