111 Beginning German I (4)
An introduction to the German language and culture. Special attention is given to cultural aspects. Emphasizes the development of basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Audiovisual materials supplement the program. Prerequisite: no previous instruction in German. Offered every year.
112 Beginning German II (4)
An introduction to the German language and culture. Special attention is given to cultural aspects. Emphasizes is placed on the development of basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Audiovisual materials supplement the program. Prerequisite: Grade of C or higher in GER 111 or proficiency as determined by the instructor. Offered every year.
205/305 The Short Prose of Kafka (4)
Examines the short prose of Franz Kafka and its relevance in both literature and film today. Students search for common themes and interpretation in selected works. Taught in English. Prerequisites: GER 205: none. GER 305: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher. Offered in selected January Terms. * GER 305 (W).
213 Intermediate German (4)
Continues the instruction of German as a spoken and written language. Extensive oral-aural practice is undertaken in the daily classroom conversation and prepares the student for travel or study abroad. Required lab. Prerequisite: GER 112 or equivalent. Offered every fall.
229/329 Modern German Literature (4)
A careful reading and discussion of contemporary German plays, novels, and short stories. Authors may include Christa Wolf, Max Frisch, Günther Grass and Heinrich Böll, Bernhard Schlink, and Herta Müller. Taught in English. Offered in selected semesters.
240/340 German Cinema: Art and Politics (4)
From early silent films, through the time of Hitler, to the present, German cinema has reflected the challenges and tensions involved when art is shaped by politics. By looking at German film in general—and at the Weimar and New German Cinema in particular—this course focuses on the aesthetics, history, and politics of German cinema. Taught in English. Movies are screened outside of class. Prerequisites: GER 240: none. GER 340: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher. * GER 340 (W).
244 German Women Filmmakers: The Search for Identity (4)
Introduces students to the contributions of leading German woman filmmakers. Focuses on filmic innovation and perceptions of women, and specifically on how issues of identity -national, religious, and gender- have been represented by such directors as Doris Dorrie, Caroline Link, and Margarethe von Trotta. Taught in English. Offered selected January Terms.
307 Topics in Advanced German Conversation and Composition (4)
Selected topics approach German conversation and composition from various perspectives. For the student who wants to acquire skill in practical conversation and writing. Strongly recommended for those who wish to travel abroad or take upper-level German literature courses. May be repeated for credit as topic varies. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent.
317 Great German Thinkers (4)
Gives the student a well-rounded knowledge of Germany, its people, history, philosophy, literature, and arts from the times of Germanic tribes to the present. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent. Offered on demand.
318 Great German Writers (4)
Provides an overview of literary history of Germany in terms of movements, genres, authors, etc., against the background of German life as a whole. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent. Offered in selected semesters.
344/444 From Hitler to Today: Modern Germany Through the Cinema (4)
Focuses on the history, politics, society, and the culture of Germany in the years between the rise to power of Adolf Hitler (1933) and the present. Prerequisite for GER 344: none; for GER 444: junior status or consent. Offered in selected semesters. * GER 444: (I).
370 The History of German Cinema (4)
In this course we will be exploring the history of German Cinema from its early days during the Weimar Republic (Germany between the two World Wars) to the present day. Attention will be given to the social, political, and cultural aspects of Germany as related through selected German films. Offered in selected semesters.
430 The German Comedy (4)
A history and study of the German comedy. Representative readings from Lessing, Kleist, Tieck, Grabbe, Hauptmann, and Sternheim. Offered in selected semesters.
471 Practicum in the Teaching of German (4)
Students study various methods for teaching of grammar, writing, and speaking in German. They also serve as assistants and tutors in GER 111, 112, and 213. Prerequisites: GER 307 or the ability to use the German language effectively, and consent. Offered every year.