Academics at Hanover:
At Hanover, you can develop your own pathway with German based on your interests. With major and minor options in German and German Studies, you can focus on advanced language acquisition and study abroad, or take interdisciplinary courses in the History, Music, and Philosophy Departments toward your degree.
If you would like to become a P-12 teacher, you can double major in German and Education and complete a teaching internship at a local school. The new “SPARK for German” program allows Hanover students to teach German to K-12 students in the Hanover/Madison area for credit or community service. German classes also count as electives in the Business Program and the International Studies Program. Connect German with your own interests! Our curriculum focuses on inclusive, intercultural and interdisciplinary topics to prepare you to contribute to global communities.
The German Department collaborates with faculty across campus to offer current and innovative co-curricular activities and courses. In recent projects, students have translated letters by a German American settler for use in Prof. Sarah Vosmeier’s American Immigration History course, and teamed up with Prof. Jenny Schmidt the Theatre Department to put on a fairy tale play adaptation in German with English supertitles. In May 2024, students took “The Art and Design of German Life” and “Brewing and Fermentation” with faculty from Art and Design and Chemistry in Germany! Join the faculty-led German Club to participate in co-curricular language and cultural activities! German-speakers from across campus and our greater communities are welcome to attend events.
Come learn about the German language and cultures through films, fairy tales, literature, music, plays, poems, translations and more… and write and perform your own!
STUDY ABROAD
Eat, sleep and drink German for a full semester in Germany (full details and location to be announced). Short-term opportunities for language and culture study in Germany are also available during May Term.
ON-CAMPUS IMMERSION
A number of extracurricular activities provide opportunities for you to enrich your language and social experiences at Hanover. Take part in German Immersion Housing activities, whether you live in-house or not. The German Club offers cooking events, coffee hours, walks on campus for German conversation, hiking days in German, German Immersion Weekends, Reading Groups and more. Collaborate with other student groups on campus to put on intercultural and cross-cultural events. Come share your ideas and interests in the German-speaking cultures.
COURSES
Number
Name
Units
Description
GER 115
Beginning German I
1.00
An introduction to basic modes of communication in the target language. Emphasis is on everyday language while developing speaking, listening, reading and writing as well as introducing culture(s) of the target language. Partially satisfies the WL CCR.
GER 116
Beginning German II
1.00
A continuation of German 115. Prerequisite: Ger 115 or placement into 116. Partially satisfies the WL CCR.
GER 201
German Immersion
.25
Participation in German reading and/or conversation practice outside of class as offered by the German Club, the GLC tutors, German Program Assistants, or other advanced/native speakers. Prerequisite: GER 116 or permission of instructor. Graded Pass/Fail. 0.25 credit. May be repeated for up to 1 unit. Does not count toward the major or minor.
GER 217
Intermediate German
1.00
Reinforcement and expansion of grammatical and phonological patterns. Emphasis given to developing speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as well as study of culture(s) of the target language. Prerequisite: Ger 116 or placement into 217. Partially satisfies the WL CCR.
GER 218
Advanced Intermediate German
1.00
Advanced study involving expansion and synthesis of knowledge and understanding of the target language and its culture(s). Prerequisite: Ger 217 or placement into 218. Partially satisfies the WL CCR.
GER 222
German Cinema
1.00
Taught in English, a survey course examining German cinema from its world-famous pioneers in the 1920’s to the contemporary film makers. Students with knowledge of German may choose to write papers in German. Counts toward the German major/minor and toward the Film Studies minor. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
GER 223
Cities and Regions
1.00
Taught in German. A cultural journey to several key cities and regions in order to acquaint the students with the rich heritage of German-speaking lands. This course continues students' development toward advanced language proficiency by reading and discussing a variety of texts from disciplines such as literature, music, philosophy, science, history, banking and industry. Prerequisite: GER 218. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Satisfies the S ACE.
GER 226
Off Campus German Conversation
1.00
Total immersion in a German-speaking country. Focus is on experiencing everyday life, travel to different places and practice oral communications and presentations. Offered spring term. Prerequisite: GER 218. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
GER 228
German Conversation
1.00
A consideration of contemporary issues facing German-speaking countries today by means of a variety of texts and intensive work in oral expression. Prerequisite: 218. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
GER 241
German Americans and Social Justice
1.00
Taught in German and English. Explores the reasons Germans immigrated to the United States from the 17th- 20th centuries, and the causes they fought for, focusing on those whom they lifted up through their work. Texts will include words by marginalized voices. Development of competence in written and oral expression through analytical and functional writing, translation projects, group discussions, and oral presentations. Prerequisite: GER 218. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the CP ACE.
GER 243
Interdisciplinary Works
1.00
Taught in English. Students wishing for credit in German should register for 343. Examines the benefits of (and sometimes the consequences that result from) interdisciplinary projects in the German-speaking world. Offered with rotating topics on literature, music,philosophy, politics, science, technology and more. To include at least one artistic or literary discipline. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the W2 ACE.
