"Sprechfertigkeit und Kulturwissenschaft"
vertieft und nicht vertieft Oral Staatsexamen
(30 minutes: In English)
The exam will cover 3 topic areas:
1. UK
2. USA
3. One topic area which belongs to the examiner’s special field or
alternatively a comparative topic area which compares Britain and
the USA
[In the case of nicht vertieft students, the exam will be restricted to the
19th and 20th centuries]
Topics

Political systems

International relations

Education

Religions and Churches (including American Civil Religion)

Identity, minorities, multicultural society

Cultural and/or geographical regions

Popular culture

Media Culture and Media History

One particular historical period (nicht vertieft not before 19th century)
The following short bibliography is recommended for background reading and is not
specifically related to the exam:
UK
Kamm, Jürgen, and Bernd Lenz. Großbritannien verstehen.
Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 2004.
Kramer, Jürgen. Britain and Ireland: A Concise History.
London: Routledge, 2006.
Oakland, John. British Civilization: An Introduction. 6th ed.
London: Routledge, 2006.
Storry, Mike, and Peter Childs. British Cultural Identities. 2nd ed.
London: Routledge, 2002.
US
Boyer, Paul S., et al. The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People.
6th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.
Halttunen, Karen, ed. A Companion to American Cultural History.
New York: Blackwell, 2008.
Hebel, Udo J. Einführung in die Amerikanistik / American Studies.
Stuttgart: Metzler, 2008.
Mauk, David, and John Oakland. American Civilization: An Introduction.
4th ed. London: Routledge, 2007.
Notes:
The recommended books are meant to help students acquaint themselves with the
relevant cultural-historical background. These books will not be specifically examined
as such since in the oral exam and depending on the topic area, topics and various
aspects can also be examined in depth which might only be dealt with selectively in
the recommended books. To prepare for the exam, students are recommended
amongst other things to participate on a regular basis as a Gasthörer/in in all cultural
studies courses and particularly in the numerous lectures on cultural studies offered
by the university’s departments of Anglistik/Amerikanistik. It will be assumed that
students have both a solid cultural-historical knowledge of the three topic areas they
have chosen as well as a basic knowledge of cultural history.
The number of students per examiner is limited to 20 exams per Prüfungszeitraum.
Candidates must therefore register with the examiner on a first come, first serve
basis. It is especially important to decide on the topics with the examiner in her/his
office hour in the semester before the semester in which the exam will take place and
not in the semester break. The examiner must have the final list of topics at least
three weeks before the exam.
Model Registration for the Oral Staatsexamen
University of Passau
Oral Staatsexamen in Sprechfertigkeit and Kulturwissenschaft
Examiners: Dr Paul Davies / Prof. Karsten Fitz / Prof. Bernd Lenz
Candidate:
Matriculation Number:
Lehramt Grundschule / Realschule / Gymnasium
Email:
Tel.:
List of Topics (after personal consultation with the examiner)
1. USA
Political Systems
Constitution, checks and balances, role of parties, elections, etc.
2. Either (a) USA or GB or (b) Comparative USA/GB Topic
Popular Culture
Definition, development after World War II, Andy Warhol, the Beatles in Britain and
the USA, heritage films, etc.
3. GB
Education
Important education acts (1902, 1944, 1988), educational system (tripartite system,
higher education), independent vs. state schools (public schools, comprehensives,
grammar schools), recent reforms (special schools)