The sections for GERM 101, 102, and 103 are flexible for you to enroll in. If you have a conflict between your MWF / TTH classes and a 5-day language class schedule, you can talk with Juliane Schicker (jschicker@carleton) to cross-enroll in 2 sections at the same time. Eventually, you will have to fill out an add/drop card to enroll in both courses. After you speak with both instructors, you can fill out the add/drop card online here. The form will require the approval your German professor, the professor of the course with which your German course conflicts, and your advisor.

For Minors and Majors: can’t fit a certain course into your schedule? Is a certain course not offered in the term you need it? Chat with us to find a substitute.

Fall 2024

  • GERM 101: Elementary German

    This course introduces the basic structures of the German language and everyday vocabulary in the context of common cultural situations and authentic and fictional media. Students are exposed to all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Prerequisites:

    Not open to students whose previous German language experience exceeds the requirements of GERM 101.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Juliane Schicker, Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 101: Elementary German

    This course introduces the basic structures of the German language and everyday vocabulary in the context of common cultural situations and authentic and fictional media. Students are exposed to all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Prerequisites:

    Not open to students whose previous German language experience exceeds the requirements of GERM 101.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Juliane Schicker, Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 153: Nations and Nationalism: A New, Old Idea

    “Nationalism is not the awakening of nations to self-consciousness: it invents nations where they do not exist” (Ernest Gellner, 1964). What are nations if nationalism invents them? When does nationalism ally itself with progressive ideologies, and when does it appear alongside reactionary ones? Is the German case typical or particular? How can works of art create or disrupt national identity? In this course, we will discuss nationalism’s complex legacy by centering on a core of German literary and theoretical texts, visual media, and select non-German sources from the late eighteenth century to the present. Taught in English.

     6 credits; CX, Cultural/Linguistics, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Fall 2024 · Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 204: Intermediate German

    In this course, students build on their communication skills to engage in more in-depth spoken and written discussions of German-speaking literature, art, and culture. By analyzing longer and more challenging texts, films and other cultural media, continuing grammar review, and writing compositions, students acquire greater facility and confidence in all four language skills (writing, speaking, listening, and reading). Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 103 – Intermediate German with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; LP Language Requirement, No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Kiley Kost

  • GERM 204: Intermediate German

    In this course, students build on their communication skills to engage in more in-depth spoken and written discussions of German-speaking literature, art, and culture. By analyzing longer and more challenging texts, films and other cultural media, continuing grammar review, and writing compositions, students acquire greater facility and confidence in all four language skills (writing, speaking, listening, and reading). Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 103 – Intermediate German with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; LP Language Requirement, No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Kiley Kost

  • GERM 209: German for Music Enthusiasts

    From chart-topping hits to old classics, explore the sounds of the German-speaking world while honing your language skills. Each weekly session explores the cultural and social context of selected songs, providing valuable insights into contemporary German society. Engage in interactive singing sessions to learn and perform these songs, improving your pronunciation and language fluency. No prior musical experience is required.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 204 – Intermediate German with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the German Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the German: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     2 credits; S/CR/NC; HI, Humanistic Inquiry, IS, International Studies; offered Fall 2024 · Juliane Schicker

  • GERM 400: Integrative Exercise

    Examining an aspect of German literature across eras or genres. Prerequisites:

    Student is a German major and has Senior Priority.

     S/NC; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025

Winter 2025

  • GERM 102: Elementary German

    Building on the material covered in German 101, this course introduces more complex structures and exposes students to short literary and cultural texts as well as other media. The focus of the course is on all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 101 – Elementary German with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Winter 2025 · Kiley Kost, Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 102: Elementary German

    Building on the material covered in German 101, this course introduces more complex structures and exposes students to short literary and cultural texts as well as other media. The focus of the course is on all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 101 – Elementary German with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Winter 2025 · Kiley Kost, Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 240: Half-Lives: Science, Protest, and Nuclear Power in Germany

    Why did a country known for ground-breaking scientific research decommission its final nuclear power plant in 2023? What historical factors inform Germany’s resistance to nuclear power? And how have literature, poetry, theater, and film responded to scientific progress in the Atomic Era? In this course, taught in English, we will explore the role of science and research in Germany and learn about the country’s singular and volatile response to nuclear power. Key topics include environmental activism, policy responses, and current events that impact Germany’s energy grid. In tandem with this historical inquiry, we will analyze works of literature, theater, and other media that depict the narrative fascination with nuclear physics, including the blockbuster Oppenheimer and the Netflix series Dark. In translation. Taught in English.

     6 credits; HI, Humanistic Inquiry, IS, International Studies, CX, Cultural/Linguistics; offered Winter 2025 · Kiley Kost

  • GERM 320: Life under Socialism: Culture and Society in East Germany

    What was life like under “actually existing socialism?” What films, books, music, and other media did people in the German Democratic Republic (or East Germany) consume and how did they cope with their country’s dictatorship? How can the experiences of people—particularly women—living in the GDR provide useful context for contemporary socio-political issues in the United States and beyond? We will discuss topics such as gender equality, education, health care, and queer life in the GDR. Taught in German. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 204 – Intermediate German with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the German Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the German: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; HI, Humanistic Inquiry, IS, International Studies; offered Winter 2025 · Juliane Schicker

  • GERM 400: Integrative Exercise

    Examining an aspect of German literature across eras or genres. Prerequisites:

    Student is a German major and has Senior Priority.

     S/NC; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025

Spring 2025

  • GERM 103: Intermediate German

    Continuation of the study of complex structural patterns of the German language, and the reading and discussion of longer texts, films, and other media from German-speaking cultures. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 102 – Elementary German with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Spring 2025 · Juliane Schicker, Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 103: Intermediate German

    Continuation of the study of complex structural patterns of the German language, and the reading and discussion of longer texts, films, and other media from German-speaking cultures. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 102 – Elementary German with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Spring 2025 · Juliane Schicker, Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 217: Queer Culture and Movements in Germany from the 19th Century to Present

    In the nineteenth century, Germany was at the forefront of activism for queer people – until it wasn’t. In this course, we will explore the development and evolution of queer culture and social movements in Germany from the late nineteenth century through to the present. We will analyze a variety of primary texts and visual media, including the first magazines written for a queer audience and first-person accounts by queer people persecuted under the Nazis. We will explore how this history has shaped contemporary queer culture in Germany and how it compares to the Anglophone world. Taught in German.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): GERM 204 – Intermediate German with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the German Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the German: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Chloe Vaughn

  • GERM 221: Modern Love: Sex, Gender, and Identity in Austria-Hungary around 1900

    We explore literature, music, and the fine arts of German-speaking countries around the topics of gender and sex(uality). We focus on the years between 1880 and 1920 in Austria-Hungary, but also venture into more recent times and other localities. How did images of men and women change over time? How did science factor into these images? What was/is considered “normal” when it comes to sex(uality) and gender, and what German-speaking voices have been pushing against those norms? How did these voices use literature, music, and the fine arts to reflect or criticize such norms? Taught in English.

     6 credits; CX, Cultural/Linguistics, HI, Humanistic Inquiry, IS, International Studies, WR2 Writing Requirement 2; offered Spring 2025 · Juliane Schicker

  • GERM 400: Integrative Exercise

    Examining an aspect of German literature across eras or genres. Prerequisites:

    Student is a German major and has Senior Priority.

     S/NC; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025