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OVERVIEW The Department of German Studies offers students a wide variety of opportunities to discover the literature and culture of German-speaking countries, whether as part of their general education, a major in German Studies or a double major involving another discipline, preparation for graduate school or an international professional career. Courses are offered in English as well as German, and range from medieval to contemporary literature as well as from film and visual culture to intellectual history, music, history of psychology, and feminist, gender, and sexuality studies. The department's offerings in English begin with a series of Freshman Writing Seminars introducing various aspects of German literature (the fairy-tale and romantic narratives, twentieth-century writers such as Kafka, Hesse, Mann, Brecht), issues in mass culture and modernity, problems of German national identity/ies, and cinema and society. A variety of courses in English translation is also offered on the 3000- and 4000-level, exploring such topics as the Faust legend, aesthetics from Kant to Heidegger, Freud and his legacy, opera from Mozart to Strauss, the German novel, political theory and cinema, the Frankfurt School, and feminist theory.  Students wishing to begin German at Cornell enroll in GERST 1210-1220. Those successfully completing this sequence or those who place into the 2000-level, may pursue further language study in that department or begin with the literature and cultural studies tracks in German Studies. The beginning sequence of 2000-level courses in German Studies, with readings and discussion in German, is designed to provide further grounding in the language as well as introduce German literature (GERST 2000-2020). More advanced courses introduce majors and other qualified students to a broad variety of literary and cultural topics in German-speaking countries. Students with an AP score of 4 or better are automatically granted three credits in German. Students with an AP score of 4 or better, an LPG score of 65 or higher, or a SAT II score of 690 or higher must take the CASE examination for placement in courses above GERST 2000. Students coming to Cornell with advanced standing in German and/or another subject are encouraged to consider a double major and to discuss the options with the Gunhild Lischke , acting director of undergraduate studies, as early as possible. The department offers two options for the major:
The course of study in either major is designed to give students proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing in German, to acquaint them with German culture, and to help them develop skills in reading, analyzing, and discussing German texts in relevant disciplines. For both majors, there is a wide variety of courses co-sponsored with other departments including Comparative Literature; Government; History; Music; Theatre, Film, and Dance; Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. The department
encourages double majors and makes every effort to accommodate prospective
majors with a late start in German. Students interested in a major should
consult the director
of undergraduate studies, Peter
Gilgen, 192 Goldwin Smith Hall. By the end of their sophomore year, prospective majors should have successfully completed GERST 2020, GERST 2040, or GERST 2060. To complete the major, a student must:
The undergraduate
minor in German Studies is intended for students enrolled in any of the
seven undergraduate colleges at Cornell who wish to gain a broad understanding
of the culture, literature, and society of German speaking countries while
they are refining their language competence. The minor is designed to
provide for breadth while permitting flexibility to emphasize areas of
interest in German studies. The department strongly supports Study Abroad as an opportunity for students to put their German to use by living and studying in the German cultural context. The experience of living abroad promotes enduring personal growth, provides new intellectual perspectives through cultural immersion, and opens up academic and professional opportunities. Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to consider the BERLIN CONSORTIUM FOR GERMAN STUDIES, of which Cornell is an associate member. The program is run in conjunciton with the Free University of Berlin and is of very high caliber. Six weeks of intensive language practicum held at the center of the consortium are followed by one or two semesters of study at the university. Participants enroll in regular courses at the university. Academic-year students have been assisted in finding internships between semesters. Prerequisite for participants in the program is four semesters of German language study, of which the last course ideally should be on the 3000-level. Students interested in this or other study abroad options in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland should consult Gunhild Lischke (G75 Goldwin Smith Hall, 255-0725) as soon as possible. Honors in German Studies are awarded for excellence in the major, which includes overall grade point average and completion of the honors thesis. Students are awarded either honors (cum laude), high honors (magna cum laude), or the highest honors (summa cum laude) in the program based on the honors advisers’ evaluation of the level and the quality of the work completed toward the honors degree. The honors distinction will be noted on the student’s official transcript and it will also be indicated on the student’s diploma. Prerequisites for admission. Students must have upper-class standing, and an overall GPA of a B or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major. Students must first consult with the DUS in German Studies regarding eligibility for the honors program. Procedure.
Students who wish to be considered for honors ideally should apply to
the DUS no later than the second term of the Junior year. Students who
are off campus in their junior year must apply by the third week of classes
in the first semester of their senior year. Students should secure the
consent of a faculty member to serve as the director of both the reading
course (GERST 4530) and the writing of a thesis (GERST 4540). With the
help of their thesis adviser students choose an area of special interest
and identify at least one other faculty member who is willing to serve
on the honors committee. An oral thesis defense concludes the process. The department works with the USA-Intern
program to provide summer internships to qualified students with German
companies and agencies. Interested students should contact Gunhild Lischke
(gl15@cornell.edu, G75 Goldwin Smith Hall, 255-0725) early in the fall
semester. Department Awards:
Certificate
in German Language Study: Every April students may register for these Goethe Institute exams:
Awards Available to Undergraduates with Background in German:
For more information, send e-mail to: germanic_studies@cornell.edu or visit the Cornell University home page. This site was created by M. Duncan. Last modified 8/12/2009. |
