Which course should I take?

Which course should I take to fulfill my language requirement?

The general requirements for the B.A. at Rutgers-Camden have changed. Students entering in the Fall of 2003 and later will graduate under the new requirements; students already enrolled before that will be able to graduate under the new or the old requirements as they choose. For information about how the offerings in the foreign languages fit into the requirements, please click here.

Under the old requirements, many students have chosen to take courses that are taught in English because they believe these courses will be easier than true foreign language courses. This is not necessarily the case. Courses like German Literature in English Translation may require a large amount of reading, and the grade will usually be based on a series of papers or essay-type tests. Students who do not write well, or who are not experienced in the analysis of literary works, may find it easier to get a high grade in an actual language course, such as Elementary German or Intermediate German. The language courses may require more steady, constant work, but a student with good study habits will not need to spend a great deal of time studying for a midterm or final.

I had some German in high school and want to take more. What course should I take first?

Beginning with the Fall of 2003, incoming students who continue a language they have already studied in high school or at another institution will be placed at the appropriate level according to the results of a proficiency exam. But regardless of your exam results, if you had three or more years of German in high school, you cannot take German 101 for credit; if you have had more than three years of German in high school, you cannot take German 102 for credit.

In the past, many students who were probably qualified for Intermediate German have chosen to take Elementary German. The new proficiency exam should help place students at the level where they really belong. But no one should be scared of Intermediate German, in any event. It includes a comprehensive review of grammar, and the teacher will not expect you to have covered advanced points, to speak fluently, or to write without errors. If you are placed into Intermediate German, you can be pretty confident that that level is really where you belong.

Back to Rutgers-Camden German program main page.