Program Overview

Program Overview

The Faculty of Modern Languages offers a Master's program in Comparative German Studies, focusing on the comparative and intercultural examination of German language, literature, and culture.

Facts and Formalities

• Degree: Master of Arts
• Type of program: Consecutive
• Start of program: Winter and summer semester
• Standard period of study: 4 semesters
• Language(s) of instruction: German
• Fees and contributions: 161.10 € / Semester
• Application procedure: Consecutive master’s programs with access restriction
• Application deadlines: Information about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.
• Part-time option: Yes
• May be studied as a minor subject: Yes

Course Content

The Master’s degree program in Comparative German Studies provides German and international students with an in-depth education in German linguistics and German literature. It builds upon a Bachelor’s degree program with related content. The degree program offers two specializations: Linguistics and Literature.

Specializations

• The specialization in linguistics is rooted in the institute’s areas of research focus and places particular emphasis on psycholinguistic, comparative language, and intercultural aspects.
• The specialization in Literature focuses on comparative and intercultural aspects, including the embedding of German literature in medial, societal, and supernational contexts.

Profiles

As a supplement to the two subject specializations, students may also select from three profiles that provide qualifications for relevant career options:

• Subject-specific Specializations: Language and Cognition or Comparative Literature
• Didactics of German as a Foreign Language
• Intercultural Communication

Course Structure

The major in Comparative German Studies with a specialization in either Literature or Linguistics includes the following modules:

• Four subject-specific compulsory modules
• Two modules from the selected profile
• One examination module

Compulsory Modules

• Linguistics compulsory module: Focus is on the areas of comparative language, language acquisition research, and individual and societal multilingualism.
• Literature compulsory module: Courses offered include comparative and intercultural literature, literary history, and literature in the context of media and social history.

Profiles

• Language and Cognition: Focus is on current research issues in the areas of language production and language acquisition as well as on the relationship between language processes and cognitive functions.
• Comparative Literature: In a targeted manner, this module will expand upon the canon of previously-studied texts, through to world literature.
• Didactics of German as a Foreign Language: The modules are aimed at conveying knowledge of German language and culture in a variety of teaching and learning contexts.
• Intercultural Communication: The focus is on communication processes that are based on cultural and communications theory, which can then be experimented with in practice-oriented courses and projects.