German

german.northwestern.edu

With comprehensive courses in German and English, the German department affords students the opportunity to learn the German language; to understand the significance of German literature, thought, and culture in their European and global contexts; to study abroad at a variety of places and levels; and to pursue research in a variety of fields. Curricular offerings include

  • A thorough introduction to the German language, which can be used to fulfill the college language requirement. A variety of cultural and literary readings as well as cultural experiences cultivate awareness of the differences in written and spoken German in various countries and highlight the impact of language and culture in European and global contexts.
  • A broad exposure to language, literature, culture, and history, with emphasis on the modern period from the 18th-century Enlightenment to the present. Majors and minors can pursue their interests in areas of concentration, that may include business German, history and culture, literature and media, German-Jewish studies, or critical theory.
  • Courses taught in English, giving those not proficient in German a basis for understanding the literary, philosophical, and cultural traditions of German-speaking countries.
  • Opportunities for students to enhance their command of German and  to deepen their cultural awareness through study abroad in a variety of locations such as Berlin, Freiburg, Munich, Vienna, or Zurich.

Students in the department are regularly accepted into internship programs and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines, as well as prestigious postgraduate programs of the Fulbright Commission, the German Academic Exchange Service, and the Austrian-American Educational Commission.

Business German and Advanced German Examinations

Business German credentials are important in today's job market for two reasons:  German is a leading language  in the European market and German corporations have more than 2,500 subsidiaries and affiliates in the United States that employ nearly 600,000 Americans.

The department currently offers several courses that specifically address the Business German language and culture as well as historical and political issues related to Business German:

If you are looking for German credentials beyond a German Major or Minor from Northwestern University, there are several tests available that are recognized world wide:

  • Goethe-Test PRO: German for Professionals (Goethe-Test PRO: Deutsch für den Beruf) is a computer-based German online  test that evaluates listening and reading competence in the workplace quickly and reliably.  The test is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). You will find more information on this test here.
  • Prüfung Wirtschaftsdeutsch International (PWD) is an internationally recognized test given at Carl Duisberg Centers, various Goethe Institutes and the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The standardized exam is carried out around the world and is recognized by employers in many countries as evidence of a high level of German business language proficiency. The level of the PWD is between levels B2 and C1 of the European Framework. You will find more information on this test here.
  • TestDaF is an advanced-level language exam. It covers levels B2 to C1 on the six-level scale of competence in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The successful completion of all four sections of the TestDaF exam at TestDaF level 4 will act as evidence of the language skills needed to gain admission to almost any subject and degree course at universities and institutions of higher education in Germany. The TestDaF language exam also provides internationally recognized evidence that your knowledge of German is sufficient to complete scientific projects and enter academic professions. No specialist knowledge is required to take the exam. You will find more information on this test here.

Study Abroad and Internships Abroad

The Department of German works carefully with students to integrate a period of study or internship experience in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland into their overall academic plans. By living in the culture and interacting with native German speakers, students typically return with a much firmer grasp of both written and spoken German as well as a more balanced international perspective. Students who have special interests and needs are welcome to investigate other programs and discuss them with the departmental study abroad adviser. There are a variety of internal grant and fellowship opportunities for students in German planning on studying abroad or doing an internship in a German speaking country. Early planning and early application is essential, however. Students will find more information here.

GERMAN 101-1 Beginning German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic introduction to German language and culture emphasizing reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension. Prerequisite: None or one year of high-school German or placement test results.

GERMAN 101-2 Beginning German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic introduction to German language and culture emphasizing reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension. Prerequisite: GERMAN 101-1 or placement test results.

GERMAN 101-3 Beginning German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic introduction to German language and culture emphasizing reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension. . Prerequisite: GERMAN 101-2 or placement test results.

GERMAN 101-SA-1 Beginning German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic introduction to German language and culture emphasizing reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension. Prerequisite: None or one year of high-school German or placement test results.

GERMAN 102-1 Intermediate German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic review of German language and culture. The class fosters learning in the four modalities: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: GERMAN 101-3 or placement test results.

GERMAN 102-2 Intermediate German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic review of German language and culture. The class fosters learning in the four modalities: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-1 or or placement test results.

GERMAN 102-3 Intermediate German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic review of German language and culture. The class fosters learning in the four modalities: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-2 or placement test results.

GERMAN 102-SA-1 Intermediate German (1 Unit)   This sequence offers students a systematic review of German language and culture. The class fosters learning in the four modalities: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: GERMAN 101-3 or placement test results.

GERMAN 104-7 College Seminar (1 Unit)   Small, writing and discussion-oriented course exploring a specific topic or theme, and introducing skills necessary to thriving at Northwestern. Not eligible to be applied towards a WCAS major or minor except where specifically indicated.

