German Courses Offered
Program Description
Major/Minor Requirements
GER 101-102: Elementary German I & II (3 hours credit each)
In this two-course sequence the four language skills of speaking, listening, writing, and reading German will be developed. In addition students will become familiar with aspects of the culture of the German-speaking countries. One hour lab per week is required. Offered in fall and spring.
GER 201: Intermediate German (3 hours credit)
This course is the third of the three-semester sequence that will bring students to the proficiency level of the Georgetown College general education requirement. Students will enhance their abilities in the four language skills of speaking, listening, writing, and reading through review, "recycling," and further study of structures, vocabulary, and contemporary culture. One hour lab per week is required. Prerequisite: GER 102 or by placement exam. Offered in fall.
GER 213: German Phonetics (1 hour credit)
A study of German phonology with intensive drills in pronunciation, intonation, and fluency in reading aloud. Recommended for voice majors.
GER 230: Intermediate German II (3 hours credit)
This course is designed to help students solidify and develop their speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills through review and study of structures, an increased emphasis on vocabulary building, and further engagement with contemporary German culture. Prerequisite: GER 201 or equivalent. Offered in spring.
GER 235: German Conversation and Composition (3 hours credit)
GER 301: Readings in Culture and Literature (3 hours credit)
Readings in German "texts" ranging from short poems to feature films designed to develop students' comprehension of complex syntactic structures, expand significantly their active and passive command of German vocabulary, and sharpen their analytical and interpretive skills. Prerequisite: GER 230 or instructor's permission.
GER 310: German Cultural Traditions (3 hours credit)
A critical exploration of key moments in German cultural history from its Germanic and Christian origins to the early 1900s. Prerequisite: GER 301 or instructor's permission.
GER 312: Contemporary German Culture (3 hours credit)
A study of contemporary German life ranging from its representation in the mass media, in literature, and in the visual arts to the specific nature of its central political and cultural institutions to ongoing discussions of German national identity in a European and global context. Prerequisite: GER 301 or instructor's permission.
GER 335: German Conversation and Composition (Intermediate-High) (3 hours credit)
This course is designed to help students further develop their speaking/listening and writing skills. In addition to the textbook we will be working with various types of authentic German texts, including a longer narrative and topical newspaper and magazine articles, as well as various types of television programs, including news and entertainment shows. In the process students will also expand their reading proficiency and increase their knowledge and understanding of the German-speaking world.
GER 355: German for the Professions (3 hours credit)
The study and practice of German specialized vocabulary used in business and the professions combined with an exploration of relevant cultural practices in the German-speaking countries.
GER 370: Topics in German Language/Culture/Literature (3 hours credit)
GER 402: Teaching of Foreign Languages (3 hours credit)
Methods and materials for the teaching of foreign languages. Prerequisites: Junior standing and GER 335.
GER 420: Masterpieces of German Literature (3 hours credit)
This course is designed to introduce students to selected examples of German literature from the early modern period to the present. As we study these texts, we will as a matter of course concern ourselves with some of the major periods of German-speaking cultural history in its European setting. Students will also further develop their vocabulary skills and ability to read and understand various types of literary texts and films and expand their speaking and writing proficiency in German.
GER 425: Translation Workshop (3 hours credit)
This course has two goals: to develop your ability to render a variety of German texts into idiomatic English and, in the process, to introduce you to some of the major figures of 20th-century German literature and thought.
GER 440: Independent Study (3 hours credit)