Examination Procedures for the Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies Graduate Program at the University of Leipzig

Transcription

1 1 Examination Procedures for the Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies Graduate Program at the University of Leipzig (Decision of the faculty council of the philological faculty from ) According to 8 section 2 and 24 section 1 of the Saxon university bylaws (Sächsisches Hochschulgesetz - SächsHG) as of June 11, 1999 (SächsGVBl. Nr. 11/1999, S. 293) the University of Leipzig mandated the following examination regulations on. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. GENERAL REGULATIONS 1 Prescribed Semesters 2 Testing Structure 3 Deadlines 4 General Admission Requirements 5 Types of Examinations 6 Term Assignments/Essays 7 Project Reports 8 Graduation 9 Validation of Test Certificates, Education, and Weighted Grades 10 Missed Tests, Withdrawal, Cheating, Breach of General Regulations 11 Pass and Fail 12 Graduate Examination Committee 13 Advisers 14 Distributing, Submitting, Evaluating, and Repeating of Dissertations 15 Diploma Supplement und Graduation Certificate 16 Invalid Doctoral Comprehensive Exams 17 Access to Previously-Taken Tests 18 Responsibilities 19 Objection Rights II. SPECIFIC STIPULATIONS 20 Length of Study and Course Volume 21 Topic, Form, and Scope of Final Comprehensive Exams 22 Announcements and Commencement of Terms

2 I. GENERAL REGULATIONS 2 1 Prescribed Semesters The prescribed study length is three years (six semesters), including internships and graduation. 2 Testing Structure (1) The final comprehensive exam consists of module exams and graduation. (2) Classes (with the exception of team teaching and teaching assistantships) end with tests. These tests will form the basis of students grades. examinations will be conducted throughout the course of studies, and will include at least one weighted exam. The graduate testing committee will record the results of module examinations as well as weighted grades. 3 Deadlines (1) The final comprehensive exam should be completed within the prescribed time of study. A final exam that is not completed within four semesters after the completion of the prescribe time of study will automatically receive a failing grade. (2) A failed module examination should be re-taken within the same semester, at the earliest, 14 days after the results have been released. A test can be taken a third time only for special reasons and only after an application to re-take the test has been submitted in writing. The third attempt should be completed as quickly as possible after the second attempt and must be completed within a year after the results of the second attempt have been released. If the third attempt at the exam is not made within in this one-year time limit, the student will automatically receiving a failing grade. (3) Registering for a module automatically registers the student for the module examination. The withdrawal from examinations is only possible for important reasons and a withdrawalrequest is required in written form. The authorization from the graduate examination committee is also required in writing. The administration of the module examination can only occur, when the prerequisites for admission to an examination have been fulfilled according to 4 Section 1. 4 General Requirements for Admission to Examinations (1) An examination in the graduate program Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies can only be taken by students who 1. Are registered for the Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies graduate program at the University of Leipzig. 2. Can prove that their course of study is following protocol. (2) Permission to take a test in the graduate program can only be denied when 1. The conditions specified in Paragraph 1 or the procedural specifications in accordance with 2 are not kept, 2. The required documents are incomplete, 3. The examination candidate did not pass the examination according to the program s requirements or the state s requirements in a related course of studies or was not in line with examination procedures. 4. The examination candidate did not register for the required examination by the deadline according to the requirements or if the student has lost his/her right to take an exam according to state law.

