German Studies Course Descriptions

Fall. The basics of understanding, reading, speaking, and writing German. Introduction to highlights of German culture.

Spring. Continuation of German 101.

Spring. Credit, eight. Content identical with 101 and 102 but taught in one semester.

In-depth treatment of a topic in language, literature, or culture.

Fall and spring. Credit, one. Opportunity for beginners to practice German.

Fall, Summer (Vienna). Continues the practice and development of language skills, with special emphasis on systematic coverage of grammar.

Spring, Summer (Vienna). Continuation of 201. Completes the basic sequence leading to the Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache.

Fall. Intended for graduate students and others who wish to concentrate on learning to read German. No previous knowledge of German is required.

A broad introduction to the history, literature, and film of Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Europe and America. All texts in English translation.

Spring. Advanced study of grammar and stylistics; intensive practice in writing German.

Establishes a historical and methodological framework for awareness, appreciation, and analysis of the literary qualities of texts. Learning and practicing of close reading as a basis for understanding and appreciating German literature.

The culture of German-speaking countries since 1945. Interdisciplinary approach. Learning and practicing techniques of reading nonfictional German texts for better comprehension.

Fall. Development of linguistic and communication skills needed in the transaction of business in and with German speaking countries, combined with an introduction to the major economic, political, social, and cultural factors affecting such transactions.

Spring. Continued study of the German business environment to provide adequate preparation for the Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf¿a test of proficiency in business German.

Reading and discussion of selected works of prose fiction, focusing on formal aspects of the genres represented and on increasing reading ease and comprehension.

Thorough analysis of poetic forms in historical perspective. Focus on selected poems and representative dramas from the enlightenment to contemporary experiments and on the act and art of reading.

Taught in English. History of German cinema and close analysis of selected films. Topics include the silent film era, New German Cinema, experiments in narrative, film as propaganda, women's cinema. Course participants are requested to attend out-of-class screenings.

Taught in English. Overview of the main periods of German literature through discussion of specific works.

Taught in English. Interdisciplinary course with focus on current issues in German-speaking countries. Seminar format, with occasional lectures.

Explores encounters by Austro-German Jewish musicians and writers with ideas of modernity from 1900 through the 1950s, including responses to the Weimar Republic, the Holocaust, and postwar emigration. Cases studied include Gustav and Alma Mahler, Freud, Arthur Schnitzler and Arnold Schoenberg

Offered in Vienna. Intensive study of Austrian culture within a historical framework. Lectures and discussions concern history, art, architecture, music, literature, and everyday life. For full details, see special brochure published annually.

Offered in Vienna. Intensive study of Austrian culture within a historical framework. Lectures and discussions concern history, art, architecture, music, literature, and everyday life. For full details, see special brochure published annually.

Fall, spring. Credit, one. Discussion of current topics. May be repeated for credit. Required for German majors.

Fall. Practical application of language skills in a German-speaking professional setting such as high schools, companies, or governmental agencies of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

Taught in English. In-depth study of issues central to the understanding of history, culture, and politics in German-speaking countries. A given topic (e.g., the Weimar Republic, 1968, Martin Luther) will provide the focus; the method of inquiry will be interdisciplinary.

Survey of important literary movements; reading and discussion of representative works from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment.

Selected works by authors such as Lessing, Goethe, Schiller, Kleist, and Novalis. Emphasis on historical context.

Works by authors such as Büchner, Droste Hülshoff, Keller, Rilke, Brecht, Kafka, Lasker-Schüler. Selections from poetry, drama, and prose narrative.

Selected works by major writers such as Mann, Musil, Grass, Böll, Handke, Bernhard, and Jelinek.

An interdisciplinary course intended to provide a comprehensive, historically oriented overview of the formative elements, influences, and movements of German culture and civilization. Taught in German.

Taught in English. Intensive study of an author, genre, or period. Topic to be announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics include Thomas Mann, the experimental novel, the Grail, Faust, Portraits of the Artist.

Taught in English. Intensive study of an author, genre, or period. Topic to be announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics include Thomas Mann, the experimental novel, the Grail, Faust, Portraits of the Artist.

Taught in English. Intensive study of an author, genre, or period. Topic to be announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics include Thomas Mann, the experimental novel, the Grail, Faust, Portraits of the Artist.

Intensive study of an author, genre, or period. Topic to be announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics: German women writers, literature of the German Democratic Republic, the theater in Vienna, Brecht, the experimental novel.

Fall, spring. Credit, eight. Critical approaches to the analysis and interpretation of German texts. Acquisition of independent scholarly research skills to be applied toward an honors thesis.

Fall, spring. Credit, eight. Critical approaches to the analysis and interpretation of German texts. Acquisition of independent scholarly research skills to be applied toward an honors thesis.

Variable credit. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of eight hours.