German, Russian and East Asian Languages (Undergraduate)
German Program
The department emphasizes acquisition, proficiency and cultural fluency at all levels of study. A focus on culture in the broadest sense — literature, language, visual arts, history, philosophy — allows students to explore myriad aspects of life in the German-speaking countries. When choosing a major, students consult with a faculty adviser and develop a program tailored to their needs. The department encourages interdisciplinary work; students may pursue joint programs in German and history, German and philosophy, German and management, German and engineering or German and computer science. An undergraduate major in German may be combined with graduate study in the School of Management by entering a Harpur College/School of Management 3-2 program. Engineering and German may also be correlated in a five-year dual-degree program leading to a BS and a BA, involving an internship abroad and study at the technical university of Chemnitz or Graz. A minor in German is also available, which allows students to acquire language proficiency and to explore aspects of culture in some depth.
The department directs two highly regarded study-abroad programs: one at the Karl Franzens Universität in Austria and another at the University of Leipzig. Both are open to students in all disciplines. Students normally participate in the Graz exchange in their junior or sophomore year. Prerequisites include a 3.0 GPA and two years of training in German for the traditional junior year semester-abroad program, or one year for the language, culture and general education program at the sophomore level. Students who wish to participate in the Leipzig exchange need more advanced language proficiency. This program may be of special interest to students in the social sciences, business and management.
Requirements for German Major
German offers two tracks:
• German Language, Literature and Culture;
• German Studies.
The requirements for the major are 10 German courses, of which at least five must be taken at the 300 or 400 level. GERM 221, 222 and the teaching practicum (GERM 491 or 492) may be counted only once toward the major. Three courses (12 credits) must be in German literature and cultural studies. Only two literature culture courses taught in English (GERM 241) may be used toward the major.
If students have only a single major in German, then the department additionally recommends, but does not require, the following courses:
• one course in either art, music or theater;
• two upper-division courses in European history;
• one course in linguistics.
Requirements for Double Major
The requirements for a double major in German and in another discipline are nine German courses of which at least five must be taken at the 300 or 400 level. German Conversation (GERM 221 or 222), and the teaching practicum (GERM 491 or 492) may be counted once toward the major. Three courses (12 credits) must be in literature and may be counted only once. Only one German literature course taught in English (GERM 241) may be counted toward the major.
Students who have studied abroad are expected to complete the major by taking at least one additional advanced course on campus.
Requirements for German Minor
Any combination of courses or half courses above GERM 102 amounting to 24 credits. German Conversation (GERM 221, 222 and 321) and GERM 241 may be counted only once. Transfer credit is counted toward the 24-credit requirement for the minor, but students must still complete at least two upper-level German courses (eight credits) at Binghamton.
Honors Program
German majors who intend to graduate with honors should contact the department chair at the beginning of their senior year:
Honors are usually awarded on the basis of demonstrated proficiency in German, a project that reveals an understanding of the development of German culture and literature, and an A– average in all courses in German, with no more than one course below an A–.
High Honors: Requirement for Honors, plus a grade of A on a major research paper written in the Senior Seminar course.
Russian Program
The program offers language instruction from the beginning through the advanced level. Instruction stresses the basic skills — comprehension, speaking, reading and writing — and aims primarily to develop practical competency. Each year the program offers courses in Russian literature in translation. For information, contact the program director.
An individual Russian studies major may be developed under the auspices of the Individualized Major Program.
Required for the minor in Russian studies are six courses from the following: RUSS 101, 102, 131, 203, 204, 240, 241, 280, 305, 306, 380; HIST 225, 226, 481C, 486C, 567A, 569C; PLSC 269, 312, 355. Non-native speakers must complete 101-204 or equivalent. See Professors Loewen or Tittler for details.
Students with some proficiency in Russian are encouraged to attend the
SUNY study programs in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Chinese Program
The Chinese program at Binghamton University offers students a diverse curriculum centered around the languages and cultures of greater China.
Our first- through third-year language courses are open to beginning, intermediate and advanced students of all backgrounds, and provide each student with a solid foundation in Chinese linguistic and cultural fluency, through an emphasis on four skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing. To this end, we have developed special language tracks for those students who already possess some background in the written Chinese language and/or one of its numerous spoken dialects. Courses in literary Chinese (the classical language of pre-modern China) provide the necessary additional foundation for reading ancient philosophical, historical and literary texts, while Business Chinese imparts the communicative expertise for successful business transactions in contemporary Chinese cultures. Among our unique and engaging course offerings is a course in singing Chinese, which offers both language training and an introduction to Chinese music.
Culture courses are open to all Binghamton University students, and are taught in English. These courses explore both ancient and modern Chinese literature, acquainting students with traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural, social and historical phenomena. Students also have the opportunity to study the diverse cinemas of China (including the PRC, Hong Kong and Taiwan).
Requirements for Minor in Chinese Language and Culture:
1. Six Chinese courses at the 200-level or above, which consist of three language courses and three literature/culture courses. Two of these six courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.
2. Required language courses are CHIN 203: Intermediate Chinese I; CHIN 204: Intermediate Chinese II; and CHIN 305: Advanced Chinese I.
3. Literature and culture courses are composed of a pre-modern literature course (currently CHIN 241: Classical Chinese Literature in Translation; or CHIN 461: Li Bai and Du Fu), a modern literature course (currently CHIN 230: Contemporary Chinese Cinema; or CHIN 280: Contemporary Chinese Literature in Translation), and a history course (currently HIST 273: Chinese Civilization; HIST 374: China in the 20th Century; or HIST 472: Chinese Women and the Family).
4. Students who already have competence at the different levels of the Chinese language may waive one, two or three language courses according to the results of their proficiency tests. They may take higher-level language courses and/or other literature/culture courses to bring the total number of courses to six.
Chinese program courses are an integral part of the Asian and Asian-American Studies program (http://bulletin. binghamton.edu/program.asp?program _id=345), and the East Asian and Management Studies program (http://bulletin.binghamton.edu/school.asp?pg=4).
Greater China-related links to informational, educational, career and student organizations at Binghamton University include:
http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~zychen/index.html
http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~nkaldis/crc.html
http://aaasp.binghamton.edu/faculty.htm
http://oip.binghamton.edu/chinaart.htm
http://aaasp.binghamton.edu/study.htm
http://www.sa.binghamton.edu/~asu/
http://sa.binghamton.edu/~chinascope/
http://www.binghamtontasc.com/
Japanese Program
The objectives of the Japanese program are to offer a solid foundation of Japanese language skills, including reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension, and foster detailed, in-depth knowledge and understanding of modern and pre-modern Japanese literature, cinema and culture. The courses offered are ideal for students wishing to gain practical communicative skills as well as for those who plan to further specialize in Japanese studies. For information on related cross-disciplinary majors and concentrations, see the entry under the Asian and Asian American Studies program, as well as the East Asian and Management Studies concentration offered through the School of Management.
Korean Program
The objectives of this program are threefold: to offer a solid foundation in Korean and cultural fluency to heritage and non-heritage students; to encourage heritage students to develop a high level of professional proficiency in the language; and to acquaint students with the culture and society of Korea. For information on related cross-disciplinary concentrations, see the Asian and Asian American Studies concentrations in the Cross-Disciplinary Concentrations section of this publication.