Courses
Arts and Letters
Germanic Languages (GER)
- GER-G 100 Elementary German I (4 cr.) Students who have studied German must take a placement test before enrolling. Introduction to present-day German and selected aspects of German culture. Survey of the language: structure and meaning. Introduction to German grammatical forms and their function. Development of listening comprehension, simple speaking proficiency, controlled reading and writing skills. Attendance in the language lab may be required.
- GER-G 150 Elementary German II (4 cr.) Students who have studied German must take a placement test before enrolling. Introduction to present-day German and selected aspects of German culture. Survey of the language: structure and meaning. Introduction to German grammatical forms and their function. Development of listening comprehension, simple speaking proficiency, controlled reading and writing skills. Attendance in the language lab may be required.
- GER-G 200 Intermediate German I (3 cr.) P: GER-G 150 or equivalent. Further development of oral and written command of language structures. Reading of literary and nonliterary texts. Attendance in the language lab may be required.
- GER-G 250 Intermediate German II (3 cr.) P: GER-G 200 or equivalent. Review of selected grammatical items. Reading of modern German prose and plays with stress on discussion in German. Writing of descriptive and expository prose based on the reading material. Attendance in the language lab may be required.
- GER-G 255 Tradition & Innovation in German Lit (3 cr.) Recommended for students with no knowledge of German or those in first- and second-year language courses who wish to gain early acquaintance with German literature. Emphasis on such writers as Kafka, Brecht, Hesse, Mann, Goethe, Schiller, and Lessing. No credit given for German majors.
- GER-G 305 Introduction to German Literature: Types (3 cr.) P: GER-G 250. Study of literary genres (narrative, dramatic, lyric), with examples of each selected from two or more periods.
- GER-G 306 Introduction to German Literature: Themes (3 cr.) P: GER-G 305. Study of a single literary theme (such as music, generational conflict, love, revolution) as presented in two or more periods.
- GER-G 310 Deutsch: Mittelstufe II (3 cr.) P: GER-G 275 Advanced oral and written communication. Study of selected advanced grammatical topics. Reading of primarily nonliterary texts. Conducted in German.
- GER-G 311 Composition and Conversation (3 cr.) P: GER-G 250 or equivalent. Conversation, writing, and vocabulary building coordinated with readings of contemporary concerns, both nonfiction and fiction. Conducted in German.
- GER-G 345 Introduction to Practical Translation Techniques I (3 cr.) P: GER-G 250, equivalent placement score, or permission of the department. German 345 is the first part of a two-course sequence that perfects the knowledge and skills acquired in the first four semesters while emphasizing the practical application of the language when translating into and out of English. Although the course will strive to achieve a balanced development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, as well as acquire a renewed appreciation for the history and culture of German-speaking nations, there will be a focus on the written aspect of German and its relevance to speakers of English in an academic and professional environment. After briefly reviewing the history and basic theory of translation, as well as contemporary approaches to the discipline as pertains to English-speaking societies, most specifically that of the United States, this course will further develop skills from a translator's point of view, realizing that effective communication and understanding require constant practice. Meaningful written and oral translation activities within the contextualized study of German-speaking societies, and their geography, literature and current events will form integral parts of the learning process so as to enhance abilities specifically geared toward the work place and advanced studies. The teaching techniques are student-centered, with the instructor as the facilitator, and the pedagogical goal is to solidify students' base as independent users of the language with a solid understanding of German and English translation, cognizant of the fact that translation is a serious skill and more than a just an ability that results as a byproduct of language acquisition.
- GER-G 346 Introduction to Practical Translation Techniques II (3 cr.) P: GER-G 250. German 346 is the second part of a two-course sequence that perfects the knowledge and skills acquired in the first four semesters while emphasizing the practical application of the language when translating into and out of English. Although the course will strive to achieve a balanced development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, as well as acquire a renewed appreciation for the history and culture of German-speaking nations, there will be a focus on the written aspect of German and its relevance to speakers of English in an academic and professional environment. The first course introduced translation from a theoretical perspective and began developing the basic skills in translating. This course will further develop these skills with emphasis on specialized fields of translation as well as translation into different registers. Meaningful written adn oral translation activities within the contextualized study of German-speaking societies, and their geography, literature and current events will form integral parts of the learning process so as to enhance abilities specifically geared toward the work place and advanced studies. The teaching techniques are student-centered, with the instructor as the facilitator, and the pedogogical goal is to solidify students' base as independent users of the language with a solid understanding of German and English translation, cognizant of the fact that translation is a serious skill adn more than just an ability that results as a byproduct of language acquisition.
- GER-G 362 Introduction to Contemporary Germany (3 cr.) An overview of contemporary German civilization, with attention to the other German-speaking countries. Political, economic, and social organization. Conducted in German.
- GER-G 363 Introduction to German Cultural History (3 cr.) P: GER-G 250. A survey of the cultural history of German-speaking countries, with reference to its social, economic, and political context. Lectures in German; discussions in German or English.
- GER-G 403 Medieval German Literature (3 cr.) P: GER-G 305 or GER-G 306. Historical survey of major literary developments from the Middle Ages to romanticism.
- GER-G 404 Modern German Literature (3 cr.) P: GER-G 305 or GER-G 306. Historical survey of major literary developments from young Germany to recent writing in German-speaking Europe.
- GER-G 415 Perspectives on German Literature (3 cr.) P: GER-G 306 or GER-G 306. Study of one aspect of German literature: formal, historical, political, psychological, etc. Relation to wider concerns in and outside of literature. Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated once with different topic.
- GER-G 416 Studies in German Authors (3 cr.) P: GER-G 305 or GER-G 306. Life and works of a major author or group of authors. Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated once with different topic.
- GER-G 418 German Film and Popular Culture (3 cr.) P: GER-G 305 or GER-G 306. Study of German film and/or other manifestations of German popular culture (television, music, cabaret, trivial literature of the twentieth century).
- GER-G 464 German Culture and Society (3 cr.) P: GER-G 363. The interaction of social, intellectual, and artistic forces in German life of the past two centuries, with stress on important developments and figures. May be repeated once with a different topic for maximum of 6 credit hours.
- GER-G 465 Structure of German (3 cr.) P: GER-G 250 The course introduces students to the core disciplines of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, syntax, morphology, and semantics. While the approach is generally a cross-linguistic one, special emphasis is placed on examples from German.
- GER-G 495 Individual Readings in Germanic Literature (1-3 cr.) Repeatable up to 6 units.
- GER-V 415 Individual Readings in German Studies (1-3 cr.) May be repeated.
