German (GER)

GER 101. Beginning German. (4)

Basic grammar and development of reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills. For students with no prior study of German.

GER 102. Beginning German. (4)

Basic grammar and development of reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills.
Prerequisite: GER 101 or placement test.

GER 111. Review of Basic German. (3)

Covers same material as GER 101 and GER 102; for students with prior study of German. Upon completion of GER 111, students enroll in GER 201. Credit earned in GER 101 and/or 102 is considered duplication of credit.

GER 151. The German-American Experience. (3)

Explores the role that America's largest ethnic group has played in the history and culture of the United States. Topics include German settlements in Colonial America, the Eighteen-Forty-Eighters, and German-Americans in Hollywood. IC, IIB. PA-3B, PA-4B. CAS-B.

GER 177. Independent Studies. (0-6; maximum 10)

GER 201. Second Year German. (3)

Comprehensive grammar review. Course material includes written and/or broadcast texts. Discussions and compositions in German.
Prerequisite: GER 102 or 111; or placement test.

GER 202. Second Year German. (3)

Emphasizes comprehension of written and spoken German. Course material includes written and/or broadcast texts. Discussions and compositions in German. CAS-A.
Prerequisite: GER 201 or placement test.

GER 231. Enchanted Worlds: Folk and Literary Fairy Tales. (3)

Introduction to the principles of folklore studies. Close reading of selected tales in the Grimms' collection and international variants, and a survey of literary fairy tales from 19th century to the present. Readings and discussion in English. IC, IIB. PA-3B, PA-4B, SI-02, SI-04. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 232. The Holocaust in German Literature, History, and Film. (3)

Critical reading, reflection, and discussion of Holocaust representations. Introduction to historical and political context and survey of debates surrounding memory culture. Examination of fiction, autobiographical writing, historical texts, and film with a focus on German-language sources. Taught in English. IIB, IIIB. PA-3B, PA-4C. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 252. The German-Jewish Experience. (3)

Discusses readings of and about major Jewish figures in the German-speaking world. Frames historical background. Discover constants and changes over time. Assesses terms for analyzing culture. In English. IIB, IIIB. PA-4B. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 261. German Film in Global Context. (3)

This course traces the dynamic development of German speaking cinema from 1895 to the present within a global context that impacts filmmaking beyond national borderlines. The global context is determined by the effects of: 1) technological innovations (camera, lighting, sound systems, editing techniques); 2) commercial practices (production, collaboration, distribution, exhibition); 3) political influences on a global scale (the interplay of film, war, politics, and ideology), and 4) shared artistic trends (genres, formal devices, and specific cultural preferences and traditions).The course is taught in English and all the films have English subtitles. IIB, IIIB. PA-3B, PA-4C, SI-04. CAS-B-LIT.
Cross-listed with FST 261.

GER 272. Cinemas and Cultures of Central and Eastern Europe. (3)

Analyses the developments and trends in the cinemas and cultures in Central and Eastern Europe from 1945 to the present; reflects on the definition of filmmaking beyond national concepts. Global context is determined by the theoretical exploration of: 1) the geopolitical region of Germany as well as Central and Eastern Europe in dialog with Western Europe and the world; 2) cultural practices related to identity formation and aesthetic perception; 3) film production and reception among domestic and international audiences; and 4) the interplay of film cultures in the Cold War. Taught in English and all films have English subtitles. IIB. PA-3B. CAS-B.

GER 277. Independent Studies. (0-6; maximum 10)

GER 281. Americans in Berlin: An Interdisciplinary Study-Abroad Workshop. (6)

This interdisciplinary workshop will expose students to the confluence of several global issues in one location: Berlin, Germany. Berlin has been a magnetic destinations for Americans artists, entertainers, authors, politicians, and entrepreneurs from 1920s to the present moment. Particularly contested and influential has been the encounter between Germans and Americans in Berlin during the Cold War (1945-1989), as the city became the center of the conflict between two political systems. Students will explore the various cultural, political, and economic dimensions of this long-lasting relationship, and will visit sites dedicated to the research and preservation of cultural memory in both parts of this formerly divided city. We will also study the role of the United States in Germany's and Berlin's unification, in the transition of the West German capital from Bonn to Berlin, and in the transformations that took place in the post-unification period.
Cross-listed with AMS 281.

GER 301. German Language Through the Media. (3)

German language and cultural studies using media such as films, television, newspaper and magazine articles, and Internet sources. Taught in German. Completion of GER 202 or equivalent (with permission of instructor.)

GER 311. Passionate Friendships in German Literature from the Middle Ages to the Present. (3)

Examines how intimate relationships between individuals, the bonds of love and friendship, intersect with and are shaped by social expectation, cultural taboos, and historical events. The theme is developed chronologically, from the Middle Ages to the present, emphasizing specific issues of conflict between individual desires and social norms. Texts include prose, poetry, plays, essays, interviews, and films. Primary readings, written assignments, and discussions are in German. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 312. Coming of Age in German Life and Thought. (3)

Explores short and long texts as well as excerpts from works by some of the leading authors of German literature. The intertwined themes of personal, social, political, and national maturation will guide this exploration. Lectures and discussions are in German. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 321. Cultural Topics in German-Speaking Europe Since 1870. (3)

Explores several major cultural foci within the German, Austrian, and/or Swiss experience. Readings, discussions, guided research projects predominantly in German. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 322. Comparative Study of Everyday Culture: German-Speaking Europe and the U.S.A.. (3)

Explores patterns of everyday life in German-speaking European culture and compares them with similar cultural patterns in contemporary U.S. life. Lectures, readings, and discussions in German. IC, IIB, IIC, IIIB. PA-3B, PA-4C. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 377. 10. (0-6; maximum 10)

GER 410/GER 510. Topics in German Language, Literature, and Culture. (3; maximum 9)

This course focuses on a topic or problem established by instructor. Students investigate the topic through engagement with original documents, literary works, films, and works of art. In German. CAS-B-LIT.

GER 471. Linguistic Perspectives on Contemporary German. (3)

The interaction of social factors and language in the development of the standard language of German, Austria and Switzerland throughout history until the present. SC.

GER 477. Independent Studies. (0-6; maximum 10)

GER 480. Department Honors. (1-6; maximum 6)

Department honors may be taken for a minimum of three semester hours and a maximum total of six semester hours in senior year. Permission of instructor and department required.

GER 677. Independent Studies. (0-6; maximum 10)