3 (1) Examination results are generated 1. By assignments 3 5 Types of Tests 2. Research reports for a thesis in the context of colloquiums 3. Graduation. (2) If the exam candidate is unable to complete exams according to the prescribed schedule because of physical disabilities, the exam candidate can receive an extended schedule to complete the exams. A doctor s note may however be required, and in the case that the legitimacy of a doctor s note be doubted, an official medical certificate may be required. The same could be required for exceptions to the prescribed course of study. 6 Assignments/Essays (1) Improvement in development skills and written ability are showcased through essays. Here is where the exam candidate should prove, that he/she can generate larger goals with interdisciplinary solutions and concepts. (2) Essays are normally evaluated by two examiners. The final grade arises from the average of each examiners grade. (3) The details for given essays will be arranged by instructors. 7 Project Reports (1) In project reports, the test candidate should establish and discuss the subjects, objectives, and research methods of his/her dissertation. (2) Within program colloquiums, the project reports will occur in an oral report. (3) The requirements of the report will be arranged by instructors. (4) The reports will be graded by the instructors. 8 Graduation (1) The conferral of a doctorate is in accordance with the graduation regulations of the philology faculty of the University of Leipzig as established on 12 January 2004, and thus is also subject to stipulations as outlined by 6 of the graduation regulations. (2) According to 13 Section 2 of the graduation regulations, the oral examination for completion of the student s major can be issued through the module examinations of the Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies graduate program. The existing colloquium results for written examinations are not considered. The grade for the oral examination is derived from the mathematical average of a student s grades from his/her seminars in his/her major subject. The oral examination for a student s minor subject can be issued through the module examinations of the Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies graduate program. The grade for the oral examination in a students minor subject is derived from the mathematical average of a student s grades from his/her seminars in his/her minor subject.

4 4 9 Validation of Test Certificates, Education, and Weighted Grades (1) Grades for individual test results are determined by the respective examiners. For evaluation results, the following grading scale is used: 1 = very good = an excellent achievement 2 = good = an achievement that is considerably upon the average requirements 3 = satisfactory = an achievement that fits the requirements 4 = sufficient = an achievement that fits the requirements despite shortcomings 5 = not sufficient = an achievement that does not fit the requirements because of substantial shortcomings (2) In order to have differentiation in the evaluation results, grades can be raised or lowered to intermediate values by 0,3; the grades 0,7, 4,3, 4,7 und 5,3 are thus not a included on the grading scale. (3) The grades of the module examination are calculated by averaging the individual test results together. The weighting of the individual test results is possible through accumulation of multiples. Only the first decimal place after the comma is considered; all further places are not rounded. The module grade is as follows: - with an average up to and including 1,5 = very good - with an average from 1,6 up to and including 2,5 = good - with an average from 2,6 up to and including 3,5 = satisfactory - with an average from 3,6 up to and including 4,0 = sufficient - with an average over 4,0 = not sufficient (4) The German grades are defined by the ECTS-Grades as the following: ECTS-Grade Definition A Very Good B Good C Satisfactory D Sufficient E Not Sufficient 10 Missed Tests, Withdrawal, Cheating, and Breach of Regulations (1) A test is considered not sufficient (5,0) when the test candidate misses a test without a satisfactory reason or when he withdraws from a test without a satisfactory reason. The same procedure applies when a written or alternative test not complied within the allotted time. (2) In the case of a withdrawal or missed test, a convincing reason must be immediately indicated in written form. In the case of illness, the test candidate may be required to show a doctor s note. In cases of doubt, an official medical certificate may be required. If the deadlines are observed for the first notification of examination, for repeating a test, for missing a test, or for observing the allotted time to complete a test work are affected, the same applies for a sick family member if the student taking the test is the main supporter of the sick

