Welcome to the German Program! Although small, the German Program is vibrant and relevant. The German Program Head is an expert in the philosophy, culture and politics of the German speaking countries and offers courses relevant to several disciplines.
GS310 Advanced Grammar and Composition
Reviews advanced grammar topics with the use of authentic texts on contemporary political and social issues in German-speaking countries. The composition portion of the course will develop writing skills by focusing on various forms of writing relevant to students' area of study, including business correspondence and policy memos.
GS330 Contemporary Texts in German
Features current events and topics related to the students' subjects of study. Develops students' reading and listening comprehension, writing and speaking skills, and increased knowledge of German grammar through a variety of authentic texts and exercises.
GS370 Germany Today: Culture and Politics
Deals with contemporary literary texts and films, as well as texts and videos on current political events and cultural topics. Course materials are taken from authentic texts from German newspapers, magazines, websites, as well as video segments from television news programs and selected literary texts. The course also focuses on strengthening knowledge of grammar.
GS372 Germany Today: Culture & Politics (Spring 2008)
Readings and discussion of texts reflecting current political, economic, social, and cultural developments in Germany. Students are expected to give in-class presentations, and to write a number of shorter essays in German.
GS480 German for Professional Purposes
This course trains the students in German for professional purposes. The main areas of focus are German for business and its specific terminology and modes of communication, and specialized „technical languages“ that are relevant to the student’s particular field of study. This course prepares for the internationally recognized Prüfung Wirtschaftsdeutsch International, sponsored by the Goethe-Institut, and which is administered each spring at MIIS.
GS 486 Austria: Culture and Politics
Provides an overview of Austrian culture and politics over the last century, with a particular focus on recent developments in Austrian literature and society and the political public sphere. The overarching theme of the course is Austria as a multicultural society and Vienna in particular as a "melting pot" of cultures.
GS 488 Special Topics: German Identity (Spring 2008)
The course investigates how the Germans today see themselves, as well as how they are perceived by people from other countries. Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to: dealing with the (Nazi-) past; East and West-Germany after unification; Germany in the European Union; Germans and the environment; German attitudes towards work; German humor.
GS491 Germany and the European Union
Introduction to the history, institutions, and selected policy fields of the EU. Students gain a deeper understanding of specific topics such as environmental concerns, agricultural policy, and the expansion of the EU. Joint sessions with the parallel course in French Studies are conducted in English and focus on the Franco-German relationship in the post-war context of European economic and political integration. Preparation for the corresponding Monterey Model course.
GS492 Advanced Conversation and Writing: Current Political Issues
Deals with texts that treat contemporary political issues and events in relevant to the students' areas of study. The list of specific topics is determined by the instructor in cooperation with the students at the beginning of the semester. Course materials are taken from authentic texts from German newspapers, magazines, websites, as well as video segments from television news programs and selected literary texts.
GS494 German Unification & Its Consequences
Students will be working with authentic Russian language materials from different media sources in Russia and CIS. The course work has two distinct goals. The first goal is to significantly increase the scope of vocabulary related to politics, sociology, security and culture as well as the ability to read, translate and analyse the primary sources of information. The second goal is to be exposed to a variety of interpretations of current political, social and security related trends that are leading the media and governments's discourse on the most acute subjects - such as relationship of Russia and other near abroad countries, prospects of joining NATO and the EU by Georgia and Ukraine, energy ties and development of civil society.
Comparative Environmental Policy
This course introduces the student to comparative environmental policy from a German perspective. Following a general overview, the course focuses on country-specific issues, problems, and solutions. As a Monterey Model course, the course is divided into two component segments: discussions in German, and plenary sessions where multimedia presentations are given by the respective language groups in their language and these are simultaneously interpreted for the other participants by an independent interpreting team.
Germany and the European Union
This course offers a comparative perspective on the European Union. Each language group has the opportunity to represent its country's position by serving in mock delegations in joint sessions with representatives from other EU member countries such as , , and the . As a Monterey Model course, the course is divided into two component segments: discussions in German, and regular plenary sessions where presentations are given by the respective language groups in their language and are simultaneously interpreted for the other participants by an independent interpreting team.
