German (GERM)

GERM 0010. German for Study Abroad. (2 Credits)

This course prepares students for studying abroad in a German-speaking country with no or little prior knowledge of German. It combines learning the basics of German with learning more about Germany, and its subtleties and specifics when it comes to culture. It is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, professionals and language learners at large, and will introduce the very basics of German grammar, vocabulary, and everyday topics (how to open up a bank account, register for classes, how to navigate the Meldepflicht, or simply order food). It aims to help you get ready for working or studying abroad, and better communicate with German-speaking colleagues, family and friends.

GERM 1001. Introduction to German I. (5 Credits)

An introductory course that focuses on the four skills: speaking, reading, writing and listening providing students with a basic knowledge of German linguistic structures, vocabulary and culture, which studied interdependently, comprise the German Language.

GERM 1501. Intermediate German I. (3 Credits)

Intermediate German I will continue introducing students to the fundamentals of the German language, emphasizing the five main components of language acquisition (reading, writing, listening, speaking, and cultural competence) using a task- and content-based German learning program. Conducted in German.

Attribute: IPE.

Prerequisites: GERM 1001 or GERM 1002.

GERM 1502. Intermediate German II. (3 Credits)

Intermediate German II will continue introducing students to the fundamentals of the German language, emphasizing the five main components of language acquisition (reading, writing, listening, speaking, and cultural competence) using a task- and content-based German learning program. Conducted in German.

Attribute: IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 1501.

GERM 1999. Tutorial. (1 Credit)

Study of a particular aspect of German literature or thought. Independent research and readings. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings with faculty adviser. Designed for majors with permission of instructor.

Attribute: IPE.

GERM 2001. German Language and Literature. (3 Credits)

A critical analysis of selected cultural and literary texts; composition, conversation, and review of pertinent grammatical structures.

Attribute: IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 1502.

GERM 2100. Advanced German Grammar. (4 Credits)

The course is designed to help students gain more insight into the structure of the German language and to further develop and strengthen their knowledge of German grammar. Survey and practice of German grammar as well as more advanced features of German syntax and style. Course will be conducted in English with readings and exercises in German. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 2601. German Conversation and Composition. (3 Credits)

Intermediate-level conversation with some composition. Optional course for students wishing additional practice in self-expression in German. May be taken simultaneously with GERM 1502 or higher.

Attribute: IPE.

GERM 2650. Business German. (4 Credits)

Development of oral proficiency used in daily communication within the business world, preparing the students both in technical vocabulary and situational usage. Introduction to specialized vocabulary in business and economics. Readings in management, operations, marketing, advertising, banking, etc. Practice in writing business correspondence. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 2800. German Short Stories. (4 Credits)

This course follows the development of the short story as a genre in German literature with particular emphasis on its manifestation as a means of personal and social integration from the middle of the 20th century to the present day. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 2999. Tutorial. (2 Credits)

Study of a particular aspect of German literature or thought. Independent research and readings. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings with faculty adviser. Designed for majors with permission of instructor.

Attribute: IPE.

GERM 3002. Dramatic Shifts: German Theater in the 20th and 21st Centuries. (4 Credits)

Theater, one of the world’s oldest art forms, might seem a bit dated in the age of Netflix and TikTok. But performance is everywhere, even if the scenes have changed. In this course, we will ask what learning about the history of German-language theater can teach us about ongoing social, political, and technological change and art’s evolving role in engaging with these transformations. In doing so, we will read and watch performances of some of the most influential German-language dramatists, including Bertolt Brecht, Max Frisch, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Elfriede Jelinek, and Sibylle Berg. This course is taught in German. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3010. Frisch Aus Der Presse: Media and Communication. (4 Credits)

Further development of language skills through analysis and discussion of current texts from a variety of sources such as German-language newspaper articles, films, songs, internet, radio and TV programs, literature excerpts. Specific topics will vary based on students' interests. Work on different types of writing like description, argumentation and creative writing. ln class activities include discussions, paired and group work, and presentations. ln German. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3015. Medienspiegel: Conversations About Current Affairs. (4 Credits)

This course, taught in German, is designed for students who wish to further develop their fluency and accuracy in German. It provides an opportunity to improve language skills through discussion and analysis of current events and texts from various German-language media sources. Specific topics will vary based on students’ interests. In-class activities include discussions and presentations. Written assignments will help improve students' writing proficiency. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3020. “The Book Was Better” — Modern German Literature from Page to Screen. (4 Credits)

When you love a book, then see it turned into a movie, it’s often a disappointment. But does it always have to be that way? Much can get lost in the translation from literature to film, but can something important also be discovered? In this course we’ll read some of the most interesting modern and contemporary German-language authors (Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann, Christa Wolf, Judith Hermann, and others) and explore the ways in which their work has been brought to the big screen – brilliantly, disastrously, or occasionally both. Taught in German. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: ALC.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3023. Kurz und bündig: Short German Narrative Texts. (4 Credits)

