German Studies

Department of History
201 Humanities
(831) 459-2982
http://history.ucsc.edu

Program Description

German studies is a transnational and transdisciplinary major that deals with the various German-speaking regions of central Europe. Whether one thinks of philosophy, music, art, education, religion, or political and social history, German culture has exercised a profound and often decisive influence on Europe. Some of the most important ideological debates in Western culture have arisen in the German-speaking area, and changes in German culture and society have sometimes had devastating effects on world history. Events and political developments of recent years-such as the unification of East and West Germany and the emergence of the German-speaking region of Europe as a major player in world affairs-have had important impacts.

A German studies major provides students with an intellectually diverse program-covering history, history of art and visual culture, literature, and philosophy-in which students and faculty come together in exciting and demanding pursuits.

Major Requirements

All students are required to take a total of 10 courses, including a minimum of three courses in German literature and two courses in German history. No more than two of the 10 required courses may be lower-division courses, and no more than two may come from the Germany in a European or World Context list. A minimum of five of the 10 required courses must be taught in German or principally through German-language texts. Language competency to level five is required in order to pursue a German studies major.

All students must complete a senior oral examination (given by two faculty members) as part of the requirements for the major.

German 5 is a prerequisite for all upper-division courses taught in German. Students are encouraged to take German 1-5 as early as possible in their academic program.

Regular consultation with a program faculty adviser is required.

It is strongly recommended that students spend time in residence in Germany through the University of California Education Abroad Program (EAP) to further enrich their program of study and ensure a command of the language. Students are allowed to transfer up to five courses taken at German universities toward the requirements for the major. However, the five core courses in German literature and history must be taken at UCSC.

Core Courses

German

119      German Media

German Literature

102      Introduction to German Literature
120      Fear of the Foreign: Xenophobia in German Literature and Culture
150      German Romanticism
155      German Drama
159      German Comedy
164      Modern German Fiction
167      Modern German Literature and Film

History

172A    German History
172B    German Film, 1919-1945

History of Art and Visual Culture

136      German Art, 1905-1945

History of Consciousness

80O     Hitler, National Socialism, and Religion
123      Culture in Crisis: Weimar Germany

Context Courses

History

70A      Modern European History, 1500-1789
70B      Modern European History, 1789-1914
70C      Modern European History, 1914-Present
65A      Medieval Europe, 300-1200
80W     The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry
183      Fascism and Resistance in Italy

History of Art and Visual Culture

164      Early Medieval and Romanesque Architecture
165B    Gothic Beyond
190Q    Portraiture: Europe and America, 1400-1990

Philosophy

106      Kant
108      19th-Century Philosophy
110      Heidegger
138      Wittgenstein
139      Freud

Politics

105B    Early Modern Political Thought
105C    Modern Political Thought
175      The New Europe
176      International Political Economy