For more information about the MA program in German, please contact the graduate recruiter:

Dr. Ingrid Fry
(806) 742-3145 extension 274
Ingrid.Fry@ttu.edu
 

Program Information
Currently under revision.
a) Admission:
Students who intend to become candidates for the Master’s degree with a major in German must first obtain admission to the Graduate School. Admission procedures and requirements are outlined at the Graduate School website.

Prerequisites:
To be eligible for beginning study toward the Master’s degree in German, a student must have taken at least 12 semester hours of work in upper division courses. Otherwise, the appropriate number of hours in such advanced undergraduate courses shall be indicated on the degree plan as leveling work.

Requirements:
The Master’s degree program in German requires 30 hours of graduate courses, plus a thesis (which carries, ordinarily, 6 hours of credit). Without a thesis the requirement is 36 hours. Students enrolled in the German M.A. program have four options which are decided upon in consultation with the graduate advisor:
1) 36 hours in German,
2) 30 hours in German plus a thesis,
3) 30 hours in German plus a minor (6 hours), or
4) 24 hours in German plus a minor (6 hours) and a thesis (6 hours).
In consultation with the graduate advisor, courses in Applied Linguistics and Comparative Literature may apply to German program credit hours.

Master’s Degree Program:
In the fist year of graduate study, the student shall submit to the Dean of the Graduate School the requisite "Program for the Master’s Degree," prepared in consultation with and approved by his/her graduate advisor and, in case the student elects a minor, by an authorized representative of the department concerned. The degree plan should reflect a balanced program of courses, with a comprehensive view of German literature and development of language.

Students are expected to take part in the extracurricular activities sponsored by the department for graduate and undergraduate students.

A "Reading List and Study Guide" (see below) indicates representative works of German literature. Students are expected to be familiar with this material.

Second Foreign Language:
Unless a candidate for the Master’s degree majoring in German has another foreign language as a minor, it is necessary to fulfill the reading knowledge requirement of a second foreign language in one of three ways, namely:

The student should consult with his/her graduate advisor about the most suitable manner of fulfilling this requirement.

Candidacy for the Master’s Degree:
Formal application for admission to candidacy for the Master’s degree should be made to the Dean of the Graduate School promptly after completion of 9 to 12 hours of graduate courses. This application, obtainable at the Graduate Office, must be submitted no later than four months prior to the date of expected graduation. Specific requirements for candidacy are listed in the section entitled "Degree Programs" in the Graduate Catalog. The student should take special note of the fact that a grade average of B or higher is required for all graduate work. A period of six years is the maximum length of time generally allowable for completing work credited toward the Master’s degree.

The Candidate’s Advisory/Examining Committee:
This committee will consist of at least three members of the Departmental faculty. In consultation with the graduate advisor, the candidate is to select the members of the committee and determine its chairperson. The examining committee should be chosen from those professors who have directed the candidate’s graduate study and/or whose courses he/she has taken.

Master’s Thesis:
Although one has the option of taking extra courses instead of writing a thesis (see item c above), the latter is recommended for capable students, especially those considering further graduate work. The thesis, presenting the results of an original research project, shall be prepared under the direction of a senior member of the faculty, who will also be chairperson of the student’s advisory committee (appointed by the Graduate Dean upon the recommendation of the department). Written approval by all committee members is necessary for official acceptance of the thesis. Depending on the student’s language proficiency and/or preference, the thesis may be written in English or German. Manuscripts must conform typographically to the style set forth in the pamphlet entitled Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Thesis and Dissertations (obtainable at the Texas Tech University Bookstore). The University requires submission of the original and two copies of the thesis.

The Comprehensive Examination for the M.A. Degree in German:

Non-thesis Option –

Thesis Option –

• Written exam: In addition to a general knowledge of German literature and culture, the candidate will be responsible for all material covered in the departmental graduate courses for which he/she received a grade, for the reading list, and for any other material agreed upon between the candidate and his/her committee chairperson. The thesis advisor will be the committee chairperson. The examination is to be completed as early as possible during the final semester in which the student is enrolled.
• Oral exam: The oral portion of the exam will be limited to a thesis defense. The final draft of the thesis is to be submitted to the members of the committee at least two weeks prior to the date of the defense. In order to allow for corrections and revisions (if any) of the thesis, the defense should be scheduled approximately one week before submission of the approved thesis to the Graduate School.

Examination Policy –

THE MINOR IN GERMAN FOR THE MASTER’S DEGREE

Prerequisite: The student must have completed at least the 3301, 3303 sequence (or its equivalent) of undergraduate work. Preferably, he/she should have taken a 4000-level literature course in addition.

Requirement: The minor consists of at least 6 hours of graduate courses. Since the graduate advisor for German is responsible for the minor degree plan, an early consultation with the advisor is recommended. An average grade of not less than B is required in courses for the minor.

FOR THE DOCTOR’S DEGREE

Prerequisite: Same as for the master’s minor.

Requirement: A minimum of 18 hours of graduate work must be satisfactorily completed for the doctoral minor. The graduate advisor for German, being responsible for the student’s minor degree plan, will be a member of the doctoral examination committee.

MASTER OF ARTS READING LIST AND STUDY GUIDE
 -- Currently under revision --

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