GERS - German Studies
GERS402 Advanced Conversation and Composition (3 Credits)
Advanced instruction in and acquisition of written and oral communication skills in German
Prerequisite: GERS302; or students who have taken courses with comparable content may contact the department.
Restriction: Must not have completed GERS401 or GERS403.
Credit Only Granted for: (GERM401 and GERM403), GERM402, or GERS402.
Formerly: GERM402.
GERS411 German for International Business I (3 Credits)
Advanced skills in German for international business, including understanding and writing correspondence, reports, graphics, ads, etc., according to current German commercial style.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM411 or GERS411.
Formerly: GERM411.
GERS415 German/English Translation I (3 Credits)
An intensive presentation of German grammar limited exclusively to reading skill; graded readings in the arts and sciences. Instruction in English; cannot be used to satisfy the arts and humanities foreign language requirement.
Restriction: Must not have completed GERS103, GERS203, GERS204, GERS301, or GERS302.
GERS419 Selected Topics in German Language Studies (3 Credits)
The analysis of the German language as a reflection of cultural, functional, and social practice in the German-speaking world.
Prerequisite: GERS302; and permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM419 or GERS419.
Formerly: GERM419.
GERS436 The Usual Suspects: Criminals in German Literature and Film (3 Credits)
An examination of how historical, cultural and political discourses in German-speaking countries influence social norms and criteria for judging what is considered socially acceptable or "deviant". Texts and films span from the 18th to 21st centuries. Taught in German.
Prerequisite: GERS320 or GERS322; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM436 or GERS436.
Formerly: GERM436.
GERS439 Selected Topics in German Literature (3 Credits)
Special study of an author, school, genre, or theme. Taught in German.
Prerequisite: GERS320, GERS321, or GERS322; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM439.
GERS441 Border Crossings and Cultural Transfers (3 Credits)
Border Crossings and Cultural Transfers emphasizes the transnational and global dimensions of German culture, analyzing the interrelationship of dominant and minority cultures within Germany and/or the impact of German cultures abroad. Topics include migration, exile, (post)colonialism, and globalization. Taught in German.
Prerequisite: GERS320 or GERS322.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM441 or GERS441.
Formerly: GERM441.
GERS442 Gender and Sexuality in German Literature and Society (3 Credits)
Gender and Sexuality in German Literature and Society analyzes gender and sexuality as key discourses for understanding German-speaking literatures, cultures, and societies. Topics include the history of sexuality; death and desire; and representations of gender in German literature. Taught in German.
Prerequisite: GERS320 or GERS322.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM442 or GERS442.
Formerly: GERM442.
GERS443 Literature as Cultural Discourse (3 Credits)
Investigates literature as cultural discourse in the construction of knowledge, emphasizing a discursive approach to analyzing a range of literary texts. Taught in German.
GERS444 The German-Jewish Experience (3 Credits)
Focuses on the German-Jewish experience as a key dimension of European history, literature, and culture. Topics include Heinrich Heine, German-Jewish authors and texts, and the Holocaust in literature and film.
Prerequisite: GERS320 or GERS322.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM444 or GERS444.
Formerly: GERM444.
Additional Information: Taught in German.
GERS449 Selected Topics in German Studies (3 Credits)
Study of a linguistic, literary or cultural topic in Yiddish, Netherlandic, or Scandinavian studies.
Prerequisite: Permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM449.
GERS457 Germany: Energy Transition, Climate Change, and Sustainability (3 Credits)
Interdisciplinary examination of Germany as a leading model in dealing with contemporary issues of sustainability as well as the economic, social, and political impacts of climate change in a global world. Students will learn the basics of climate change, examine policy tools (e.g. carbon taxes, regulations, incentives, etc.) and technological innovations to curb the causes of climate change and promote sustainable practices. Students will also learn how cultural values and traditions inform policy making by examining the history of the environmental movement in German cultural artifacts (e.g., art, literature, grass-roots social movements, etc.). Designed to appeal to students with a variety of backgrounds (technical, policy and government, and humanities), the course blends site visits (e.g. coal mines, government offices, technical universities, artist studios, grass-roots collectives, museums, parks, etc.) with academic lectures by experts in pertinent fields and faculty-led discussion groups. Students will receive an overarching and holistic overview of the economic, political, and cultural costs of climate change as well as current efforts to offset the negative impacts through greater sustainability. Taught in English.
