Description of German Courses Offered - Fall 2009

For times and classrooms, please see current SDSU online class schedule.

[Information subject to change or error. See current SDSU catalog for the most accurate, up-to-date information.]

GERMAN 100A: FIRST COURSE IN GERMAN (5 units)
Prerequisites: none
German 100A is an elementary language acquisition course which emphasizes
speaking and listening skills, practiced in the context of the cultures of the countries
where German is spoken.
Texts: Terrell, Kontakte: textbook, workbook (paperback or online), 6th ed. (McGraw-Hill)

GERMAN 100B: SECOND COURSE IN GERMAN (5 units)
Prerequisites: German 100A or 2 years of high school German
German 100B expands upon the language and cultural competency acquired in 100A.
Texts: Terrell, Kontakte: textbook, workbook (paperback or online), 6th ed. (McGraw-Hill)

GERMAN 150: INTRODUCTION TO GERMAN STUDIES (3 units)
Prerequisites: none
Introduction to the field of German Studies with emhasis on the cultural life of
German-speaking communities and their impact worldwide on major artistic, intellectual,
and cultural movements. Course conducted in English.
German 150 satisfies the GE: II. Foundations C. Humanities requirement.
Texts: Kafka, The Metamorphosis; Massaquoi, Destined to Witness; Schulze, Germany:
A New History (Harvard UP 1998); additional readings will be made available in class or on Blackboard

GERMAN 202: READINGS IN GERMAN (3 units)
Prerequisites: German 100B or 3 years of high school German or equivalent
Instructor: Rebien
Reading strategies and language structures which aid reading comprehension will be
introduced and practiced. A variety of texts, both literary and expository, will be read.
German 202 satisfies the three-semester foreign language requirement for graduation.
May be taken concurrently with German 205A (both courses are prerequisites for upper
division German classes).
Texts: Wells & Morewege, Mitlesen Mitteilen, 3rd ed. (McGraw-Hill); additional materials
will be available on Blackboard or in class

GERMAN 205A: THIRD COURSE IN GERMAN (4 units)
Instructor: Wauchope
Prerequisites: German 100B or 3 years of high school German or equivalent
Intermediate language skills, with emphasis on listening, speaking, and writing, are
practiced in the context of the cultures of those countries in which German is spoken.
German 205A satisfies the three-semester foreign language requirement for graduation.
May be taken concurrently with German 202 (both courses are prerequisites for upper
division German classes).
Texts: Augustyn & Euba, Stationen: ein Kursbuch fuer die Mittelstufe, textbook and
online workbook (Heinle)

GERMAN 300:** READINGS IN CONTEMPORARY GERMAN CULTURE: "WAS IST DEUTSCH?"
(3 units)
Prerequisites: German 202 and 205B. Not open to students who hold a degree from a
secondary or post-secondary school in which the primary language of instruction is German.
Instructor: Rebien
Development of advanced proficiency in reading comprehension and oral communication.
A novel and many short readings, both fiction and non-fiction, will explore topics of current
cultural relevance, including ethnic and religious diversity, East and West German identities,
Germany in the EU, and contemporary music and art. Students will take a midterm and final
exam and give an oral presentation. Course conducted in German.
Texts: Leblans, Was ist Deutsch? (Houghton Mifflin); Brussig, Am kuerzeren Ende der
Sonnenallee

GERMAN 400**: GERMAN STUDIES THROUGH THE MEDIA (3 units)
Instructor: Wauchope
An introduction, through spoken and written texts and visuals from the media, to the society, institutions and culture of German-speaking communities with emphasis on current issues and developments.   Assessment will be based on oral presentations, short written assignments, quizzes, and tests.  Two of the four course hours each week will be spent on presentations and media-based activities.
Texts: Motyl-Mudretzkyj & Späinghaus, Anders gedacht: Text and Context in the German Speaking World (Houghton Mifflin)

GERMAN 411: GERMAN STUDIES II (3 units)
Prerequisites: German 202 and 205B
Instructor: Rebien
This course examines major historical, political, and cultural developments in German-speaking areas from 1871 until today. Students will read and discuss literature, film, art, philosophy, and critical theory in the context of broad developments, such as urbanization, the rise of mass culture, World War I and II, the student movement, and globalization. Writers to be examined include Wagner, Nietzsche, Remarque, Arendt, Heym, and Kubiczek. Students will take a midterm and final exam and write a research paper in German. Course conducted in German.
Texts: Schulze, Germany: A New History (Harvard UP 1998); additional materials will be made available on Blackboard or in class.

GERMAN 495: GERMAN INTERNSHIP (3 units)
Academic work designed with faculty approval to complement experiential learning in
the form of concurrent paid or unpaid professional experience or community service.
(See German adviser, Prof. Wauchope.)

GERMAN 499: SPECIAL STUDY (1-3 units)
Prerequisites: Fifteen units of upper division German with an average grade of B (3.0) or
better and consent of department chair.
Individual study of a topic agreed upon by the student and a faculty member. Maximum
credit of 6 units in 499 allowed. Students may not do a special study in lieu of a course which
is being offered this academic semester.

*this course is currently suppressed; it will become available online later if demand requires

**recommended in preparation for the Zertifikat Deutsch fuer den Beruf Exam

For more information on German courses, please contact the German undergraduate advisor,
Dr. Mary Wauchope, mwauchop@mail.sdsu.edu or (619) 594-4235