B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)

Which courses am I supposed to take?

There is a number of compulsory classes that you have to take in the course of your studies. These classes vary depending on your study program. Which compulsory courses you have to attend is precisely stated in the module descriptions for your study program.

To view all compulsory courses on one page, please have a look at these overview tables: 

• Beginning of studies in or after winter semester 2022/23: B.A.
  (changes to the core module Linguistics M12)
• Beginning of studies in or after summer semester 2020: : B.A.
  (changes to the core module Linguistics M12)
• Beginning of studies in or after winter semester 12/13: B.A.

These overviews have been compiled with great care; however, only the original text of the examination regulations is legally binding. A thorough read of the examination regulations is highly recommended in the interest of a well-organized course of studies.

Coordination Office for Credit Points (Koordinierungsstelle Leistungspunkte)

General information on modularization, the electives (B.A.-Wahlbereich), and the Freely Combinable Minor (Frei kombinierbares Nebenfach, FKN) can be found on the homepage of the Coordination Office for Credit Points.

B.A. program structure

Here is a diagram of the program structure in the joint B.A. program and an overview of the options for combining majors and minors.

A thorough read of the examination regulations in the interest of a well-organized course of study is strongly recommended!

• Prüfungs- und Studienordnung
• Modulkataloge: bei Studienbeginn ab WS 08/09

For the B.A. programs, students must earn 180 ECTS credit points (see à program structure). Thus, to complete the B.A. study program within the standard period of study (six semesters), students should earn approximately 30 credit points each semester. 

This means that after the second semester of study, if the majors and minors are evenly distributed, students should successfully have completed courses earning them the following minimum of credit points.

    B.A. major:   appr. 30 ECTS CP (out of 90)
    2nd major:   appr. 20 ECTS CP (out of 60)
    minor:          appr. 10 ECTS CP (out of 30)
    total:            appr. 60 ECTS CP (out of 180)

Students in the B.A. programs in English Linguistics, American Studies, and British Studies will need to show some proof of foreign language skills in addition to English by the time they apply for admission fo their final thesis at the Examinations Office. Details about the foreign language requirements can be found in the Examinations Regulations of your study program.

Additional foreign language skills may  be acquired during the course of study. For example, the Center of Language and Communication (ZSK) offers a variety of language courses at their Department for Foreign Language Training. Language courses are also offered by other departments at UR. You can find an overview here.

When you apply for admission to your final thesis at the Examinations Office, you will need to show proof of your foreign language skills, for example with your high school leaving certificate or a certificate issued by the ZSK.

General

All students (B.A. and Lehramt) are required to have their phonetic (pronunciation) skills tested to complete their core module language practice (Basismodul Sprachpraxis). This pronunciation test should usually be taken either after GLC A or after Composition or after GLC B at the very latest. Students may take the course "Exercises in English Pronunciation" to prepare for the pronunciation test. Those who do not pass the pronunciation test must enroll in the course "Exercises in English Pronunciation" and pass the test before they can proceed to GLC C and other courses in the intermediate module language practice (Vertiefungsmodul Sprachpraxis). Also, the course "Exercises in English Pronunciation" is a compulsory component for Lehramt Grundschule students who take English as a Didaktikfach.

Others are welcome to take the course on a voluntary basis to improve their spoken English!

You really should take every opportunity to speak and listen to English. Some suggestions include seeing a play performed by the English theater group, RUPs, watching movies and TV series at home, listening to audio books, podcasts, etc.

Registering for and taking the exam

The exams take place at the end of term, during the first lecture-free week. Registration runs until the end of the regular registration period in FlexNow. The exact dates will be announced in due time each semester via newsletter (in January or June), and also published on the Department's homepage and in the course catalog. 

Please make sure you are in a room with a stable internet connection for the exam.

Students must register for the exam both on SPUR and on FlexNow so that they
can take part in the pronunciation exam! Taking the pronunciation exam is not
possible if you register only on SPUR or only on FlexNow!

When registering on SPUR, you can choose between different groups and thus
specify a preferred time slot (Monday/Tuesday, morning/afternoon) for the
examination.

a) Registration on SPUR:
*where: core module Language Practice (Basismodul Sprachpraxis): 35890
Pronunciation Exam.
*who: all B.A. and teacher training students except those studying English as
a “Didaktikfach” for “Lehramt Grundschule” (see above).

b) Registration on FlexNow:
*where: core module Language Practice (Basismodul Sprachpraxis) -->
Pronunciation exam
*who:
- ALL students in the B.A. study programs, students in the teacher training
programs with English as “Unterrichtsfach” (Grundschule, Mittelschule,
Realschule), students who study English as a “Didaktikfach” for “Lehramt
Mittelschule”, students who study English for “Lehramt Gymnasium”.
- exempt: students who study English as a “Didaktikfach” for “Lehramt
Grundschule” (see above).

The B.A. programs contain a so-called "Fundamentals and Orientation Exam" ("Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung"), see BPO §27.

The purpose of this examination is to ensure that a certain number of minimum credit points are achieved by the end of the second semester. The type of examination required can be found in the respective module catalog.

The following guidelines apply to the B.A. programs at the Department of English and American Studies:

At the end of the second semester, students should be able to show proof of having completed at least the following mandatory courses/number of credit points in the core modules:

B.A. American Studies, B.A. British Studies, B.A. English Linguistics:

• Major (B.A.-Fach, 2. Hauptfach): at least 20 ECTS CP, including GLC A and three of the introductory seminars/lectures (for example: Introduction to British and Irish Studies, Introduction to American Studies, Introduction to English and American Literary Studies; attending Introduction to English Linguistics: Theory and Structure and/or Introduction to English Linguistics: Phonetics and Phonology is also possible).
• Minor (Nebenfach): at least 10 ECTS CP, including GLC A and one of the introductory seminars/lectures (these include, but are not limited to: Introduction to British and Irish Studies, Introduction to American Studies).
• Suitable classes and lectures can be found in the module descriptions

Please note

The "Fundamentals and Orientation Examination" is, as the name suggests, mainly for your orientation. If you do not pass it, i.e. if you do not complete the required ECTS credit points or courses within the first two semesters, you will be asked to visit the student advisory service. However, nothing "bad" will happen, such as automatic de-enrollment or the like. The purpose of this mechanism is to ensure that students who are having trouble planning their studies seek advice early on. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Student Advisory Service at any time!