Cross-listed with: AREC357.
GERS458 Literary or Media Genres (3 Credits)
Literary or Media Genres studies the formal and stylistic dimensions of specific genres, emphasizing genre as a social, political, and aesthetic category. Topics include pop literature; the history of German drama; and German film genres among others.
Prerequisite: GERS320 or GERS322.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM458.
Additional Information: Taught in German.
GERS473 Variation in Contemporary German Language (3 Credits)
Examines the unique, multilingual society that is modern Germany, exploring issues such as regional varieties, gendered language, language reform (and resistance to it), public and media speech, the influence of American English on colloquial speech and in specific fields, and the problems of immigrant communities acquiring both dialect and standard German.
Prerequisite: GERS302; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM473, GERS473, GERM673, or GERS673.
Formerly: GERM473.
GERS489 Social Issues in German Culture (3 Credits)
Special topics course examining the cultural constructions and representations of important social, political, and linguistic issues, investigating their connection to German values and institutions. Taught in German.
Prerequisite: GERS320 or GERS322.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM489.
GERS498 Honors Thesis Writing (3 Credits)
Required for students pursuing departmental honors in German languages and literatures. Under the direction of a German department faculty member, students write their honors theses.
Restriction: Permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM498.
GERS499 Directed Study (1-3 Credits)
Student-driven, independent study of a specialized topic in coordination with a faculty advisor.
Restriction: Permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM499.
GERS618 College Teaching of German (1 Credit)
Instruction, demonstration and classroom practice under supervision of modern procedures in the presentation of elementary German courses to college age students.
Repeatable to: 3 credits.
Formerly: GERM618.
GERS673 Variation in Contemporary German (3 Credits)
Examines the unique, multilingual society that is modern Germany, exploring issues such as regional varieties, gendered language, language reform ( and resistance to it), public and media speech, the influence of American English on colloquial speech and in specific fields, and the problems of immigrant communities acquiring both dialect and standard German. This may count for the upper-division requirement of the German major.
Jointly offered with: GERS473.
Credit Only Granted for: GERM673, GERS673, GERM473, or GERS473.
Formerly: GERM673.
GERS689 Special Topics - M.A. Level (1-3 Credits)
M.A.-level study of a literary, linguistic or cultural topic in German studies.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM689.
GERS699 Colloquium in German Studies (3 Credits)
Sustained instruction and practice in academic research skills, including strategies for effective argumentation, synthesizing and incorporating peer feedback, critically assessing and utilizing scholarly works, and presentation of research.
Repeatable to: 6 credits.
GERS798 Master's Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
German Studies master's independent study.
Restriction: Permission of instructor.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM798.
GERS799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 Credits)
German Studies master's thesis research.
Formerly: GERM799.
GERS839 Seminar: Special Topics (3 Credits)
Study of a topic of a general nature and not limited to any specific century.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM839.
GERS879 Seminar in Germanic Philology (3 Credits)
In depth study of a topic in Germanic or Indo-European philology comparative Germanic grammar, runology, dialect geography, Eddic or Skaldic poetry, Indo-European studies.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM879.
GERS888 Doctoral Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
German Studies doctoral independent study.
Restriction: Permission of instructor.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM888.
GERS889 Seminar in German Studies (3 Credits)
Comprehensive study of a selected topic in German Studies: history of ideas, cultural history, German literature and media.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
GERS898 Pre-Candidacy Research (1-8 Credits)
German Studies pre-candidacy research.
Restriction: Permission of instructor.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
Formerly: GERM898.
GERS899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-8 Credits)
German Studies dissertation research.
Formerly: GERM899.