The Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures offers a rich and diverse program of literary and cultural studies, including film and music, as well as language instruction in German, Swedish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, and Icelandic. Undergraduates may pursue a Concentration in German Studies or Scandinavian Studies, or a Secondary Field in German Studies.
Director of Undergraduate Studies in German: Lisa Parkes
Director of Undergraduate Studies in Scandinavian: Agnes Broomé
Gateway Courses
Spring 2024
GERMAN 10A: Beginning German
Lisa Parkes
An introduction to German language and culture for students with no knowledge of the language. Students develop basic communication competencies (spoken and written), with an emphasis on interpersonal communication. Instruction is supplemented by a variety of texts, including poetry, songs, and visual media. The first half of this course may not be taken as a half course for credit toward the AB degree; there are no exceptions to this rule.
GERMAN 100X: Introduction to German Literature, History, and Thought
Daniel Carranza
A survey course on major works in German literature, philosophy, and critique from the mid-eighteenth century to the twentieth century. Close reading of representative texts opens onto broader ramifications in cultural and intellectual history with further consideration of societal and political tensions.
GERMAN 117: Voices of Diversity in German Literature & Culture
This course offers an introduction to German-language literature and society through the lens of women writers, writers of color, non-binary writers, writers belonging to ethnic and/or religious minorities, and writers with a migration background. From the proto-feminist Enlightenment author Sophie von La Roche to the award-winning Afrofuturist Sharon Dodua Otoo, we will explore the indispensable contributions that traditionally marginalized groups have made to the rich cultures of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. How do these writers’ experiences of oppression, displacement, and migration inspire creative acts of resistance? How do their writings challenge our understanding of identity? Topics include women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration politics, Black diaspora, decolonization, neo-Nazism, memory culture, and others. Readings include canonical figures such as Rosa Luxemburg, Hannah Arendt, W. E. B. Du Bois, May Ayim, Emine Sevgi Özdamar, Sasha Marianna Salzmann, and Yoko Tawada, as well as emergent voices such as Sinthujan Varatharajah and Kim de l’Horizon. Audio-visual materials include hip-hopper Nura, rapper Leila Akinyi, performance artists Gabriele Stötzer and Marc Brandenburg, among others.
For a full list, please check the department's website.