Examinations

MPO stands for ModulPrüfungsOrdnung (module examination regulations ) and describes the modules according to which your degree program is structured. It tells you which and how many modules you have to take, whether there are prerequisites for taking a module, which are included in your final grade, how many courses you have to attend to complete a module and which examinations are ultimately required. It is therefore the most important document for the organization and successful completion of your studies. Our explanations for the MPO will help you get through it better!

At the beginning of your studies, you should familiarize yourself with it as thoroughly as possible. Here is a brief overview of the most important points for a Bachelor's degree in German Studies (major subject):

There are basic, in-depth and specialization modules. All basic and specialization modules are compulsory. In the specialization modules, you can always choose between two modules. In order to complete the advanced and specialization modules, you must have completed the basic modules beforehand. In the literary studies modules, you must take at least one course from older German literary studies.

You must have written a total of three academic assignments during your studies. One of these must be written in a specialization module.

In addition, you need 20 credits from the acquisition of key competencies. Integrated key competencies are automatically credited to you when you complete certain modules. You can earn the remaining ten additive key competencies by attending certain courses, participating in student organizations such as the student council, leading a tutorial or attending language courses at the International Study Center.

You must complete an eight-week internship. This can be done in Germany or abroad. A study visit abroad and study-related training can also be credited as an internship. In order to pass the internship module, you must submit a written report, which is not graded, but only assessed as passed or failed.

The Bachelor's thesis can be written in the sixth semester at the earliest. At least 80 credits in the major subject, 30 credits in the minor subject and 12 credits in the key competencies as well as the completed internship are required. You can earn the remaining credits after registering for the Bachelor's thesis.

You receive integrated key competencies when you have completed a specific module. However, you must acquire additive key competencies outside of your regular courses. This means, for example, that you can attend a workshop, learn a foreign language or get involved in the student council.

• How many courses does a module consist of (and do I have to attend a tutorial?)?
• What learning content does the module cover?
• For which other degree programs can the module be used?
• How long does the module last and how often is it offered?
• In which language is the module offered?
• Are there any prerequisites for participation?
• What form of teaching and learning is involved?
• What is the approximate amount of work involved:
  
  SWS = semester hours per week (time spent on site in the respective course); student self-study (the amount of work involved in the respective course outside of this. This means, for example, the time spent at home, for revision or similar)?

• What kind of examinations can I take?
• How many credits do I receive for this?
• Modules 1-5 are basic modules
• Modules 6-9 are specialization modules
• Modules 10 -13 are specialization modules

Further information and details (such as sample module certificates, sample timetables and the module handbook with a list of the individual modules) can be found in the MPO for German.

• As modules 1, 2 and 4 have no prerequisites for participation, you can start with a maximum of three of them (alternatively, you can start with modules 1 and 2 only).
• Module 3 can be added from the 2nd semester onwards.
• Sample timetables can be found in the MPO.

In some cases, there are prerequisites for attending seminars on the German degree program. However, the following modules do not have this:

• Module 1
• Module 2
• Module 4

In some cases, there are prerequisites for attending seminars on the German degree program. For this purpose, some modules or internships must first be successfully completed in order to be able to take further modules.

• Module 3 can only be taken from the 2nd semester onwards
• Module 5 requires the successful completion of Module 1
• Module 6 requires the successful completion of Module 3
• Module 7a requires the successful completion of Module 4
• Module 7b requires the successful completion of Module 4
• Module 8 requires the successful completion of Module 2
• Module 9 requires the successful completion of the block internship
• Module 10 requires the intermediate examination L3
• Module 11 requires the intermediate examination L3
• Module 12 requires the intermediate examination L3
• Module 13 requires the intermediate examination L3

Within a module, coursework may be required as a prerequisite for admission to the module examination. Coursework can be completed in oral, practical or written form.

Each module examination or partial examination must be registered via HisPos within the specified deadline (see: Examination administration -> Registering and deregistering achievements).

• The respective type of examination can be found in the module handbook.
• The type of examination is freely selectable depending on the seminars offered.
• Three academic assignments MUST be written during the course of the degree program (one of which must be in the focus area).
• Within a module, coursework may be required as a prerequisite for admission to the module examination.
• In the case of group work, the individual performance must be definable.
• The following modules account for 24% of the overall grade for the First State Examination (only 20% for the second subjects Art or Music).
• In the event of failure or withdrawal without a valid reason, the examination is deemed to be unsatisfactory "0 points". The reason must be reported immediately in writing to the chairperson of the module examination board and substantiated.

• A module examination is passed if it has been assessed with at least 5 points.
• A cumulative module examination is passed if the average score of the partial examinations is at least 5 points.
• Failed module examinations and partial module examinations of a failed module can be repeated twice.
• If a compulsory module is definitively failed, admission to the First State Examination in German for Teaching at Grammar Schools is excluded.
• If a compulsory elective module is definitively failed, the compulsory elective area can be changed once.

The intermediate examination in the German sub-degree program is completed with 37 credits. The following modules must be successfully completed in order to pass the intermediate examination: 1,2,3 and 4.

94 credits in the German sub-degree program (30 relate to subject didactics and 6 to subject didactic practical school studies. A total of 240 in the L3 degree program.

a. L3/ Module 1: Fundamentals of Linguistics and Literary Studies I

b. one of the following modules:

1. L3/ Module 5: Older German Language and Literature
2. L3/ Module 6: Word/ Sentence/ Text/ Conversation/ Meaning
3. L3/ Module 7a: History of Literature I
4. L3/ Module 7b: Theories and Methods of Literary Studies I

c. two of the following modules:

1. L3/ Module 8: Didactics of German Language and Literature
2. L3/ Module 10: Literature and Media
3. L3/ Module 11: Text and Discourse
4. L3/ Module 12: Specialization in Linguistics
5. L3/ Module 13: Specialization in Older and Modern Literary Studies

In the case of optional modules, the modules with the highest number of points are included.

