German

Go to: Division of Literature and Languages

Faculty

Nathan Drapela
Nineteenth- and twentieth-century German literature; narrative theory; environmental humanities; theories of space, time, and memory.

Jake Fraser
Eighteenth- to twentieth-century German literature, media history and media theory, literature and science, psychoanalysis.

Katja Garloff
Nineteenth- to twenty-first-century German literature, German Jewish culture, genocide studies, film and media studies, literary and cultural theory.

Jan Mieszkowski
Romanticism, idealist philosophy, literary and cultural theory, classical political economy, military spectatorship and the aesthetics of war, the poetics of botany.

Irina Simova
Twentieth- and twenty-first-century German film, performance, and literature; media and affect theory; eco-criticism; theories of globalization, neoliberalism, and migration.

Curriculum

The German department’s curriculum provides a critical engagement with the intellectual and cultural legacy of German-speaking countries. All language courses are taught in German and include weekly conversation sessions with the German language scholar. From the outset, we encourage students to explore cultural and historical materials in the original. The first year focuses on the full range of active and passive skills. In the second year, we pursue a comprehensive approach to reading, writing, and speaking through the study of selected literary and sociopolitical themes. Advanced classes in composition and conversation complete the language track in the third year.

Upper-level courses in the department are organized thematically and historically, often emphasizing interdisciplinary study. A flexible two-track program for majors offers a variety of perspectives on the analysis of texts. Students who select the German with a Concentration in Literature program may focus their thesis work on a particular author, period, or paradigm. They are also encouraged to consider broader questions about the nature of interpretation and criticism. The German with a Concentration in Culture Studies program gives students the opportunity to explore the German intellectual tradition through the methodological perspectives of a variety of fields, including philosophy, history, anthropology, and sociology. Students who pursue the culture studies concentration can take two of their required courses in other departments. In their thesis, they may combine literary and nonliterary analyses or write exclusively on nonliterary topics. With both concentrations, it may be possible for students to work on particular areas of interest in an independent study.

German House

The German House on campus functions as both a residence hall and a center for extracurricular activities, including film screenings, poetry readings, lectures, and informal discussions.

Language Scholar

The language scholar from the University of Munich, a yearly appointment, provides students contact with a native speaker and assists the department with academic and cultural events.

Study Abroad

The department strongly recommends that students who wish to major in German spend a year or semester of study in Germany. Faculty-approved International Programs at the University of Munich, the Free University of Berlin, and the University of Tübingen allow students to remain registered and enrolled at Reed, have their work approved in advance, and use financial aid if eligible. Students might also consider intensive language study during the summer offered at many German universities. Members of the department as well as the study abroad adviser can provide guidance.

Prerequisites

Students with a background in German may take a placement test to determine if they are prepared for second- or third-year classes. Placement tests are offered during orientation week and (online) over the summer.

Programs

Majors

Minors

German Minor

Academic Catalog