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Organization, Regulations, and Courses 2024-25


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German Studies

Chair: Yuliya Komska

Professors G. Gemünden; Associate Professors V. Fuechtner, K. Mladek, Y. Komska, P. McGillen; Assistant Professor: M. Deniz, M. McGillen; Senior Lecturer/Research Assistant Professor N. Ostrau; Senior Lecturer H. Denzel; Senior Adjunct Lecturer E. Miller; Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow J. Oholi 

 

To view German Studies courses, click here. 

 

Requirements for the Major

 

Prerequisite : Two courses in the GERM 10.XX range (GERM 10.00, GERM 10.01, GERM 10.03 etc.) or permission of the Chair. Students majoring in German Studies design an individual program in consultation with a departmental adviser and/or chair.

 

The Department of German Studies offers three routes to the major:

 

1. Major A focuses on literary and non-literary texts in their historical and intellectual contexts, comprising courses offered by the Department of German Studies. With permission of the Chair, one appropriate course in another department or program may be substituted.

Requirements : eight courses numbered above 14 (GERM 42-47, which are in English translation, require additional work in German), three of which normally come from participation in the Foreign Study Program in Berlin (GERM 29, GERM 30, and GERM 31). All majors must take the upper-division seminar offered in the winter term of their senior year (normally a GERM 60s course). At the end of their senior winter term, all majors will give a presentation based on their work done for this seminar.

 

2. Major B combines resources of the Department of German Studies with a coherent selection of those of other departments and programs, such as Art History, Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Geography, Government, History, Music, Philosophy, and Religion. In principle, any relevant course in the Dartmouth curriculum that is approved by the Department of German Studies may qualify for this major.

Requirements : six courses in the German Studies Department numbered above 14 (GERM 42-47, which are in English translation, require additional work in German), three of which normally come from participation in the Foreign Study Program in Berlin (GERM 29, GERM 30, and GERM 31); four advanced courses from among those offerings in other departments or programs that deal substantially with the culture of German-speaking countries. All majors must take the upper-division seminar offered in the winter term of their senior year (normally a GERM 60s course). At the end of their senior winter term, all majors will give a presentation based on their work done for this seminar.

 

3. Modified Major combines German Studies with another discipline in a coherent program of study. This major is designed individually by the student with a departmental adviser. It may include participation in the Foreign Study Program in Berlin.

Requirements : six courses numbered above 14 (GERM 42-47, which are in English translation, require additional work in German); four courses beyond the introductory level in another department or program of the College and approved by the Chair of the Department of German Studies. All majors must take the upper-division seminar offered in the winter term of their senior year (normally a GERM 60s course). At the end of their senior winter term, all majors will give a presentation based on their work done for this seminar.

 

Senior Culminating Experience : All German majors must take the upper-division seminar offered in the winter term of their senior year. This course will count as one of the eight courses required for Major A and one of the ten courses required for Major B or the Modified Major. In addition to regular participation in the seminar, senior majors will meet with its professor during designated x-hours to discuss methodology and to develop a research topic. Additional work will culminate in a significant essay, the argument of which will be presented orally in German to classmates and to the faculty of the Department of German Studies at the end of winter term.

 

Requirements for the Minor

Prerequisites: Two courses taught in German at the intermediate level: German 6 (LSA/+), German 10.00 (LSA+ or on campus), German 10.01, German 10.03, German 10.06, or by permission of the Chair.

 

Minor-Level Courses: Four courses numbered German 13 or above, as follows:

 

• German 13-15 and German 42-47 are taught in English translation. No more than two may count toward the minor. Only one course from German13-15 may count.

 

• German 29, 30, 31 (Berlin FSP/LSA+), and 61-87 are taught in German. A minimum of two must be taken to complete the minor.

 

One of the German courses in English translation may be replaced with an appropriate advanced course in another department or program, such as Film Studies, Government, Engineering, History, Jewish Studies, Music, or Philosophy,with permission of the Chair. At least one-third of the coursework should be on a topic directly related to German Studies, or by permission of the Chair.

 

Dartmouth Language Study Abroad Program in Germany (LSA)

Prerequisite : GERM 2 with a grade of B- or better, or equivalent preparation, and admission to the program. LSA programs are conducted in Berlin during the spring and summer terms. Students live with local families and take courses taught by local instructors and the Dartmouth faculty member in residence. Upon successful completion of the program, students normally receive credit for GERM 3, GERM 5, and GERM 6. GERM 3 can serve to complete Dartmouth's foreign language requirement. Students who have already taken and passed GERM 3 on campus may go on the program and take GERM 10.00 instead.

 

Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in Germany (FSP)

Prerequisite : Acceptance into the program and a grade of B or better in any two courses above GERM 5, excluding GERM 7 and GERM 13, 14, 15 (GERM 42-47, which are taught in English translation, require additional work in German). Students who have satisfactorily completed the German LSA may fulfill this prerequisite by taking one course in addition to the three taught on that program. Students who have satisfactorily completed the German LSA in the summer term need not take this additional course if they go on the FSP in the immediately following fall term. Students who receive credit for German 10.00 as the result of a placement test must complete one further course (GERM 10.01, GERM 10.02, or GERM 10.03, for example.) The Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in Berlin is conducted each fall term. Students live with local families and take GERM 29, GERM 30, and GERM 31. For more information, inquire at the Off-Campus Programs Office, 44 North College Street, or at the Department of German Studies, 209E Dartmouth Hall.

 

German Honors Program

Students of exceptional attainment who satisfy the minimum College requirements are encouraged to participate in the Honors Program. By November 1 of their senior year, prospective honors students must submit a thesis proposal demonstrating adequate knowledge of the topic on which they wish to write. Such knowledge would normally be acquired through participation in an advanced course (above GERM 15) on a related topic. Alternatively, the topic of interest might have been explored in an independent study (GERM 85). Honors projects must be approved by the departmental faculty. By the end of the winter term, prospective honors students are expected to provide written work sufficient to warrant continuation of their project in GERM 87 in the spring term. Students not attaining the required minimum standards for honors work may not enroll in GERM 87 and therefore may have to take another German Studies course to fulfill the major requirements. (See also Senior Culminating Experience.)