In accordance with the Duke German mission statement, German majors acquire the following skills,knowledge, and dispositions:
Skills
- Majors develop the ability to use the German language effectively in the communication, interpretation, and negotiation of meaning within German-speaking cultures in a range of settings for a variety of purposes.
- Majors develop the ability to interpret and critically analyze a wide array of texts and artifacts,with attention to the role of genre, style, and social-historical context in the production and interpretation of meaning.
- Majors develop the ability to formulate research questions, to locate and use library and internet resources appropriately, and to apply appropriate methodologies to projects that contribute to disciplinary or interdisciplinary knowledge.
Knowledge
- Majors develop knowledge of the history, culture, and society of German-speaking peoples and their contributions to other disciplines and world events. In so doing they will develop an understanding of important social, political, and cultural debates.
- Majors develop a familiarity with representative cultural products and narratives of German-speaking cultures and an understanding of their role and function in cultural, historical, and social contexts.
Dispositions
- Majors develop transcultural understanding, which includes an awareness of cross-cultural differences, an ability to view themselves and the world from multiple perspectives, and a tolerance for ambiguity and diversity at home and abroad.
- Majors will use their knowledge, skills, and abilities to take advantage of dynamic personal, intellectual, and professional exchanges crossing departmental,disciplinary, and university boundaries.