Department of German and Russian
http://www.uvm.edu/cas/germanrussian
The Department of German and Russian provides students with excellent instruction in language, culture, and literature classes. The department offers the B.A. and M.A. degree in German, the B.A. degree in Russian, and two years of Hebrew instruction. Students move from the basics of the language through grammar, composition and conversation, to investigation of literary texts and media.
Faculty in the Department of German and Russian are recipients of numerous teaching awards, in addition to receiving national and international recognition for outstanding scholarship. Areas of particular strength include the Age of Goethe and Romanticism; German and Russian literature of the 19th and 20th centuries; Austrian literature; exile literature; German and Russian folklore and proverbs; and holocaust film and literature.
German Courses
GERM 001. Elementary. 4 Credits.
An introduction to all aspects of contemporary standard German: Speaking, listening, reading, writing. Cultural components include topics such as: music, art, literature, and current events.
GERM 002. Elementary. 0 or 4 Credits.
An introduction to all aspects of contemporary standard German: Speaking, listening, reading, writing. Cultural components include topics such as: music, art, literature, and current events. Prerequisite: GERM 001 or equivalent.
GERM 011. Experience German. 1 Credit.
Students will engage in a variety of events to enhance their understanding and appreciation of German language and culture. Provides an opportunity to experience German through a variety of interactive contexts.
GERM 051. Intermediate. 3 Credits.
Comprehensive review of German grammar, vocabulary-building skills, development of reading strategies and compositional abilities, study of contemporary German culture through literary texts. Prerequisites: GERM 001, GERM 002 or equivalent.
GERM 052. SU: Intermediate. 3 Credits.
Comprehensive review of German grammar, vocabulary-building skills, development of reading strategies and compositional abilities, study of contemporary German culture through literary texts. Prerequisites: GERM 051 or equivalent.
GERM 090. Internship. 1-3 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 095. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GERM 096. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GERM 097. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 105. Staging German. 3 Credits.
Opportunity to improve oral communication skills through the study and performance of different genres. Prerequisite: GERM 051. Pre/Co-requisite: GERM 052.
GERM 106. My Best Friend, The Dictionary. 3 Credits.
Opportunity to expand students' vocabulary as well as their recognition and understanding of collocations, synonyms, and idiomatic expressions in their cultural context through the in-depth study of German dictionaries. Prerequisite: GERM 051. Pre/Co-requisite: GERM 052.
GERM 122. 20th C Culture & Civilization. 3 Credits.
Social, cultural, and political developments in the German-speaking countries since 1900, stressing written and oral components. Prerequisite: GERM 052 or equivalent.
GERM 123. Culture of Modern Germany. 3 Credits.
Overview of the most important components of contemporary German society. Prerequisite: GERM 052.
GERM 150. Fatal Attractions. 3 Credits.
Explores several famous "fatal attractions" in eighteenth and nineteenth-century German literature in relation to pressing socio-historical changes and concerns that impact the relationship between individuals and society. Examines how these themes intersect with, become defined by, or contrast with prevailing notions of gender, social status, and morality. Prerequisite: GERM 052.
GERM 151. Im/Mobility in German Lit.. 3 Credits.
Explores a range of significant German texts from 1812 to today, paying particular attention to the ways in which literary works from various eras grapple with issues of mobility (or, in some cases, the stark lack thereof) and problematize movement across boundaries, borders, and spaces. Prerequisite: GERM 052.
GERM 153. Guilt & Shame in German Lit.. 3 Credits.
Focuses on representations of guilt and shame in contemporary German literary works, some of which deal with the Nazi past and many of which comment on the results of recent global events in the nation-from the Syrian refugee crisis to the legalization of gay marriage. Prerequisite: GERM 052.
GERM 155. Topics in 18th-19th Cen Lit. 3 Credits.
Thematically organized course focused on German literature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with attention to political, philosophical, musical, and artistic developments. May be repeated for credit with different content. Prerequisite: GERM 052.
GERM 156. Topics in 20th-21st Cen Lit. 3 Credits.
Thematically organized course focused on twentieth- and twenty-first-century German literature in historical and cultural contexts. May be repeated for credit with different content. Prerequisite: GERM 052.