GERMAN 104-8 First-Year Writing Seminar (1 Unit)   Small, writing and discussion-oriented course exploring a specific topic or theme, and focused on the fundamentals of effective, college-level written communication. Not eligible to be applied towards a WCAS major or minor except where specifically indicated.

GERMAN 105-0 German for Research (0 Unit)  

Introduction to the translation of scholarly and scientific German texts. No prerequisites in the language.

GERMAN 115-0 Intensive Beginning German through Musical Journeys in Vienna (1 Unit)   Interdisciplinary course offering musically interested students the opportunity to acquire German language skills through an immersion in the musical and cultural history of Vienna. Prerequisite: None or one year of high-school German or placement test results.

GERMAN 201-0 Focus Reading (1 Unit)   Course for students who would like to explore German texts in more depth. Examines contemporary German culture. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. (This course will not count for the language requirement but may be taken concurrently with GERMAN 102-3). Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-2 or placement test results. 

GERMAN 203-0 Focus Speaking (1 Unit)   Practical training in listening comprehension and speaking. Examines contemporary German culture. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. (This course will not count for the language requirement but may be taken concurrently with GERMAN 102-3). Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-2 or placement test results.

GERMAN 205-0 Focus Writing (1 Unit)   Development of written proficiency in German through analysis and production of portraits, descriptions, narratives, reviews of films, reports, argumentative essays, advertisements, and interpretations of literary works. Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-3 or placement test results.

GERMAN 205-SA Focus Writing (1 Unit)   Development of written proficiency in German through analysis and production of portraits, descriptions, narratives, reviews of films, reports, argumentative essays, advertisements, and interpretations of literary works. Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-3 or placement test results.

GERMAN 207-0 Current Events in German Media (1 Unit)   Exploration of current events in a variety of German media (newspapers, TV, Internet, etc.). Topics include politics, music, film, sports, and literature. Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-3.

GERMAN 209-0 German in the Business World (1 Unit)   German language study oriented toward business-related communication situations, such as social interactions with customers, business travel, basic business letters. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in German.

GERMAN 211-0 German Culture through Film (1 Unit)   Introduction to 20th century German cinema. Discussion of German identity, culture, history, and politics. Course emphasizes cultural knowledge and German language skills. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in German. Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 213-0 History, Politics, and Culture in 21st Century German (1 Unit)   In-depth cultural and linguistic exploration of history, politics, and current issues (e.g., integration of foreigners, multicultural life) in Germany. Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-3 or placement exam results. Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl

GERMAN 221-1 Introduction to Literature: 1800-1900 (1 Unit)   Introduction to representative texts and writers of 19th century German literature and familiarizes them with literary analysis and genres. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in German. Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 221-2 Introduction to German Literature: 1900-1945 (1 Unit)   Introduction to representative German texts and writers of the first half of the 20th century, when the First World War, the Weimar Republic, and the Third Reich marked the demise of the German Empire. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in German. Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 221-3 Introduction to Literature: 1945-today (1 Unit)   Introduction to representative short stories by major German-speaking authors since 1945. The stories represent a dynamic period in German literature and highlight important social, political, and intellectual issues. Prerequisite: GERMAN 102-3 or placement test results. Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 222-0 German History from 1789-1989 (1 Unit)   Survey of German political, economic, social, intellectual, and diplomatic history from the consolidation of the nation in the aftermath of the French Revolution to reunification at the end of the Cold War. Prerequisite: None. Historical Studies Distro Area

GERMAN 222-SA German History from 1789-1989 (1 Unit)   Survey of German political, economic, social, intellectual, and diplomatic history from the consolidation of the nation in the aftermath of the French Revolution to reunification at the end of the Cold War. Prerequisite: None. Historical Studies Distro Area

GERMAN 223-0 Austrian Literature (1 Unit)   Overview and introduction to contemporary Austria-the land, its people, and cultural institutions-through newer writers such as Hackl, Handke, Haslinger, Helfer, Jelinek, Nöstlinger, Reichart, Schlag, and Turrini. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in German. Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 224-0 Contemporary Germany (1 Unit)   The German political, social, and cultural scene after 1945. Prerequisite: None. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity Historical Studies Distro Area

