German Studies
German
Studies courses
German department home page
Director of undergraduate studies: William Whobrey, Rm. 430, 55 Whitney Ave., 432-2430, william.whobrey@yale.edu
FACULTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAJOR
Professors
*Walter Cahn (History of Art), David Cameron (Political Science), Mark Gelber (Judaic Studies) (Visiting), Timothy Guinnane (Economics, History), Cyrus Hamlin (Emeritus) (German), *Karsten Harries (Philosophy), Carol Jacobs (German), Winfried Menninghaus (German) (Visiting), Rainer Nägele (German), *Brigitte Peucker (German, Film Studies), Steven Smith (Political Science), Henry Sussman (German) (Visiting), Katie Trumpener (Comparative Literature, English), Frank Turner (History), Christopher Wood (History of Art)
Associate Professors
Michael Friedmann (Adjunct) (Music), Kevin Repp (History)
Assistant Professor
Kirk Wetters (German)
Lecturer
Helmut Illbruck (German)
*Member of the Advisory Committee for the program.
The major in German Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the German cultural tradition in history, philosophy, the fine arts, music, film studies, politics, and culture, with a German-language requirement. The major draws on several departments and programs along with core courses in German Studies. It is particularly suited to students wishing to combine interests in German language and culture with intensive work in another discipline.
In German Studies, students have the freedom to develop a program of courses to meet their particular needs and interests. Through consultation with the director of undergraduate studies, each student in the major is expected to define a focus of concentration within the major. Interested students should contact the director of undergraduate studies to begin planning their course of study.
Two majors. The German Studies major is particularly well suited for students who wish to fulfill the requirements of two majors. For such students, the focus of concentration within the German Studies major often reflects or augments the other elected major.
Prerequisite. Students choosing the German Studies major should have completed GMAN 115a or b and 116a or b or have received equivalent credit through advanced placement or study abroad.
The major. The major consists of twelve term courses, for a total of thirteen course credits, including GMAN 130a or b and 131a or b or equivalent; either GMAN 138a or 139b; GMST 150b; either GMAN 161a or 162b; and the senior essay. The remaining courses include four term courses that together constitute a focus of concentration, one of which is designated as the junior seminar, taken in the spring of the junior year. Students in the standard major choose two additional term courses; those in the intensive major choose one. Two of the six courses beyond the required list of courses should be advanced seminars in German literature or culture. Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.
Focus of concentration and junior seminar. The junior seminar and three other term courses are chosen from inside or outside the department after consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. This cluster of courses constitutes a focus of concentration in an area of study related to the major; examples of areas of concentration are history, philosophy, Germanic languages and literatures, psychology, sociology, political and social theory, film studies, history of art, and music. During the spring term of the junior year, each student selects one seminar in the focus of concentration as the designated junior seminar. This seminar provides the student with bibliographic and research skills that lay a foundation for work on the senior essay, and it culminates in the submission of a substantial term paper, ordinarily twenty-five pages.
Senior requirement for the standard major (one-term senior essay). Seniors in the standard German Studies major enroll in GMST 490a or b, a guided senior essay tutorial course. Students meet on a biweekly basis with the director of undergraduate studies and staff, and work under the direction of a faculty adviser. The culmination of the tutorial is an essay of approximately thirty pages that gives evidence of careful reading and substantial independent thought. The essay may be written in either English or German, although only native speakers are encouraged to write an essay in German. Seniors typically write the essay during the fall term. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be addressed and the choice of adviser should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 14, 2007; a three-page prospectus and a bibliography are due by October 12. A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by November 16. The completed essay, due on December 7, is judged by the faculty adviser and a second reader.
Intensive major (two-term senior essay). Requirements for the intensive major are the same as for the standard major, except that the intensive major requires only one elective advanced seminar in German literature or culture and culminates in a two-term senior essay under the direction of a faculty adviser. In the fall term seniors in the intensive major enroll in GMST 491 and begin work on their project under the guidance and supervision of the faculty adviser. A significant portion of the research for the essay should involve materials in German. The essay may be written in either English or German, although only native speakers are encouraged to write an essay in German. A detailed prospectus, no longer than three pages, and a bibliography must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by October 26, 2007. The student must submit a draft of at least fifteen pages of the essay by December 7 to receive credit for the first term of the course. The second term is devoted to completing the essay, which should be substantial (between fifty and sixty pages); the completed essay must be submitted by April 25, 2008. The senior essay is judged by the faculty adviser and a second reader.
Study abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to study in Germany for a summer, or for one or two terms on the Year or Term Abroad program. Appropriate course credit toward the major is granted for work in approved programs in Germany. Study abroad is valuable not only for achieving comfortable fluency in German, but also for gaining a firsthand knowledge of the German cultural context. The department offers diverse opportunities for study abroad and a scholarship program for summer courses at German universities. Members of the faculty advise and consult with any students wishing to plan study in Germany. Students who have been approved to study abroad and who receive financial aid from Yale are eligible for aid while abroad. For information about the Year or Term Abroad program, see chapter III of this bulletin.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisite: GMAN 115a or b and 116a or b or equivalent
Number of courses: 12 term courses, totaling 13 course credits, beyond prereqs (incl senior essay) for letter grades
Specific courses required: GMAN 130a or b and 131a or b; GMAN 138a or 139b; GMST 150b; GMAN 161a or 162b
Distribution of courses: 4 term courses constituting a focus of concentration, 1 of them the junior sem; 2 addtl advanced sems in German lit or culture
Substitution permitted: With DUS approval, courses taken on Year or Term Abroad for other courses in major
Senior requirement: Senior essay (GMST 490a or b)
Intensive major: 1 addtl advanced sem (rather than 2); two-term senior essay (GMST 491)