This course is designed for students who want to explore German literature in the original and simultaneously work on their language skills. This section will specifically focus on refining students' knowledge of German syntax by reading sophisticated novellas and short stories by authors such as Heinrich von Kleist, Theodor Storm, Karl May, Franz Kafka, Arthur Schnitzler, Thomas Mann, and Heinrich Böll, as well as the fairytale “Das kalte Herz” by Wilhelm Hauff. In-class activities include literary analysis, oral presentations, and discussion. Written assignments aim at improving students' writing proficiency with particular attention to syntactical accuracy and diversification. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: ALC.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3030. Kafka und Amerika. (4 Credits)

In this course, we will read Kafka’s works in the original German: his short stories, his novel “Amerika,” his diaries, and his correspondence with friends and family. In conjunction with the exhibition “Franz Kafka” at the Morgan Library, we will pay particular attention to Kafka’s many ties to the United States, especially New York City. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ACUP, ALC, AMST, ASLT, COLI, JSHI.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3050. The Sound of Music: German Music and Musical Genres. (4 Credits)

This course traces the history of German music from the Middle Ages to Deutsche Popmusik, from German Lieder to German Schlager, New German Wave to Hip Hop. In-class activities include listening exercises, discussions, paired and group work, presentations on topics related to the music, events, and cultural foci covered. Drawn from authentic German realia, lyrics, interviews, articles, reading assignments will focus on both the music as well as its socio-political context. While engaging authentic German texts and music, it will be the goal of the course to advance stylistic and grammatical overall competence while fine-tuning listening and speaking skills in German. Taught in German. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3051. Survey of Literature I. (4 Credits)

A general survey of the history of German literature from the beginning of the 18th century. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3052. Survey of Literature II. (4 Credits)

A general survey of the history of German literature from the beginning to classicism (ca.500-1832). Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

GERM 3057. Medieval German Literature: Potions, Passions, Players, and Prayers. (4 Credits)

This course will introduce students to the rich literary and cultural heritage of Medieval Germany. The texts will all be read in English translation, but we will go over some passages in their original languages in class to catch some of the flavor of the Medieval German. Topics covered will include pre-Christian charms, the epic of the Nibelungs, love poetry, and urban carneval plays. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, GERM, MVLI, MVST.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3123. Pioneers of Modernism. (4 Credits)

Various literary movements arose in German-speaking countries in the early 20th century, including Symbolism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. While Hermann Hesse and Thomas Mann preferred to write in the traditional style of the 19th century, others favored literary experiments that have become influential for later writers: Franz Kafka with his enigmatic tales of modern man's battles against incomprehensible forces, Bertolt Brecht with his epic plays addressing their audiences' political consciousness, and Rainer Maria Rilke with his symbolist poems reflecting the complexity of existence. This course will explore these movements by reading these authors in the original German, while refining students' knowledge of German syntax, focusing on verbs and verb forms. In-class activities include literary analysis, experimental presentations, and oral discussions on cultural and historical events. Written assignments aim at improving the students' writing and speaking proficiency with particular attention to syntactical accuracy and lexical complexity and diversification. Taught In German. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: ALC.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3275. Grim Tales and Grimms' Tales. (4 Credits)

This course is designed for students who want to explore German literature in the original and simultaneously work on their language skills. This section will specifically focus on refining students' knowledge of German syntax by reading sophisticated novellas and short stories by authors such as Heinrich von Kleist, Theodor Storm, Karl May, Franz Kafka, Arthur Schnitzler, and Thomas Mann, as well as fairy tales and Gebrauchsprosa. In-class activities include literary analysis, oral presentations, and discussion. Written assignments aim at improving the students' writing proficiency with particular attention to syntactical accuracy and diversification. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: ALC.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3302. German Through the Senses. (4 Credits)

In this course, we focus on texts which read the world through the experience of one particular sense: smell , hearing or taste. Grenouille the protagonist of Patrick Suskind's novel Das Perfum (Perfum, 1985), creates a fragrance which is bottled desirability, becoming a mass murderer in the process. Similarly, the musical genius portrayed in Robert Schneider's Schlafes Bruder (1992) cannot find love in real life and chooses death, the brother of sleep, instead. Franz Kafka's "Hungerkunstler" ("A Hunger Artist," 1922) has turned starvation into an art form, whereas Bella Martha (Mostly Martha), the chef in Sandra Nettelbeck's 2001 film, can only handle her life when she is in the kitchen. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, COLI, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3303. Borders and Crossings. (4 Credits)