GERMAN 226-0 New Voices in German Literature (1 Unit)   Introduction to contemporary German literature in English translation. Topics vary and may include the contemporary historical novel, short story, novel, or memoir. Prerequisite: None. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 228-0 German Film (1 Unit)   In-depth study of German films and cultural background. Topics may vary-for example, the pioneer film or "new" German cinema. Prerequisite: None. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 230-0 Berlin and the Culture of Democracy (1 Unit)   History and culture of the city from 1900 to the present, including the Weimar period, Nazi regime, the divisions of the Cold War, and the newly unified capital. Prerequisite: none. Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 232-0 The Theme of Faust Through the Ages (1 Unit)   Faust theme in literature and music through shifting intellectual and social climates from the 16th century to the present. Prerequisite: None. Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci Ethics Values Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 234-1 Jews and Germans: An Intercultural History I (1 Unit)   Exploration of Jewish encounters with German culture. German Jewry from the 18th century to the end of the 19th century, when Jews were granted legal standing as German citizens. Prerequisite: None. Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci Ethics Values Distro Area Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 234-2 Jews and Germans: An Intercultural History II (1 Unit)   Jewish culture-German culture exploration. German-speaking Jewry from the late 19th century to 1933. Prerequisite: None. Ethics Values Distro Area Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 236-0 Kafka and Nietzsche (1 Unit)   Exploration of two key figures in German modernity. Analysis of the relation between philosophy and literature; inquiry into the idea of the "ascetic ideal." Prerequisite: None. Ethics Values Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 238-0 Turn-of-the-Century Vienna (1 Unit)   Literature and thought of fin de siècle Vienna and their impact on modern consciousness. Fiction, poetry, essays, and plays by Freud, Schnitzler, Wittgenstein, Hofmannsthal, Musil, Karl Kraus, and Schoenberg. Prerequisite: None. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 242-0 Imagining Modern Jewish Culture in Yiddish and German (1 Unit)   History and character of Yiddish and the development of modern German culture and German-Jewish culture. Appreciation of the variety of "Judaisms" imagined and reimagined during modern European history. Prerequisite: None. GERMAN 242-0 and JWSH_ST 242-0 are taught together; may not receive credit for both courses. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 244-0 Analyzing Freud (1 Unit)   Freud's work from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective. Fundamental texts by Freud in dialogue with related materials that situate him in historical, cultural, and intellectual context. Prerequisite: None. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 245-0 Special Topics in German Literature and Culture (1 Unit)   Studies of a major author, a prominent theme in German literature or culture, a movement, or a genre. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in German. Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 246-0 Special Topics in German Literature and Culture (1 Unit)   Topics vary-for example, the fairy tale, Germanic mythology. Prerequisite: None. Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 248-0 Learning Diversity: Germany and Global Migration (1 Unit)   Explores how migration from and to Germany has impacted and shaped the country's political, social, and cultural development as an increasingly diverse country. Prerequisite: None. Historical Studies Distro Area

GERMAN 266-0 Introduction to Yiddish Culture: Images of the Shtetl (1 Unit)   Analysis and discussion of the literary, visual, and filmic images of the communal life developed by Eastern European Jews and inseparably associated with them. Prerequisite: None. GERMAN 266-0 and JWSH_ST 266-0 taught together; students may receive credit for only one of these. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 272-0 Luther and the West (1 Unit)   Examination of Luther's work in the context of his life and times. Introduces basic dimensions of Western thought, showing how theology relates to broader cultural, political, social, and aesthetic issues. Prerequisite: None. GERMAN 272-0 and RELIGION 272-0 are taught together; may not receive credit for both courses. Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci Ethics Values Distro Area Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules

GERMAN 303-0 Speaking as Discovery (1 Unit)   A course to improve German listening and speaking skills to the advanced level. Uses current cultural texts, films, and television broadcasts. Prerequisite: Two 200-level courses in German. Advanced Expression Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

GERMAN 305-0 Writing as Discovery (1 Unit)   Practice of advanced and sophisticated structures of written German through a series of linguistic exercises. Readings may vary. Prerequisite: Two 200-level courses in German. Advanced Expression

GERMAN 307-0 German Media (1 Unit)   Current political and cultural events in Germany and Europe. Topics from German language media, including newspapers, magazines, Internet sources, and news broadcasts. Discussion of journalistic differences. Prerequisite: Two 200-level courses in German. Advanced Expression

GERMAN 309-1 The German Market and the Globalized Economy (1 Unit)   Germany's economy, its current problems, business practices, and differences from the United States. Prerequisite: Two 200-level courses in German. Advanced Expression

GERMAN 309-2 Germany, Inc.: Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility (1 Unit)   Students gain skills to function in a multitude of German business contexts, such as management and marketing. They also increase their cross-cultural knowledge and intercultural competency. Prerequisite: Two 200-level courses in German. Advanced Expression