5 5 family member. If the reason is acceptable, a new appointment for the test will be made. In this case, pre-existing exam results may be taken into account. (3) If the test candidate tries to change the results of his exam through cheating or through the use of restricted aids, the student will automatically receive a not sufficient (5,0). A test candidate who creates disturbances during the test can be prevented from completing the test by the examiner or supervisor. In this case, the student will receive a not sufficient (5,0). In serious situations, the graduate exam committee can prevent the test candidate from taking further tests. (4) Within a month, the test candidate can request that the decision can be reviewed by the exam community in accordance with Paragraph 3 Sentence 1 and 2. (5) Incriminating decisions are to be given to students in writing as in accordance with legal procedure. 11 Pass and Fail (1) A module examination is considered passed when the module examination grade is at least sufficient (4,0). If a module exam consists of several parts, all must have received at least a sufficient (4,0). Grade adjustments are not possible. (2) The final examination of the graduate program is considered passed when the necessary study certificates are furnished, all module tests of the graduate program have been passed, and the graduation has been graded at least with a sufficient (4,0). (3) If the test candidate fails to receive a grade of sufficient (4,0) or above, he/she will receive information about if, when, under what conditions, and within what timeframe the module examination can be retaken or the dissertation can be resubmitted. (4) If the test candidate does not pass the final test, he/she will be issued the corresponding certificate as well as a certificate of ex-matriculation. The student will also receive proof of passed tests and an academic transcript that details completed tests with corresponding grades, as well as uncompleted tests. 12 Graduate Examination Committee (1) All matters regarding testing for graduate students (for example, the admission into a test, the observance of the examination regulations, the appointments of the examiner) will be organized by the graduate exam committee. (2) The examination committee of the graduate program consists of a chairman, a vice chairman, and up to five additional members. The chairman and up to three members should be from the full-time faculty of the university, up to two members should be colleagues and a member of the group should have be from the philological faculty advisory committee. A member of the group should also be a university instructor from the Department of German Studies at the University of Arizona. A substitute should also be assigned for each member of the examination committee from his own group. The university instructors have the majority of votes. The term of office of the university instructors and their coworkers is three years, for graduate students, it is one year. The members of the examination committee select the chairman and the vice chairman from the circle of university instructors. (3) The examination committee ensures that the testing regulations are followed and gives suggestions for changing testing regulations and the program of study. The examination committee is able to make decisions when the session is convened and the majority of the members are present. The examination committee decides with the majority of voices of those present. The doctorate students may give opinions on decisions having to do with tests, but they do not participate in defining test regulations.

6 6 (4) The chairman prepares the resolutions of the examination committee and ensures they are carried out. He reports to the faculty about the deeds of the examination committee, especially on the developments throughout the semester and the distribution of grades. The examination committee can transfer parts of its authority to the chairman. (5) The members of the examination committee have the right to attend the approval of the test results. (6) The members of the examination committee are subject to secrecy. If they are not in public service, they are to be sworn to secrecy by the chairman. 13 Advisers (1) Each doctorate student has two advisers, one from the philological faculty of the University of Leipzig and one from the department of German Studies at the University of Arizona. As advisers, professors from both universities available can make themselves available. (2) When filling out an application for admission to the graduate program, the student must already have an adviser from the University of Leipzig. That Leipzig advisor must make an obligatory promise to support the doctorate student. This promise consists of supporting the student through his/her entire length of graduate study and through his/her dissertation. (3) A student s University of Arizona advisor will be chosen by the Leipzig graduate advisor by the beginning of the second year of study. He is responsible for supporting graduate students during their academic year at the University of Arizona. In addition, he should write an appraisal for the students final thesis. 14 Distributing, Submitting, Evaluation, and Repeating Dissertations (1) A final dissertation should exhibit the ability of the candidate to independently obtain scientific results, which expand the field s body of knowledge, its theories, and its methods. The research results that are submitted with the dissertation should be obtained by using the most recent methods available. The student should exhibit an increased understanding of the field, and should take into account local and foreign writings on their given subjects of interest. (2) 15 credit points are allotted to dissertation preparation in the first, second, third, and fourth semesters. 30 credit points are designated for the dissertation in the fifth to sixth semesters. (3) The topic of the dissertation is confirmed with the acceptance of the candidate in the Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies graduate program through the examination committee of the graduate program. (4) The philological faculty of the University of Leipzig and the department of German Studies designate three consultants, two of which are the advisers of the dissertation. (6) The rules for production of the dissertation appraisals, the submission of the dissertation, the dissertation defense, and the evaluation of the dissertation abide by those graduate regulations produced by philological faculty of the University of Leipzig on January 12, Diploma Supplement und Graduation Certificate (1) With the successful conclusion of Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies graduate program, the candidate will receive a Diploma Supplement (DS) according to the Diploma Supplement Modell of the European Union/Europarat/UNESCO. (2) The procedures for awarding the doctorate degree and for the distributing the graduation certificate following the graduate regulations produced by the philological faculty of the University of Leipzig on January 12, Invalidity of the Graduate Program Final Test

