Course of Study

CDG students are always fully enrolled at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. Departing every half hour, the Robertson Express Bus ensures that CDG students and faculty can travel to and from classes and lectures held on both campuses with ease. CDG students have full access to the libraries at both institutions as well as other resources and facilities that come with full matriculation. The following outline of CDG’s Program of Study includes a list of the seven main requirements required for successful completion of the doctoral degree as well as a sample five-year breakdown of the course of study year by year. All students entering CDG are guaranteed six years of funding.

Course of Study

  • 14 Courses, to include the following:
    • Five Core Courses:
      • Foreign Language Pedagogy, Theories and Practices
      • Foundations in German Studies I, 1000 - 1750
      • Foundations in German Studies II, 1750 to 1900
      • Foundations in German Studies III, 1900 to the Present
      • German Linguistics
    • 2 Courses outside the German Studies program that complement your areas of interest in an interdisciplinary fashion
  • German Language Proficiency (Superior level rating on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) in all four competencies: reading, writing, speaking and listening)
  • Second Foreign Language Competency (a language besides English and German)
  • Writing proficiency review
  • Preliminary examination
  • Dissertation Chapter Review
  • Oral dissertation examination

In addition, students are strongly encouraged to attend the Program's monthly works-in-progress seminar, at which faculty, advanced graduate students, and guests present their current research.

Note: : Incoming students who have satisfactorily completed a graduate course with content equivalent to that of a core course may be allowed by the Directors of Graduate Studies (DGSs) to substitute a different CDG or non-CDG course for up to 2 core classes, no more than one in the first semester. Incoming students with a relevant MA degree and who have satisfactorily completed graduate courses of equivalent kind, may be exempted by the DGSs from up to two course credits.  Petition for credit exemptions is made after the first semester and on the basis of submitted syllabi, written work, and so on.

In their first semester students take all their coursework in the program. In subsequent semesters, students may take one course per semester outside the program. All courses taken outside the program must be approved by the directors of graduate study.

Forms

Detailed Course of Study

Year One

Semester 1
Course Load: 4 Courses
  • Core course: Foundations I,  II, or III
  • 3 Carolina-Duke German (CDG) courses
Other Requirements:
  • Participate in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Forum at Duke Orientation
  • Pass Goethe Institute C-1 Exam (for non-native speakers of German)
Semester 2
Course Load: 4 Courses
  • Core course: Foundations I, II, or III
  • 2 CDG courses
  • 1 CDG course or course outside the program
Other Requirements:
Suggested:
  • Participate in graduate student or comparable conference

Year Two

Semester 3
Course Load: 3 Courses + Teaching 
  • Core course: Foundations I, II, or III
  • Core Course: Foreign Language Pedagogy
  • 1 CDG course or course outside CDG
Teaching:
  • Teach one section of German at either Carolina or Duke

  • Teaching Training (week before first week of classes at teaching institution)

Other Requirements:
  • Participate in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Forum at Duke Orientation
Suggested:
  • Apply for travel and research grants, including summer funding, for Year 3
Semester 4
Course Load: 3 Courses + Teaching
  • Core Course: Linguistics
  • 1 CDG course
  • 1 CDG course or a course outside CDG
Teaching:
  • Teach one section of German at either Carolina or Duke
Other Requirements:
  • Participate in 2 hours of RCR Training at Duke
Milestone:
  • Writing Proficiency Review (may be done in semester 3)
Suggested:
  • After Writing Proficiency Review, apply to small or subfield-specific professional conferences

Year Three

Semester 5
Courses:
  • Audit course(s)
Teaching:
  • Teach one section of German at either Carolina or Duke
Suggested:
  • Apply for travel, research, and summer funding grants for Year 4
Semester 6
Courses:
  • Audit course(s)
Teaching
Milestone:
  • Preliminary Examination (may also be done in semester 5)
Suggested:
  • Apply to major conferences (GSA, MLA, or larger field conferences such as Kalamazoo, etc.)
  • After exams, seek venues for publication

Year Four

Semester 7
Courses:
  • Audit course(s)
  • Participate in Dissertation Colloquium
Teaching:
  • Teach one section of German at either Carolina or Duke
Suggested:
  • Apply for travel, summer, and dissertation completion fellowships for Year 5
Semester 8
Courses:
  • Audit course(s)
  • Participate in Dissertation Colloquium
Teaching:
  • Teach one section of German at either Carolina or Duke
Milestone: 
  • Dissertation Prospectus and Chapter Review (may also be done in semester 7)

Year Five

Semester 9
Courses:
  • Participate in Dissertation Colloquium
Teaching:
  • Teach one section of German at either Carolina or Duke
Suggested:
  • Go on the job market, and participate in professional development with CDG
Semester 10
Courses:
  • Participate in Dissertation Colloquium
Teaching:
  • Teach one section of German at either Carolina or Duke
Milestone:
  • Dissertation Defense Examination

Core Graduate School Requirements

The Carolina-Duke Graduate Program in German Studies (CDG) is governed by university-wide policies at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and by the core requirements of the Graduate Schools at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Graduate Schools offer rigorous academic degree programs. Their policies and practices are designed to promote the successful completion of those enrolled in their programs. CDG students are expected to familiarize themselves with core Graduate School requirements and regulations, which are published on the Graduate School websites. In the event of a conflict between the two Graduate School requirements, the CDG will determine the appropriate resolution on a case by case basis.

All CDG students should familiarize themselves with Duke University's Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirements.

International CDG students should familiarize themselves with the English Language Proficiency requirements.