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Foreign Language Requirement

Before a Ph.D. student files for candidacy in the Doctoral Program s/he has to demonstrate solid knowledge in a language other than English or German. This may be done:

1. By having completed the undergraduate freshman sequence for a language (10 credit hours), with the last course taken at least within six year of filing;
2. by taking a special reading course in a language, tailored for graduate students at the University (usually 6 credit hours);
3. by taking two graduate literature courses in a language;
4. by passing a departmental reading examination given by the appropriate language department;
5. by taking a standardized SATII examination through the Office of Instructional Resources

Latin or French are recommended, though other languages essential to a student's program may be substituted with the approval of the graduate adviser. Latin is required of all students who are specializing in the Medieval and Baroque periods as the primary area of concentration. Credits for courses taken to fulfill the foreign language requirement do not count toward the total needed for the degree.

As far as competence in German or English is concerned Ph.D. candidates are expected to work continuously on the improvement of their German or, in the case of German native speakers, on the improvement of their English. Ph.D. students should be aware that most job offers in German departments ask for native or near-native fluency in German and in most interviews applicants have to converse in German. Therefore, Ph.D. students and candidates will participate in an informal colloquium in which they have to give short, prepared speeches on general topics in German or, in the case of German native speakers, in English.

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