Member of the Division of Humanities

Jennifer Michaels, Chair, Sigmund Barber, Derrick Miller, Petra Perry, Daniel Patrick Reynolds

Knowledge of German opens another window on the human scene, making possible an expanded perspective not available to those whose powers of comprehension and expression are confined to a single language. Students taking German develop an awareness of other modes of thinking about and interpreting human experience. Whether through the acquisition of a second language or the immersion in a new culture, students of German increase their sensitivity to their own linguistic and cultural practices, habits, and assumptions. Encounters with the cultures of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland help students develop a critical understanding of Western civilization. In a liberal arts setting, the study of German can be its own reward, while also leading students to a greater appreciation of the arts, the sciences, politics, and the past. German is valuable for students contemplating graduate study in numerous fields, planning careers in govenment service, joining businesses engaged in international trade, communicating with activists committed to global change, or embarking on a lifelong journey of continued intellectual, cultural, and personal enrichment.

Technology is integral to work in all courses in the Department of German. Films, recordings, and digital media supplement class instruction at all levels. A weekly dinner meeting at the German Table provides opportunity for students and faculty to speak German in an informal setting. A departmental assistant who is native to a German-speaking country acts as an informal resource person and tutor. A German writer is in residence for half of spring semester.

The 100-level courses introduce students to the language and contemporary culture, the 200-level courses further develop reading and speaking skills through analysis and discussion of modern German texts, and the 300-level courses cover the development of German culture from its beginnings to recent times.

Independent study is encouraged for those who wish to pursue intensive study of individual authors or special topics. Qualified students have the option of doing some reading in German to supplement designated German courses.

Students majoring in German should broaden their understanding of literature, film, theatre, and other modes of cultural expression by taking courses in other languages and literatures, as well as in the fine arts and social studies. German courses completed in approved off-campus programs are counted toward the major in German at Grinnell.

Two tracks are offered. Proficiency in the German language is fundamental to both. For both tracks, we strongly encourage students to study for at least a semester in a German-speaking culture.

1. The German Literature and Culture track has as its focus the study and analysis of German literary and other cultural texts. A minimum of 32 credits. At least 20 credits from 300-level (or higher) German courses, 14 credits of which must be taken within the Department of German at Grinnell. Required are German 302, 303, 372 (for 2 credits), and 495. Related courses in humanities and social studies and a reading knowledge of a second foreign language are strongly recommended. Courses numbered 101, 102, 121, and 212 do not count toward the major. With permission, up to 8 of the 32 credits may be taken in related studies outside the department.

2. The German Studies track allows students to pursue interdisciplinary interests in German by doing coursework outside the Department of German. A minimum of 32 credits. Required are German 302, 303, and 495. At least 12 credits from approved courses at the 200 level or above in departments outside the Department of German are required. Courses numbered 101, 102, 121, and 212 do not count toward the major.

The following is a partial list of approved courses:

• Art 231 Modern Art in Europe, 1900-1940
• Economics 225 Marxian Economics
• History 238 Germany from Unification to Reunification
• Music 262 Western Music from 1750 to the Present
• Philosophy 234 19th-Century Continental Philosophy
• Philosophy 268 Cultural Critique: Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, and Beyond
• Philosophy 391 Advanced Studies in Continental Philosophy
• Philosophy 394 Advanced Studies in Theories of Value

Some courses not listed may also be counted toward the German Studies track. Please consult the Department of German about courses not listed.

To be considered for honors in German, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College's general requirements for honors, must demonstrate superior performance in their coursework in the major and make contributions to the department outside the classroom.


101 Introductory German (Fall) 5 credits

Intensive oral-aural study of basic structures of German grammar in class and in the language laboratory throughout the semester. Practice of oral skills with a native German-speaking assistant. Reading and analysis of simple German prose. Prerequisites: none. BARBER, REYNOLDS.

102 Continuing German (Spring) 5 credits

Continuation and completion of oral-aural study of grammatical structures. Increased emphasis on developing oral fluency. Introduction to the literature and culture of Germany through reading and analysis of modern short stories and expository prose. Practice of oral skills with a native German-speaking assistant. Prerequisite: German 101 or permission of instructor. MICHAELS, MILLER.

121 Accelerated German (Fall) 5 credits

Intensive oral-aural study of German and focus on developing proficiency. This course is the equivalent of 101 and 102. Designed for students who want to progress quickly in their German. Not open to students who have taken German 102. Prerequisite: placement by department, based on previous exposure to German or prior study of another foreign language. STAFF.

