Course Schedule

GER 500 – Intensive Reading German for the Sciences and Humanities

Rapid acquisition of reading proficiency in German. No prior knowledge of German is necessary. Proficiency certification obtained from this course fulfills graduate foreign language requirement is some departments (consult department for information).

GER 513 – Visual Culture

The course focuses on the interrelationship between images and texts and on images as texts in various medium. Images here are understood as symbolic representations of culture that arise out of social contexts that produce and distribute them both locally and globally.

GER 514 – Reading Transculturally

Intended for MA and PhD students in the second semester of their first year of coursework, this seminar prepares students as generalists in transcultural German Studies in order to acquire extensive historical and generically diverse reading experience and set a clear agenda for their MA examination reading list or PhD comprehensive reading list. To achieve this goal, the course draws the German Studies Department Graduate Handbook and students' research interests, while aiming for parity in representing the fields of literature/culture and applied linguistics, guiding students in assembling their reading lists and committees, and requiring the reading of at least 25 texts that are discussed with a specifically transcultural approach in both English and German.

GER 534 – Literacy through Literature

Exploration of the concept of literacy in the field of second language acquisition and the role that literature can play in the acquisition and teaching of literacy in a foreign or second language. Includes a critical review of theoretical readings from the fields of applied linguistics, second language acquisition theory, education, pedagogy and stylistics and the development of teaching practices, reflecting these theories.

GER 587 – Assessment in Second/Foreign Language Learning

The primary objective of this course is the development of language teachers' assessment literacy, which includes knowledge of key assessment principles and skill in creating or adopting assessment tools and procedures for the language classroom. Participants in this course will develop their knowledge and skills related to assessing all skill areas in the language classroom, including productive skills (writing, speaking), receptive skills (reading, listening), and assessing grammar and vocabulary. Grading and student evaluation will also be important topics of consideration and exploration in this course. Designed specifically for in-service (and pre-service) language teachers, the course combines theory with practice by covering essential principles of effective classroom assessment and the development of effective assessment tools for classroom use. Participants completing this course will become more assessment literate and better able to evaluate student performance in their classrooms fairly and effectively.

GER 596C – Culture

The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.

GER 615 – Second Language Acquisition Theory

Survey of major perspectives on second language acquisition processes, including interlanguage theory, the Monitor Model, acculturation/pidginization theory, cognitive/connectionist theory, and linguistic universals. Analysis of research from the different perspectives includes consideration of grammatical, pragmatic, and sociolinguistic dimensions of language learning.

GER 910 – Thesis

Research for the master's thesis (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or thesis writing). Maximum total credit permitted varies with the major department.

GER 920 – Dissertation

Research for the doctoral dissertation (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or dissertation writing).