German Education
General Planning Tips For German Education
- Start planning for your study abroad experience early. You can take admission requirements, German content, and teacher education courses abroad and still stay on track for graduation.
- Study abroad is a great way to satisfy your admission requirements. Therefore, it is a good idea to reserve some of those classes to take overseas.
- Summer options: Summer is a great time to take admission requirements. You could also participate in a unique field experience through one of the summer teaching programs.
- Scholarships available through KU for German language study abroad include the Carl C. Krehbiel and L. Neil Slentz German Language Summer Institute Scholarship and the Drs. Dean T. and Elisabeth Collins Germany Study Abroad Scholarship. Another great scholarship resource for study abroad in Germany is the DAAD Find Funding database. Research your opportunities early.
- U.S. Specific Courses: Courses that include special education content (SPED) are based on United States law, so you should plan to take these courses at KU. In addition, the courses during your student teaching semesters will include field work and practicum requirements, thus these must be taken at KU as well. (C&T 489, C&T 490, C&T 495, C&T 544, ELPS 537, EPSY 520)
When To Go
Freshman and Sophomore
- Schedule a meeting with an education advisor during your first semester at KU to discuss your four year plan and identify specific courses as well as specific timing opportunities for your study abroad experience.
- After you've met with your academic advisor, continue your program research by visiting the KU Study Abroad Info Center in Lippincott Hall. Study abroad peer advisors can help you to identify suitable study abroad options based upon the information you received from your advisor.
- Studying abroad usually requires two letters of recommendation, so it's good to start identifying individuals who can speak to your academic qualifications as well as your ability to be successful during an international experience.
- There are both summer and full semester study abroad programs that offer admission requirement courses. The best time to pursue these programs is the summer after your freshman year or the fall semester of your sophomore year.
- Summer is a great time to complete some of your German content courses. The summer after your freshman year, you can participate in KU's German Language Institute in Eutin. Or you can join the Language Institute in Holzkirchen during the summer after your sophomore or junior year. (See more information about both programs under Recommended Programs below).
Junior
- The ideal times for German Education students to study abroad are the fall or spring semester of junior year. The application deadline for fall programs is March 1st, for spring programs the deadline is October 1st.
- There is some degree of flexibility with your course sequencing during this time. If you need an education class (C&T, ELPS, EPSY, SPED) that is not available through your study abroad program and only offered at KU during the semester you are abroad, the School of Education is usually willing to work with you in arranging access to the course via Skype, Lecture Capture, or some other technology.
- Some junior level German and Teacher Education courses that are commonly offered abroad include: GERM culture courses, GERM 353, GERM 501, GERM 560, C&T 331, C&T 448, ELPS 301, EPSY 306 and EPSY 456.
Senior
- Senior year is not a good time to study abroad for German Education students because of your student teaching requirements.
- There are a couple of senior level Teacher Education courses available overseas (C&T 448 and EPSY 456), so you may want to plan on taking these early during your junior year while abroad.
Courses and Credit
- German faculty and Education faculty have already pre-approved a number of German and education courses abroad. To see available pre-approved courses, visit the Course Equivalency Database.
- If you want to take a class/classes that have not been pre-approved, complete the credit approval process.
Recommended Programs For German Education
Programs Offering Admission Requirement Courses
Korea University - South Korea
Recommended Timing: Summer - after freshman or sophomore year
Sample Courses: Intro to Sociology, Intro to Psychology, General Biology I, Calculus I
University of Leicester - England
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: American History 1607-1877, American History 1877-Present, Evolution of the Earth's System, PSYC 104
University of Newcastle - Australia
Recommended Timing: Spring semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: Calculus I, Foundations of Psychology, Intro to Physical Geography, Intro to Sociology
Programs Offering German Content Courses
German Language Institute - Eutin, Germany
Recommended Timing: Summer - after freshman year
Sample Courses: GERM 201, GERM 202, GERM 233
German Language Institute - Holzkirchen, Germany
Recommended Timing: Summer - after sophomore or junior year
Sample Courses: GERM 220, GERM 333, GERM 375, GERM 400, GERM 453
University of Bonn - Bonn, Germany
Recommended Timing: Spring semester - junior year
Sample Courses: various GERM language, literature and culture courses
Programs Offering Teacher Education Courses
Macquarie University - Australia
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: C&T 331, EPSY 306, EPSY 456
University of Wollongong - Australia
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: C&T 331, C&T 448, EPSY 456
Programs Offering Teaching Experience
These programs may count for KU Core Goal 4.2. Recommended for summer after sophomore or junior year.
Education Majors: A Cross-Cultural Experience in Carpi - Italy