212 German Conversation (Fall or Spring) 1 credit

Focus on development of conversation skills. Discussion based on a variety of cultural topics. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: German 102 or permission of instructor. S/D/F only. Does not count toward major. STAFF.

221 Intermediate German I (Fall) 4 credits

Review of selected topics in German grammar, accompanied and followed by continued practice in speaking, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: German 102 or permission of instructor. BARBER, REYNOLDS.

222 Intermediate German II (Fall or Spring) 4 credits

Reading and discussion of literary works of intermediate difficulty. Reading content designed to acquaint students with important aspects of recent German culture and to develop skill in the analysis and comprehension of modern German prose. Prerequisite: German 221 or permission of instructor. STAFF.

227 Topics in German Literature in Translation (Spring) 4 credits

Also listed as General Literary Studies 227. Texts selected from a wide variety of literary (and some nonliterary) texts by German-speaking authors. Topics are announced each time the course is offered. Readings and discussion in English. Prerequisites: none. May be repeated once for credit when content changes. MICHAELS.

233 Frames of Reference: Topics in German Cinema from 1920 to the Present (Fall) 4 credits+

Also listed as General Literary Studies 233. Readings and discussion in English. Seminal readings from film theory combined with a survey of German cinema from its inception to the present. Variable thematic concerns include the aesthetics of power, the real and the imaginary, representations of subjectivity, and the construction of national identity. German majors write in German. Prerequisites: none. REYNOLDS.


302 Core Seminar I: From Culture to Nation (Fall) 4 credits

Conducted in German. Study of German literature, history, and culture from 1750 to 1871 through literary and historical texts, documentaries, and films. Prerequisite: German 222 or permission of instructor. BARBER.

303 Core Seminar II: German Identity Through Wars and Reconciliations (Spring) 4 credits Conducted in German. Study of German literature, history, and culture from 1871 to the present through literary and historical texts, documentaries, and films. Prerequisite: German 222 or permission of instructor. REYNOLDS.

310 Topics in German Language and Culture (Fall or Spring) 4 credits

Advanced language course with special emphasis on oral and written proficiency in German. Pertinent cultural and sociopolitical issues of German-speaking countries are used as a basis for short essays and discussions. Predominantly non-literary texts are chosen. Not open to those who have taken German 326. Prerequisite: German 222 or permission of instructor. MILLER.

331 The German Cultural Heritage: From Tacitus to Goethe* 4 credits+

Conducted in German. An introduction to German culture from the Germanic tribes to the Enlightenment. Topics to be examined include political organizations, gender issues, and religion, with readings from the pre-middle ages, the medieval period, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the Storm and Stress movement. All readings in modern German. Prerequisites: German 302 and 303, or permission of instructor. BARBER.

343 Cultural and Intellectual Revolution from Classicism through Realism* (Spring) 4 credits+

Conducted in German. A study of literature and thought from the late 18th century through 1880. Literary texts will be placed within the philosophical, historical, and socio-linguistic context. Variable topics. Prerequisites: German 302 and 303, or permission of instructor. MILLER.

350 Contested Subjects: German Culture from the Avant-Garde to Postmodernism* 4 credits+

Conducted in German. An exploration of German-speaking identities through their formulations and contestations in literature, architecture, cinema, music, cabaret, and political culture. Tracing the artistic epochs from Naturalism to Postmodernism, the course will examine idologies of self and Other as they relate to ethnicity, race, class, gender, and geography. Prerequisites: German 302 and 303, or permission of instructor. REYNOLDS.

354 The Turbulent Century: Literature and Culture in 20th-century Germany* 4 credits+

Conducted in German. A study of responses in literary and other texts to historical and social events such as World War I, the Weimar Republic, World War II, postwar reconstruction, the German Democratic Republic, and unification. Variable topics. Prerequisites: German 302 and 303, or permission of instructor. MICHAELS.


372 Recent Trends in German Literature (Spring) 1 or 2 credits

Close reading and analysis of recent German works from a contemporary cultural perspective. Conducted by the German writer in residence. All readings and discussion in German. Prerequisite: German 302 or permission of instructor. May be repeated once for credit. STAFF.

495 Advanced Seminar in German Studies (Spring) 4 credits

Critical reading and close analysis of selected texts in German literature and culture for students with a solid background in the study of German. Topics vary, and texts include both primary and secondary sources. Course may be repeated once for credit when content changes. Prerequisite: senior standing or special permission for third-year students. BARBER.

*Not offered every year.