Foreign Languages B.A. – K-12 German Teaching Emphasis - Licensure: World Languages (grades K-12)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Location: Candelaria 0190
Email: HSS@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/hss/world-languages-cultures
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of four parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
By applying critical thinking skills at all levels of language learning, foreign language students develop familiarity with contemporary global issues, knowledge of civilization and culture, and a competence for reading and interpreting in their chosen language of study. The study of foreign languages helps students develop functional proficiency in the language, cultural competence, and an understanding of content in other disciplines through the language. Further, this study provides insight into students' own language and culture, and facilitates the use of linguistic and cultural knowledge beyond the classroom. Foreign language majors may further their studies by pursuing a graduate program in their discipline. They may also choose to combine their language studies with a study of education, business, political science, international studies, history, and fine arts, to mention a few. Graduates work in careers in international relations, law, education, public policy, social services, health professions, business, publishing, and the arts. Faculty encourage and assist students in arranging foreign study opportunities. Participation in study abroad programs reinforces and strengthens language acquisition, and heightens cultural awareness and appreciation. The program's extracurricular activities encourage cultural consciousness and communication skills while developing leadership, organizational, and promotional abilities. Participation is optional. Activities include regularly scheduled conversation credits, language immersion weekends, World Language Day, and Foreign Language Clubs.
Completion of the French or German teaching major prepares the student for State of Colorado Licensure to teach in the elementary and secondary schools.
Program Admission Requirements:
- All work to be counted toward the degree must be beyond the first year level.
- Advising and advisor’s signature are required each semester before registration.
Program Requirements:
- Unless otherwise noted, all courses with the GER prefix are conducted in German.
- Students must demonstrate competency in certain areas of language activity: oral and written proficiency in foreign language, ability to apply one’s knowledge of the culture to appropriate situations in a foreign language environment. Consult program advisor.
- In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program.
PTEP Program Requirements:
Teacher candidates who complete an approved content degree and the UNC professional teacher education program, as well as pass the appropriate Colorado Department of Education designated PRAXIS exam (if applicable), will be eligible for recommendation from UNC for a Colorado Department of Education teaching license.
If you are seeking licensure in your program area, the following items are required to complete your program.
- Completion of Application for Initial Admission to PTEP
- Completion of Full Admission to PTEP
- Completion of Application for Student Teaching
- Completion of content specific PRAXIS test prior to Student Teaching
- Candidates may not take extra courses with Student Teaching without prior approval from the Program Coordinator and the STE Director.
- All PTEP Field Experiences and methods courses need to be successfully completed prior to Student Teaching.
- Student Teaching outside the supervision of UNC Faculty may or may not be approved.
- Teacher Candidates will not be placed in a school where they were once students or where they have a close relative attending and/or working.
- Teacher education and educator preparation licensure programs do not accept Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) or field based courses that are more than ten years old. PLEASE NOTE: Teacher Candidates have the right to petition this policy at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Please work with your content advisor to determine when these requirements will be completed throughout your program.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 33 required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies, and International Studies — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
GER 201 Intermediate German I (3 credits) and GER 202 Intermediate German II (3 credits) are recommended to fulfill both the LAC Arts & Humanities and International Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
GER 116 Contemporary Germany is recommended to fulfill both the LAC Social & Behavioral Sciences and International Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 33 credits
Language Studies
Take all of the following courses:
| GER 201 | Intermediate German ILAA4LAIS | 3 |
| GER 202 | Intermediate German IILAA4LAIS | 3 |
| GER 301 | Germany and the Germans I | 3 |
| GER 302 | Germany and the Germans II | 3 |
| GER 407 | German Phonetics and Oral Proficiency | 3 |
Choose two of the following courses:
| GER 311 | German Civilization and Literature Survey I | 3 |
| GER 312 | German Civilization and Literature Survey II | 3 |
| GER 340 | German for the Professions | 3 |
| GER 350 | Introduction to German Literature | 3 |
| GER 440 | Advanced Linguistic Studies | 3 |
Note: GER 340 and GER 350 may satisfy either Language Studies or Culture Studies but not both simultaneously.
Culture Studies
Choose three of the following courses for a total of 9 credits:
| GER 116 | Contemporary GermanyLAB3LAIS | 3 |
| GER 340 | German for the Professions | 3 |
| GER 350 | Introduction to German Literature | 3 |
| GER 422 | Directed Studies | 1- 4 |
| GER 450 | Advanced German Literature and Culture | 3 |
| FL 296 | Study Abroad Experience | 3 |
Note: GER 340 and GER 350 may satisfy either Language Studies or Culture Studies but not both simultaneously.
GER 422: Take 3 credits
Research and Synthesis
3. Required PTEP — 38 credits
Phase I (5 credits taken concurrently)
| EDFE 170 | Introduction to Field Based Experience | 1- 3 |
| EDF 366 | Conceptions of Schooling: Context and Process | 3 |
Phase II (8 credits taken concurrently)
| EDFE 270 | Field Based Experience | 2 |
| EDSE 360 | Adaptation, Modification, and Integration of Curriculum for the Secondary Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| PSY 347 | Educational Psychology for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 349 | Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers | 3 |
Phase III (11 credits taken concurrently)
| EDFE 370 | Advanced Field Based Experience | 1- 3 |
| EDRD 340 | Academic Language/Literacy Development in the Content Areas at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| FL 441 | Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages in K-12 | 3 |
| TESL 350 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
Phase IV (14 credits)
4. University-Wide Credits — 18 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 18 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
A 2.5 grade point average is required before students may seek approval for full admission to the Secondary Professional Teacher Education Program and to be recommended for teacher licensure.
In order to obtain approval for a student teaching assignment, German teaching major must have obtained a grade of (3.0) or better in FL 441 and have successfully passed the ACTFL OPI oral proficiency exam. (Consult advisor).
Teaching skills are developed through advising and consultation with program faculty, through FL 441, and through the courses in the Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP).
In order to be recommended for teacher licensure, a 2.5 grade point average is required at the completion of the program in those courses that count toward the major and that were taken at UNC.