GERMAN 321-1 Reason, Revolution, and Despair: 1800-1900 (1 Unit)   Discussion of key texts in German intellectual history from the Enlightenment to the prerevolutionary period in the 1830s. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Advanced Expression Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 321-2 Myth and Modernity: 1900-1945 (1 Unit)   Literature and thought, events, and ideologies that shaped German cultural, political, and social life from 1900 to 1945, during the Weimar Republic and the Nazi state. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Advanced Expression Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 321-3 Recoveries and Transitions: 1945-Present (1 Unit)   Examination of the relationship of literature and film to the sociopolitical sphere since 1945. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Advanced Expression Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 322-0 German Contributions to World Literature (1 Unit)   Topics vary-for example, Rilke's poetry; Nietzsche's influence on literature; Thomas Mann; Hesse, the German novel, and the mystic tradition; German intellectual history. Prerequisite: None. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 323-0 Rhyme and Reason in German Poetry (1 Unit)   Introduction to German poetry from the early 18th century to the present. Concentrates on the main formal categories of poetry as well as the main topics and themes of German poetry. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature) . Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 324-0 Modern German Drama (1 Unit)  

Plays by authors ranging from Heinrich von Kleist to Peter Weiss, from the perspective of the stage as a "moral institution."

Prerequisite: None.

Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 326-0 German Cultural Studies (1 Unit)   Exploration of key concepts, major figures, and cultural and literary themes in German studies and interdisciplinary fields such as music, art, political science, media studies, and popular culture. Prerequisite: none.

GERMAN 327-0 German Expressionism (1 Unit)   German Expressionism in its most extreme literary and artistic reactions to the impact of modernity, war, and revolution and on the individual and collective experience in Berlin from 1910 to 1920. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 328-0 Prague: City of Cultures, City of Conflict (1 Unit)   Examination of the cultural, political, and social transformation of Prague from the 19th century to the present. Cosmopolitan Prague, communist Prague, and capitalist Prague. SLAVIC 328-0 and GERMAN 328-0 are taught together; may not receive credit for both courses. Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 329-0 Brecht: Theater, Film, and Media (1 Unit)   Introduction to Bertolt Brecht's theater in the 1920s and early 1930s during the Weimar Republic. Historical critical review of the still-evolving media of film and radio. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 331-0 Shattered Worlds: Representation after the Shoa (1 Unit)   Examination of the role of German literature and art in the creation of historical consciousness in the postwar period. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature) . Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 333-0 Literature of a Divided Nation (1 Unit)   Study of the literature and culture of the German Democratic Republic within social, political, and historical contexts. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 334-0 Writers and their Critics (1 Unit)   Study of the texts of leading writers in German through a discussion of the criticism these texts have evoked. Emphasis on 20th and 21st century criticism. Prerequisite: None. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 335-0 Minority Voices in Germany (1 Unit)   Study of minority literatures in Germany (including Turkish, Italian, Afro German, and Jewish) within social, political, and historical contexts. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 337-0 Science and Culture in Germany (1 Unit)   Exploration of key texts popularizing major scientific innovations in Germany. The focus is on tracing the scientific, political, philosophical, aesthetic history of German as a "green nation" from the 18th century until today. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). Ethics Values Distro Area Historical Studies Distro Area Interdisciplinary Distro - See Rules

GERMAN 344-1 German History: Weimar and Nazi Germany (1 Unit)   Survey of German political, economic, social, intellectual, and diplomatic history covering Weimar and Nazi Germany. Prerequisite: None. GERMAN 344-1 and HISTORY 344-1 are taught together: may not receive credit for both courses. Historical Studies Distro Area

GERMAN 344-2 German History: Germany Since 1945 (1 Unit)   Survey of German political, economic, social, intellectual, and diplomatic history covering Germany beginning in 1945 to reunification at the end of the Cold War. Prerequisite: None. GERMAN 344-2 and HISTORY 344-2 are taught together; may not receive credit for both courses. Historical Studies Distro Area

GERMAN 345-0 Topics in German Literature and Culture (1 Unit)   In-depth study of topics in German literature and/or pivotal periods in German culture. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature). May be repeated for credit with different topic. Advanced Expression Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 346-0 Topics in German Literature and Culture (1 Unit)   In-depth study of topics in German literature and/or pivotal periods in German culture. Prerequisite: None. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Advanced Expression Literature Fine Arts Distro Area Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 349-0 The History of the Holocaust (1 Unit)   Origins and development of the genocide of European Jewry during World War II. Prerequisite: none. HISTORY 349-0 and GERMAN 349-0 are taught together; may not receive credit for both courses. Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity Historical Studies Distro Area Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

GERMAN 366-0 Yiddish Culture and the Holocaust (1 Unit)   Analysis of modern Yiddish literature before the Holocaust as well as literary work that emerged from Yiddish-speaking writers who survived the Second World War. Prerequisite: None. GERMAN 366-0. and JWSH_ST 366-0 taught together; may receive credit for only one course. Literature Fine Arts Distro Area

GERMAN 398-0 Undergraduate Seminar (1 Unit)   Advanced work through supervised reading, research, and discussion. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature).

GERMAN 399-0 Independent Study (1 Unit)   Open to outstanding German majors with senior standing. Prerequisite: Three 200-level courses in German (at least one in literature).