7 7 (1) If it is revealed that the test candidate cheated at any time during his/her studies, but this fact only becomes known after he/she has received his/her graduation certificate, test results can be changed according to 11 Section 3. If necessary, a module examination and the final comprehensive exam can be declared not sufficient (5,0). (2) If the conditions for the taking of a module examination were not fulfilled without the intention to cheat, and this fact only became known after the reception of the graduation certificate, the problem is regulating through the student passing the module examination. If the test candidate intentionally cheated, the module examination and the final comprehensive exam can be declared not sufficient (5,0). (3) An opportunity to make a statement is given to a test candidate before a decision is made. (4) Paragraphs 1 to 3 apply accordingly to the graduation. (5) An incorrect certificate is to be collected and, if necessary, a new one is to be issued. The graduation certificate, the transcript, and the diploma supplement are also to be gathered and corrected. However, if 5 years have passed from the original certificate date, a change can no longer be made according to Section 1 and Section 2 Sentence Access to Previously-Taken Tests Within a year after the end of testing, the test candidate can, on request, see his written tests and related certificates, as well as the test protocol. 18 Responsibilities The graduate examination committee is responsible for decisions regarding: 1. the consequences of offences against test regulations ( 10), 2. passing and failing ( 11), 3. the invalidity of the final comprehensive exam ( 16) and 4. right to object to testing procedures ( 19). 19 Right to Object (1) Difficult decisions are to be provided with legal instructions. (2) A test candidate can provide an objection with a month of passed decisions. The objection is to be submitted in written form or additionally approved form to the philological faculty. (3) The graduate examination committee will make a decision regarding the objection within three months. II. SPECIFIC STIPULATIONS 20 Length of Study and Number of Courses (1) The normal length of study, according to 1, lasts six semesters and ends with graduation. (2) The total of 180 credit points must be completed for successful completion of the Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Transcultural German Studies doctoral program. One credit point corresponds to 30 hours. A maximum of 60 credit points can be earned within a single year of study. 21 Purpose, Type, and Extent of the Final Test (1) Test results are to be assigned to modules according to 5 through 8; thereby, a module can contain one or more tests. If a priority of the test achievements is intended, it can be found

8 8 in 21 Section 4. The total module is considered passed only when a student receives a grade of sufficient (4,0) on all partial examinations corresponding to that module. In the case of a failed partial exam, only that exam must be repeated not the entire module. (2) The module examinations take place in accordance with the graduate study standards in Paragraph 3. (3) The course of study is structured as follows: the graduation program consists of 180 credit points, 120 of which are attributed to the dissertation. (4) The graduate program s final comprehensive exam consists of tests derived from the following modules: Major Subject Seminar A Examination: S Seminar A TR Essay Colloquium: Matters Examination: C Colloquium: Topics TR Presentation Colloquium: Research Methods Examination: C Colloquium: Research Methods TR Presentation Internship: Team Teaching I Internship: Team Teaching Examination:

9 9 Internship Team Teaching Examination: I Internship Team Teaching Seminar C (Tucson) Examination: S Seminar C TR Essay Seminar E (Tucson) (5 LP) Examination: S Seminar E TR Essay Internship: Graduate Assistant in Teaching (Tucson) Elective Examination: I Graduate Assistant in Teaching (Tucson) Internship: Graduate Assistant in Teaching (Tucson) Elective I Graduate Assistant in Teaching (Tucson) Examination: Internship: Project Material Development Elective Examination: I Internship: Project Material Development

10 10 Internship: Project Material Development Elective Examination: I Internship: Project Material Development 4 Minor Subject Seminar B Examination: S Seminar B TR Essay Seminar D Examination: S Seminar D TR Essay Seminar F Examination: S Seminar F TR Essay 1 Legend: TR Test Results ( 5ff) C - Colloquium I - Internship S - Seminar *TR must be at least sufficient (4,0) in order for the module to be passed

11 11 22 Announcements and Commencement of Terms (1) These procedures are in effect as of XX.XX.200X/ beginning with the winter semester.../ under the power of They were complete under the resolution of the philologic faculty on... and the senate of the University of Leipzig on.... (2) These procedures came in written form from the Saxon Department of State for Arts and Sciences on... (Reference Number:...). They are officially published under the auspices of the University of Leipzig. Leipzig, date:... Professor Dr. Franz Häuser President