GER 244
Intercultural Communication
1.00
Taught in German. Evaluates the communication that happens between and within cultures in literature, film and/or other media. Possible topics include the multilayered communities represented in cross-cultural relationships, fairy tales, between humans and animals, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, and more, with sources representing the perspectives from one or more of those culture(s). Development of competence in written and oral expression through analytical, functional and creative writing exercises, group discussions, and oral presentations. Prerequisite: GER 218. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the CP ACE.
GER 245
Crossing Boundaries
1.00
Taught in German. Offered with rotating topics examining the boundaries (and the crossing of boundaries) in language, culture, genre, gender, race, class and/or societies in literary works from the German-speaking world. Builds critical reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Prerequisite: GER 218. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
GER 248
German for the Professions
1.00
Taught in German. Builds reading, writing, translation, speaking,and listening skills using contemporary economics, business, non-profit organization and translation industry texts and conventions. To include units, presentations, and creative projects and analyses specific to enrolled students’ vocational interests. Students help research and design part of the curriculum.
Prerequisite: GER 218. Satisfies the S ACE.
GER 301
SPARK for German
.50
In this teaching practicum, collaborate with fellow Hanover students of German and the instructor to provide 10 fun and engaging German classes to local K-12 schools as an afterschool program. Classes may be taught individually or in teams. Join weekly meetings for lesson planning and reflections with the instructor. Prerequisite: GER 218 or permission of the instructor. 0.5 unit. May be repeated one time for a total of 1.0 unit.
GER 322
German Film Studies
1.00
Taught in English, a survey course examining German cinema from its world-famous pioneers in the late 1920's to the contemporary filmmakers. Students will write papers in German. Counts for Film Studies minor. Students cannot receive credit for both 222 and 322. Prerequisite 218. Partially satisfies the LA CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.
GER 323
Advanced Cities and Regions
1.00
Taught in German. A cultural journey to several key cities and regions in order to acquaint the students with the rich heritage of German-speaking lands. This course continues students' development toward advanced language proficiency by reading and discussing a variety of texts from disciplines such as literature, music, philosophy, science, history, banking and industry. Prerequisite: GER 218, and at least one more 200-level course above GER 218. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Satisfies the S ACE.
GER 326
Adv. Off Campus German Conversation
1.00
Total immersion in a German ¬speaking country. Focus is on experiencing everyday life, travel to different places and practice advanced oral communications and presentations. Offered spring term. Prerequisite: GER 218 and at least one more upper-division courses at the 200-level. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
GER 328
Adv. On Campus German Conversation
1.00
A consideration of contemporary issues facing German-speaking countries today by means of a variety of texts and intensive work in advanced oral expression. Prerequisite: GER 218 and at least one more upper-division course at the 200-level above 218 May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
GER 341
Adv. German Americans/Social Justic
1.00
Taught in German and English. Explores the reasons Germans immigrated to the United States from the 17th- 20th centuries, and the causes they fought for, focusing on those whom they lifted up through their work. will include words by marginalized voices. Development of advanced competence in written and oral expression through analytical and functional writing, translation projects, group discussions, and oral presentations. Prerequisite: GER 218 and at least one more upper-division course at the 200-level above 218. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the CP ACE.
GER 343
Interdisciplinary Works in German
1.00
Taught in English. Readings, writings, and conversation group in German. Examines the benefits of (and sometimes the consequences that result from)
interdisciplinary projects in the German-speaking world. Offered with rotating topics on literature, music, philosophy, politics, science, technology and more. To include at least one artistic or literary discipline.Prerequisite: GER 218. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the W2 ACE.
GER 344
Adv. Intercultural Communicaiton
1.00
Taught in German. Evaluates the communication that happens between and within cultures in literature, film and/or other media. Possible topics include the multi-layered communities represented in cross-cultural relationships, fairy tales, between humans and animals, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, and more, with sources representing the perspectives from one or more of those culture(s). Development of competence in written and oral expression through analytical, functional and creative writing exercises, group discussions, and oral presentations. Prerequisite: GER 218, and at least one more 200-level course above GER 218. Maybe repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Partially satisfies the LA CCR. Satisfies the CP ACE.
GER 345
Adv. Crossing Boundaries
1.00
Taught in German. Offered with rotating topics examining the boundaries (and the crossing of boundaries) in language, culture, genre, gender, race, class and/or societies in literary works from the German-speaking world. Builds critical reading, writing, speaking,and listening skills. Prerequisite: GER 218, and at least one more 200-level course above GER 218. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Partially satisfies the LA CCR.
GER 348
Adv. German for the Professions
1.00
Taught in German. Builds reading, writing, translation, speaking, and listening skills using contemporary economics, business, non-profit organization and translation industry texts and conventions. To include units, presentations, and creative projects and analyses specific to enrolled students’ vocational interests. Students help research and design part of the curriculum. Prerequisite: GER 218, and at least one more 200-level course above GER 218. Satisfies the S ACE.
GER 357
Internshp
1.00
Off-mcapus supervised experience in German.
GER 360
Special Topics
1.00
Special Topic
GER 471
Senior Thesis
1.00
Each student will choose a topic, carry out the necessary research and write an extensive paper in German.
