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Elementary German I

GER1120C — GER1120C
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4 credit hours 75 contact hours Prerequisites: No prerequisites at most institutions. Students with prior German experience should consult their institution about placement testing. v@Model.Guide.Version

Course Description

GER1120C – Elementary German I is a 4-credit, integrated lecture-and-laboratory course introducing the German language to students with little or no prior German experience. Students develop the four traditional language skills — listening, speaking, reading, and writing — at the beginning level, learn the core grammar and vocabulary needed for basic communication, and engage with the cultures of German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and German-speaking communities elsewhere). The integrated "C" format combines class meetings with required language-laboratory work; many institutions structure the lab component around online materials (Quia, Wiley Plus, Vista Higher Learning) rather than a physical lab.

The course sits within the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) under Foreign Languages and Literatures > German and is offered at approximately 18 Florida public institutions. GER1120C begins the foreign-language sequence required for many SUS bachelor's degrees and counts toward the foreign-language general-education or admission requirement at most Florida public institutions; specific application varies by institution and degree program. The standard course sequence continues through GER1121C (Elementary German II), GER2200 (Intermediate German I), and GER2201 (Intermediate German II); intermediate-level completion (GER2200) typically satisfies SUS foreign-language graduation requirements.

German is the most widely-spoken native language in the European Union and the official or co-official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. While German has less daily-life relevance in Florida than Spanish, it remains valuable for students pursuing engineering and technical careers (Germany is an engineering powerhouse), philosophy, music, classical studies, history, and graduate study in many disciplines that draw on German-language scholarship. Florida's tourism economy also serves substantial numbers of German-speaking visitors.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of GER1120C, students will be able to:

Optional Outcomes

Major Topics

Required Topics

Optional Topics

Resources & Tools

Career Pathways

Special Information

Articulation and Transfer

GER1120C articulates to all Florida SUS institutions and is the standard introductory German course. The SUS foreign-language requirement for graduation typically requires completion through the intermediate level (GER2200 or equivalent); specific application varies by institution and degree.

Position in the German Sequence

Florida institutions typically structure the German sequence as:

The SUS foreign-language requirement is typically satisfied by completion through the intermediate level, or by demonstrated proficiency at an equivalent level (high school courses, AP/IB credit, or proficiency exam).

Prerequisites and Placement

GER1120C generally has no prerequisites. Students with prior German experience (high-school courses, family-language background, or independent study) should consult their institution about placement testing — placing into a higher-level course is appropriate for students with significant prior background. Most institutions offer placement examinations for incoming students.

Course Format and Workload

GER1120C is typically a 4-credit integrated course meeting 4–5 hours per week (lecture plus integrated lab time, often delivered through online language-lab platforms). The "C" suffix and 4-credit structure reflects the additional time commitment required for language-lab work. Expect: weekly textbook reading and online quizzes; weekly compositions or short writing assignments; regular oral practice; 2–4 unit exams; a comprehensive final exam (often including listening, reading, writing, and speaking components). Out-of-class workload typically runs 6–9 hours per week — sustained daily engagement (15–30 minutes daily) is more effective than concentrated weekend study for language acquisition.

Course Code Variations

Florida institutions consistently use GER1120C for this course, titled "Elementary German I" or "Beginning German I." The course is consistently 4 credits with integrated lab. Some institutions offer the lecture-only variant GER1120 (3 credits) without integrated lab; the 4-credit "C" form is more common at Florida public institutions.

Generated May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026