The Master's program is based on various modules, these modules are also linked to certain conditions.

Module 1 - 4: are so-called compulsory modules, i.e. these modules must be completed. You must attend 3 courses (seminar, lecture, etc.) per module in order to complete the module. Of these 3 courses, you have to pass 1 examination and 2 course assessments (ungraded). This makes a total of 12 courses for modules 1-4. Of these 12 courses, 6 must be in linguistics and 6 in literature/media studies.

Modules 5-8: are so-called compulsory elective modules, here you can choose your own specialization (either a/language or b/literature). As soon as you have decided on a specialization, all courses in modules 5-8 must be from this specialization area. If, for example, you decide to focus on language, you will only complete modules 5-8 in linguistics courses.

Module 10 is the final Master's module, which includes a seminar to accompany the Master's thesis.

Coursework is ungraded and serves the active participation in the respective course. The coursework provides the basis for the examination. You only qualify for the examination once you have completed the coursework. Depending on the lecturer, you can, for example, take minutes of a session or give a presentation and actively participate in the seminar.

You are free to choose which examinations you take on the Master's degree course. For example, you can either write a term paper/project paper of 15-20 pages, hold a 30-minute colloquium (oral examination) or give a research-related presentation. However, not every lecturer offers every examination. However, you will usually be informed of the examination requirements for a particular seminar in the first seminar session.

However, you must have written 3 academic papers (semester/project work) within your Master's degree course. As mentioned above, all other examinations are freely selectable.

Failed module examinations can be repeated twice. You cannot repeat module examinations that you have already passed (i.e. with at least 4.0).

YES! There are guidelines and formal instructions that you should follow. Each institute has its own guidelines, especially with regard to citation. You can find more information here.

Even if your studies revolve around the German language, your exams will not only consist of homework. Especially at the beginning of your studies, you will have to write several exams. Nevertheless, you should note that you are required to complete three academic assignments! You have to write two in the basic modules and one in the specialization modules. Depending on your MPO, you may of course write more.

A little tip: If you are unsure about the first paper, write it in a module that is not included in the exam grade - that way you can try it out first and be on the safe side. You can find out which modules are included in the MPO guidelines!

You can register the topic of your Master's thesis in the 3rd semester at the earliest. To do this, you must have successfully completed a total of 5 modules (with a grade of at least 4.0). The examination regulations do not specify which 5 modules these are. For example, you can have completed modules 1-5 or modules 2,6,7,8, and 3, so the order does not matter.

You are free to choose your first examiner to supervise your Master's thesis. However, the first examiner must be authorized to examine the Master's thesis.

You can either choose your first examiner according to the topic or subject area (i.e. either language or literature) on which you want to write your Master's thesis, or according to the first examiner themselves. However, it is advisable to ask in good time whether the respective examiners still have the capacity to supervise your Master's thesis.

You are free to choose the topic of your Master's thesis, however, depending on the examiner, at least the broad subject area (e.g. literature or language) is specified. You should definitely discuss your chosen topic with your examiner. Your examiner will also be able to tell you whether your chosen topic is relevant to your research and whether the topic can be completed in the time available (18 weeks). You should therefore arrange a consultation with your examiner in good time. As a rule, you must write an exposé of your Master's thesis topic, which you can then discuss with your examiner during the consultation. The professor can also give you tips on relevant literature. It is best to make a note of potential questions about your topic in advance so that you can clarify them during the consultation. Once you have officially registered your topic, you can only change your topic once within the first 6 weeks after registration. This also applies to purely linguistic changes.

Once you have found your topic and a suitable examiner, it's time to register your Master's thesis. To do this, you must fill out a form, which you can also find on the institute's website, and have it signed by your examiner. You then hand in the completed form to the Examinations Office of Faculty 02 (KW5, Room 3003). Your first examiner will usually suggest a second examiner, to whom you then only need to have the form signed. The Examination Office will then check your application and usually contact you by post to let you know whether the registration worked or whether there were any problems.

If your registration for the Master's thesis has worked, you will receive a confirmation from the Examinations Office by post to the address you have provided at the university (you should also make sure that the address you have provided is still up to date). The confirmation will once again summarize the title of your Master's thesis, the date of your admission and also (very important!) the date when you have to submit your Master's thesis.

The registration for the Master's thesis is independent of time and not bound to deadlines, i.e. you can register your Master's thesis during the semester as well as during the lecture-free period.

You have a total of 18 weeks to write your Master's thesis from the date of registration until submission. Of course, you can work on your Master's thesis in advance, especially if you are not sure whether you will be able to complete your topic in 18 weeks. It is advisable to work in advance if you want to work empirically in your Master's thesis and, for example, want to create an online survey or similar. Here in particular, it is usually not clear in advance how much time the creation and evaluation will take. It is best to gather your literature before you register and get an overview. As you will be discussing the topic with your examiner during consultation hours, you will need to read up on the topic anyway.

Before you hand in your Master's thesis on time, you should definitely have your thesis read through by acquaintances, friends or family members. These people do not necessarily have to know anything about your chosen topic. You should definitely have your spelling checked, either by competent people you know (e.g. other fellow students) or professionally by certain agencies. It is best to always have your thesis read through piece by piece/chapter by chapter, then the effort for the readers is less and you don't have to go through all the pages at the end.

You have to hand in three bound copies of your Master's thesis and a digital copy on CD to the examination office. So plan enough time for printing and binding.

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