GERM 172. German Graphic Novel. 3 Credits.
Analysis of contemporary graphic novels and their main motifs to understand how the graphic novel functions formally at the intersection of word and image and culturally as an important mouthpiece for public discourse. Prerequisite: GERM 052.
GERM 190. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 192. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory-level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 195. Intermediate Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GERM 196. Intermediate Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GERM 197. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 198. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 240. History of German Cinema. 3 Credits.
Explores how national events are portrayed differently across various eras of German film culture from the early 1900s to the present. Examines to what extent external factors, such as ever-changing technologies and film distribution channels, influence the transmission of German history and culture domestically and globally. Prerequisite: One 100-level German course.
GERM 282. Sem on Particular Author. 3 Credits.
Study of author(s) through close readings of representative texts supplemented by lectures and reports on the works' socio-cultural context. May be repeated. Prerequisite: GERM 155 or GERM 156 and one other 100-level course.
GERM 290. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 292. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory-level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 295. Advanced Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GERM 296. Advanced Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GERM 297. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GERM 298. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded Offered at department discretion.
Russian Courses
RUSS 001. Elementary Russian. 4 Credits.
An introduction to all aspects of contemporary standard Russian: speaking, listening, reading, writing. Cultural components include topics such as music, art, literature, and current events. No previous knowledge of Russian needed for RUSS 001.
RUSS 002. Elementary Russian. 4 Credits.
An introduction to all aspects of contemporary standard Russian: speaking, listening, reading, writing. Cultural components include topics such as music, art, literature, and current events. Prerequisite: RUSS 001 or equivalent.
RUSS 011. Experience Russian. 1 Credit.
Students will engage in a variety of events that will enhance their understanding and appreciation of Russian language and culture. Provides opportunities to experience Russian through a variety of interactive contexts.
RUSS 051. Intermediate Russian. 4 Credits.
Continued practical work in all language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing), with more analysis of the structure of Russian. Continuation of cultural components. Prerequisite: RUSS 001, RUSS 002.
RUSS 052. Intermediate Russian. 4 Credits.
Continued practical work in all language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing), with more analysis of the structure of Russian. Continuation of cultural components. Prerequisite: RUSS 051.
RUSS 090. Internship. 1-3 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 095. Introductory Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
RUSS 096. Introductory Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
RUSS 097. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 101. Performing Russian. 3 Credits.
Practical work on Russian intonation and the development of lexicon and fluency (vocabulary building, communicative strategies) using primarily Russian materials. Prerequisite: RUSS 051. Pre/Co-requisite: RUSS 052.
RUSS 121. Composition & Conversation. 3 Credits.
Continued practical work on all four language skills. Emphasis on oral and written self-expression. Presentations and compositions based on Russian-language media and literature. Prerequisite: RUSS 052.
RUSS 122. Composition & Conversation. 3 Credits.
Continued practical work on all four language skills. Emphasis on oral and written self-expression. Presentations and compositions based on Russian-language media and literature. Prerequisite: RUSS 052.
RUSS 190. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 191. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 195. Intermediate Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
RUSS 196. Intermediate Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
RUSS 197. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 198. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 201. Survey of Russian Literature. 3 Credits.
Readings and discussions about Russian literature to the rise of modernism. Particular attention to the social and historical context of the 19th century novel. Prerequisite: RUSS 052. WLIT 118 recommended.
RUSS 202. Survey 20th Century Russ Lit. 3 Credits.
Readings and discussions about Russian literature from the rise of modernism to present. Particular attention to function of literature in Soviet society. Prerequisite: RUSS 052. WLIT 118 recommended.
RUSS 221. Cult & Civ to 1905 Revolution. 3 Credits.
Social, cultural, and political institutions from the time of Peter the Great to the 1905 revolution. Particular attention to Russian music, art, and literature. Prerequisite: RUSS 052.
RUSS 222. Cult & Civ in the 20th Century. 3 Credits.
Social, cultural, and political institutions from the 1905 revolution to the present. Particular attention to tensions between official and unofficial culture during the Soviet period. Prerequisite: RUSS 052.
RUSS 290. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 291. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 295. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 296. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
RUSS 297. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See schedule of courses for specific titles.