German Courses

An introduction to basic grammatical structures, pronunciation and vocabulary. Development of listening comprehension, reading, speaking and writing skills and of cultural knowledge. Three classroom hours per week plus one peer learning session and one laboratory hour per week are required. Successful completion of GERM 130 and the continuing course, GERM 131, fulfills the foreign language component of the Interconnecting Perspectives.

German 131 provides continued practice in understanding, speaking, reading and writing German. Three classroom hours per week plus one peer learning session and one laboratory hour per week are required. Successful completion of GERM 131 fulfills the foreign language component of the Interconnecting Perspectives.

A systematic review of fundamental grammatical structures and an introduction to more complex structures. Reading of cultural and literary materials as well as conversation and listening comprehension activities. Prerequisite: GERM 131 or equivalent. Three classroom hours per week plus one peer learning session and one laboratory hour per week are required. Prerequisite: GERM 131 or equivalent.

A continuation of GERM 230 with emphasis on more complex grammatical structures and further refinement of reading, conversation, and listening comprehension skills. Practice in written composition. Three classroom hours per week plus one peer learning session and one laboratory hour per week are required. Prerequisite: GERM 230 or equivalent.

German 232 is offered to students ho desire additional practice in speaking and understanding German at or beyond the intermediate level.

Conversation and written composition based on reading of cultural and literary materials as well as on listening to recorded materials outside of class. Prerequisite: GERM 231 or equivalent.

A survey of modern German literature in the 18th century from the Enlightenment (Lessing) through Classicism (Goethe). The literary periods and works studied will be treated in their political, social, and cultural contexts. Literary concepts and terms will be introduced. Works and excerpts will be read in the original texts. Class discussion primarily in German. Use of audio-visual materials. Prerequisites: GERM 331, or may be taken concurrently with GERM 330, or consent of instructor. This course fulfills the Aesthetic-Literature Mode of Inquiry in the Liberal Studies Program. NOTE: General Honors Course.

A survey of modern German literature from Romanticism at the beginning of the 19th century through Naturalism (Hauptmann) at the end of the 19th century. The literary periods and works studied will be treated in their political, social, and cultural contexts. Works and excerpts from works will be read in the original texts. Class discussion primarily in German. Use of audio-visual materials. Prerequisite: GERM 332 or consent of instructor. This course fulfills the Aesthetic-Literature Mode of Inquiry in the Liberal Studies Program. NOTE: General Honors Course.

Selections from the sciences or other areas compatible with a student’s major field. Prerequisite: GERM 231 or consent of instructor

Continuing development of the skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing at the advanced level with specific reference to the use of German in contemporary society. The main objective of the course is to help students gain insight into major aspects of the daily lives, assumptions, and attitudes of members of German society and culture. The socio-cultural topics considered are those which affect every adult German citizen. Among the topics considered are: geographic characteristics of Germany and their influences, the European Union, types of taxes and social benefits, and the culture of the workplace (e.g. employers and employees as “social partners”). Writing-intensive units will enable students to write a resume, an application for a job or for admission to an educational institution, and other similar personal business correspondence. Students will acquire a background for better understanding discussions and reports in the printed or broadcast media of the German-speaking countries. The course will prepare students with skills and knowledge requisite to study or work in a German-speaking country. Prerequisite: GERM 330 or consent of instructor.

German civilization in its cultural, economic, geographic, linguistic, political, and social development from the time of the Germanic tribes up to the end of Kaiserzeit. Early literary documents and works will be read, usually in excerpt form. Text materials and class discussion primarily in German. Offered in fall semester of odd years. Prerequisites: for German majors - GERM 333 or consent of instructor; for non-majors - GERM 331 or consent of instructor. NOTE: General Honors Course.

A continuation of German Civilization I. The cultural, economic, geographic, linguistic, political, and social development of modern Austria, Switzerland, East Germany, and West Germany from a historical perspective. Attention will be given to the former two Germanies and the unification of Germany. Text materials, audio-visual materials and class discussion primarily in German. Offered in fall semester of even years. Prerequisites: For German Majors - GERM 333 or consent of instructor; for non-majors - GERM 331 or consent of instructor. NOTE: General Honors Course.

Cultural history of Germany from earliest beginnings to present, emphasizing development of arts, literature, and philosophy. Class conducted in English, no prerequisites. Some reading knowledge of German desirable.

May consist of: 1) a written research project; 2)a pre-approved coordinated teaching opportunity within the community; 3)an activity in which the student applies previous work in the major to a significant topic.

Specialized topics not dealt with in other courses. May be taken for a total of six hours credit. Offered yearly. Prerequisite: Advanced standing in German and consent of instructor. NOTE: General Honors Course.

Open only to advanced students. An opportunity to study writings of famous German philosophers, scientists, mathematics, etc. in the original. Consent of instructor required.

Translation of previously untranslated German and/or English texts. The course includes translation theory and techniques and presents comparative linguistics and comparative culture studies as a tool for translation. Offered in fall semesters of odd years. Prerequisite: GERM 331 or equivalent competency. NOTE: General Honors Course.

A selection of works not read in previous courses will be read in their entirety and treated in depth. The works will represent the literary periods studied in GERM 332 and GERM 333 and will provide exposure to various genres, authors, and literary movements. Text materials and class discussion in German. Offered in spring semesters of even years. Prerequisites: for German Majors - GERM 333 or consent of instructor; for non-majors - GERM 331 or consent of instructor. This course fulfills the Aesthetic-Literature Mode of Inquiry in the Liberal Studies Program. NOTE: General Honors Course.

Modern German literature from Expressionism through contemporary literature. Works by Austrian, Swiss, and German authors will be read in the original texts. Attention will be given to a comparison between the literary production in the former German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany as ell as German literary production after the unification. Class discussion in German. Offered in spring semesters of odd years. Prerequisites: For German Majors - GERM 333 or consent of instructor; for non-majors- GERM 331 or consent of instructor. NOTE: General Honors Course.