Fall 2026
Spring 2027
· GRMN 1110 – Elementary German 1
· GRMN 1120 – Elementary German 2
· GRMN 399/453 – Independent Study
Fall 2027
Spring 2028
· GRMN 1110 – Elementary German 1
· GRMN 1120 – Elementary German 2
· GRMN 399/453 – Independent Study
Fall 2028
Spring 2029
· GRMN 1110 – Elementary German 1
· GRMN 1120 – Elementary German 2
· GRMN 399/453 – Independent Study
Fall 2029
Spring 2030
· GRMN 1110 – Elementary German 1
· GRMN 1120 – Elementary German 2
· GRMN 399/453 – Independent Study
Independent Study Courses offer the following themes:
Fall 2026 - German Conversation with Current Events: This course builds speaking skills by discussing today's news from German-speaking countries. Students will talk about modern politics, culture, and social issues while learning new words and fixing grammar mistakes in real time. This approach explicitly prepares students for global trade and international relations, drawing in majors from political science, international business, and communications.
Spring 2027 – German Media and Translation: A course on German Media and Translation explores how news, films, and digital content move between the German and English languages. It teaches how to adapt cultural jokes, political terms, and idioms while mastering professional translation tools and media analysis skills. Indispensable for majors and minors in German, Translation and Interpreting, International Relations, Communications, and Journalism.
Fall 2027 - Survey of Kafka’s Literary Work: A college course in "Kafka's Literary Work" explores the haunting, surreal, and deeply influential writings of Franz Kafka, focusing on themes of alienation, bureaucracy, existential guilt, and the absurd. Students analyze his precise, deceptively simple prose style to understand how he mapped modern human anxiety long before it became a defining feature of the 20th century. It attracts students in Comparative Literature: Students analyzeKafka's global impact, translation nuances, and cross-cultural modernist themes. English and World Literature: Learners examine his translated short stories and novels as foundational texts of 20th-century fiction. Philosophy: Students explore his narratives for deep insights into existentialism, absurdism, and human alienation. Jewish Studies: Scholars look at his cultural background, German-Jewish identity, and theological implications in modern writing.
Spring 2028 - Workforce German: The course " Workforce German" teaches professional communication, business culture, and industry-specific vocabulary used in German-speaking work environments. It helps students write formal emails, conduct job interviews, and navigate corporate etiquette in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It attracts students in German Studies, International Business, and Engineering.
Fall 2028 - German Folklore and Culture Through Grimm’s Fairy Tales: This course explores the social, historical, and psychological roots of Germany through the famous stories collected by the Brothers Grimm. Students examine original 19th-century tales, cultural values, gender roles, and the dark historical contexts behind the magic. Attractive to students in education, anthropology, and cultural studies looking for context on European traditions and storytelling.
Spring 2029 - Survey of German Film: A course in 'Survey of German Film' explores the history, culture, and artistic evolution of German cinema from the late 19th century to the present. Students analyze major movements, like German Expressionism and New German Cinema, studying key directors, social themes, and how historical events shaped German movies. It attracts students majoring in German Studies, Film and Media Studies, History, and Comparative Literature, as well as students fulfilling general education or humanities requirements.
Fall 2029 - German Culinary Arts through the Centuries: This course explores the history of German food from the Middle Ages to modern times. It covers regional dishes, old cooking methods, and how social changes, trade, and culture shaped what people ate in Germany over hundreds of years. It typically attracts students majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Culinary Arts, History, German Language and Culture, and European Studies. It appeals to those exploring cultural history, food science, and international hospitality.
Spring 2030 – Advanced German Grammar: This course deepens the mastery of complex syntax, stylistic nuances, and structural exceptions in the German language. It moves past basic communication to focus on stylistic precision, academic or professional fluency, and analytical error correction. It attracts students in German Studies, Linguistics, European Studies, and Translation or Comparative Literature, as well as future foreign language educators.