Doors, gates, walls, and other borders between inside and outside, home and society, me and you, define our daily lives. And to define means to mark off, to draw boundaries. While animals usually stayk within their confined territory, man is the animal that continually resets, violates, and strives to cross these borders. In this course, you will encounter many exciting contributions to German and Austrian literature and film in the 20th-21st centuries. Our focus will be borders and barriers-physical, ideological, intellectual, and metaphysical. Furthermore, we will discuss border/crossings between cultures, countries, identities, reality, and fiction. Throughout this course, you will be exposed to texts and films that will expand and challenge your consciousness regarding the "other" and the (im)possibilities of interpersonal and intercultural communications. Taught in German. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3307. Germany and Migration. (4 Credits)

Migrants have played a role in many countries' culture. Germans started coming to the U.S. in the 17th century, and about 17% of Americans have German ancestry. Migrants entered Germany starting around the turn of the 20th century, and today about 21% of Germany's population has a migration background. How do migrants assimilate and learn the language of their new country? What influences do migrants have on a country's culture and language? In the first part of the semester, we will examine the migration of Germans to the United States, and in the second part we will focus on migration into Germany. Taught in ENGLISH. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ADVD, ALC, AMST, ASSC, COLI, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3310. Deep in the Forest: The Pagan-Christian Enchantment of the Fairy Tale. (4 Credits)

The purpose of this course is to study how the intertwining of Germanic and Christian mythic worlds serves to create the long lasting enchantment of the Grimms' Fairy Tales. The world of myth and fairy tale will be explored from the point of view Realization theory, which emphasizes the effect which myths and stories attempts to elicit from the reader, as described by William Grimm. In contrast to the Grimms' approach to fairy tale enchantment as awakening the human heart, we will also read three tales by Tieck, where there is fear that there is danger lurking deep in the forest of enchantment. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3520. German Culture in Context. (4 Credits)

The course will examine some aspects of post-WWII German society and culture as well as further expand your reading, writing, and speaking skills with an emphasis on the German grammatical case system. Readings from a variety of sources such as literature, online sources, newspapers, and magazines, will focus on specific aspects, for example, "Vergangenheitsbewältigung", the Fall of the Wall, and migration. Taught in GERMAN. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: ALC.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3566. Deutschland 1968: Protest, Hippies, Und Terroristen (Taught in German). (4 Credits)

1968 stands out as a major symbolic and maybe even actual turning point in German politics and societal self-awareness. As we will learn, it is the results of both Germany’s Nazi past, perceptions of Western imperialism, and new demands for freedom by various groups throughout both Germany and the rest of the world. This course will look at various political and social protest and opposition movements in Germany since 1968. We will determine what certain groups believed in, analyze their statements and actions, and try to understand how their world acts as an important framework for understanding Germany in the twentieth century. We will investigate historical and societal conditions as well as aesthetic implications which turned political engagement into acts of terror and terrorism by looking at 20th century German literature, film, and painting. TAUGHT IN GERMAN Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attributes: ALC, IPE.

GERM 3710. Mord und Totschlag: An Introduction to the Histories of Espionage and Crime in Vienna, Austria. (4 Credits)

Taught in German, this course traces the stories and histories of "German Krimis und Spionagegeschichten," crime novels, and espionage stories situated in and around the city of Vienna, Austria. From scouting services with major consequences during the second Siege of Vienna in 1683 to the work of secret services from the east and west during the Cold War, Vienna has been a hub for spies for ages. And parallel to it, the popularity of the crime novel erupted. Early on, authors recognized the possibility of presenting circumstances and problems of their time in a contemporary way, not always as open social critique, but subliminally and particularly effectively by engaging crime stories. In this course, we will watch post-World War II crime (noir) movies. We will read about spectacular espionage cases and stories from the Cold War to present-day spying scandals. And we will engage authors and their diverse repertoire, including Helmut Zenker, Edith Kneifl, and Georg Haderer. Drawn from authentic German realia, texts, films, music, interviews, and articles, reading assignments will focus on both the literature as well as its socio-political context. While engaging in authentic German texts and films, it will be the goal of the course to advance stylistic and grammatical overall competence while fine-tuning listening and speaking skills in German. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.

Attribute: ALC.

Prerequisite: GERM 2001.

GERM 3999. Tutorial. (3 Credits)

Study of a particular aspect of German literature or thought. Independent research and readings. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings with faculty adviser. Designed for majors with permission of instructor.

Attribute: IPE.

GERM 4998. Senior Thesis Tutorial. (4 Credits)

Independent research, supervised by a faculty in the language, leading to the completion of a senior thesis.

Attribute: IPE.

GERM 4999. Tutorial. (4 Credits)

Study of a particular aspect of German literature or thought. Independent research and readings. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings with faculty adviser. Designed for majors with permission of instructor.

Attribute: IPE.

GERM 5001. Graduate Reading in German I. (0 Credits)

GERM 5002. Grad.Readg.in German II. (0 Credits)

GERM 9101. Introduction to German I. (0 Credits)

GERM 9151. Intermediate German I. (0 Credits)

GERM 9201. German Language and Literature. (0 Credits)

GERM 9301. Medienspiegel. (0 Credits)