Lüneburg Courses – 2024 Spring

Expand All

Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.

Academics

You will enroll in 12 to 18 credits per semester comprised of language courses plus electives in German and European studies. All students must complete a minimum of two language courses, although we strongly encourage students to complete an entire language track. Course availability is contingent upon student enrollment and is subject to change.

Click the course title to view course details, description, and availability.

German Language Tracks

USAC offers intensive language courses grouped into tracks as well as elective language and literature courses. The track courses are taught sequentially (back to back) within one semester. If you have already taken the first course in the track, you do not have to take it again for credit, but you must audit it. Language course sections are kept to a maximum enrollment of 15 students each.

Language Courses

• Elementary German I

  Spring

  German 100-level 4 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed for students with no prior knowledge of German. This class introduces German grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Students will learn greetings and useful expressions as well as basic skills in reading, writing, listening, above all, speaking. At the end of the class students will be able to engage in simple conversations with native speakers and navigate German speaking towns and cities.

• Elementary German II

  Spring

  German 100-level 4 credits Taught in German

  This class introduces German grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Students will learn greetings and useful expressions as well as basic skills in reading, writing, listening, above all, speaking. At the end of the class students will be able to engage in simple conversations with native speakers and navigate German speaking towns and cities.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level German, or equivalent

• Intermediate German I

  Spring

  German 200-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of German, focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through active preparation for/and participation in classroom activities. Grammar and vocabulary are taught in the context of modern German culture in an immersive environment.

  Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• Intermediate German II

  Spring

  German 200-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of German, focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through active preparation for/and participation in classroom activities. Grammar and vocabulary are taught in the context of modern German culture in an immersive environment.

  Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• German Composition I

  Spring

  German 300-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to improve the knowledge and expressive capabilities of German language students. Students will analyse written text, summarize readings, and practice using new vocabulary in written expressions.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• German Composition II

  Spring

  German 300-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to improve the knowledge and expressive capabilities of German language students. Students will analyse written text, summarize readings, and practice using new vocabulary in written expressions.

  Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• Advanced German I

  Spring

  German 400-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to improve the knowledge and expressive capabilities of advanced German language students. Students will analyse written text, summarize readings, and practice using new vocabulary in written and oral expressions.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• Advanced German II

  Spring

  German 400-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to improve the knowledge and expressive capabilities of advanced German language students. Students will analyse written text, summarize readings, and practice using new vocabulary in written and oral expressions.

  Prerequisite: seven semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• Seminar in German Language

  Spring

  German 400-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed for students with an advanced knowledge of German who want to augment their ability to comprehend spoken language and to express themselves more fluently. Possible gaps or poorly assimilated concepts from earlier language learning will be addressed, especially the particularly difficult grammatical elements such as syntactic structures, prepositions, and the subjunctive.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

Spring Semester

Language and Literature Electives

• Business German

  Spring

  German 400-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to develop student competency in German language as it relates to business and economics. Students will develop terminology and syntax in economics, business administration, and marketing. Students will also become proficient in German business writing, correspondence, and verbal and written translation of business-related materials.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• Contemporary German Literature

  Spring

  German 300-level 3 credits Taught in German

  Students will read, discuss and write about contemporary German literature, including poetry, in its context, with the goal of identifying, interacting with and critiquing some of its main themes and features. These include reappraising universal values, German history and the reunifications, in addition to assessments of the particular characteristics of the German people and women's contributions to German literature. Beyond this, students will analyze contemporary German literature with respect to its cultural and historical backgrounds, prevalent writing styles and the literary characteristics of the works themselves.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• German Conversation I

  Spring

  German 200-level 3 credits Taught in German Cancelled

  This course is designed to improve the knowledge, listening, and expressive capabilities of intermediate language students. Students will not only learn necessary vocabulary to express themselves in daily situations, but they will also learn to navigate more complex situations through conversation and free discussion of contemporary topics, using visual material, listening comprehension exercises, and articles from German newspapers and magazines. The first part of the class will deal with different conversational themes, such as telephone conversations, going to restaurants, travel agency, etc. Related vocabulary will be introduced. Students will practice new vocabulary with role- playing, class discussion, as well as discussions of real-life situations.

  Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• German Conversation II

  Spring

  German World Languages and Literatures 300-level 3 credits Taught in German Cancelled

  This course is designed to improve the knowledge, listening and expressive capabilities of intermediate/advanced language students. Students will not only learn necessary vocabulary to express oneself in daily situations, but also learn to express themselves in more difficult contexts through guided conversation and free discussion of contemporary topics using visual material, listening comprehension exercises, and articles from German newspapers and magazines. Related vocabulary will be introduced. Students will practice new vocabulary with role playing, class discussion, as well as real life situations.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

German and European Studies

• 1933-45: Culture, Society, and Politics in Nazi Germany

  Spring

  History Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  In order to understand the most infamous two decades of German history, its processes and society, we look back in history and uncover key moments that likely built the foundation for a totalitarian system of hitherto unknown extremes. Some of these catalysts can be found in traditions and events that transpired within the past 60-100 years. After this introduction of cultural, economic and political factors, special attention will be paid to the impact that these factors had on the daily lives of Germans at the time. This includes antisemitism, gender relations, education, youth culture, resistance movements, and more. Finally, special attention will be paid to the post 1945 period, what with its foundation of two separate German states, and the way that these two dealt with their past. The seminar closes with a look at the presence of these topics in unified Germany, with a particular focus on the politics of memory and the memorial culture challenged by the recent surge of right-wing nationalism. The schedule may change due to current events.

• Global Environment

  Spring

  Geography Natural Resources 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  An interdisciplinary investigation of how human activities impact the Earth’s environment on a global scale. Examination of population, resource use, climate change, and biodiversity from scientific/technical and social/economic/historical/political perspectives.

• Government and Politics in Germany and Europe

  Spring

  Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of contemporary German politics within the context of the European Union. After a short overview of German history, the course will place emphasis on governmental institutions and policy making within the German polity as well as the political culture and the various political, social, and economic actors involved in the process.

• In Search of Ancestry in Germany and Europe: Tracing Your Family Genealogy

  Spring

  Anthropology History 100-level 1 credit Taught in English

  As a country formed by immigrants from all over Europe, the U.S. has long and deep cultural attachments and family links to Germany. Many students who opt to come to study in Germany do so because of some distant ancestral connection with this country. Germany’s diasporic relationship with the U.S. means that this project also offers insight into the specific socio-historic relationship binding Germany and the U.S. At the same time, immigrants from many other European countries left Europe in the late 19th century through German harbors. Germany, and especially the Northern parts (Hamburg, Bremerhaven), has particularly good resources, as it was many times the place from where people emigrated, leaving Europe and their homes behind forever.

  Students will become familiar with basic concepts, techniques and approaches of genealogical research. With the availability of extraordinary databases to aid family research, genealogy has entered into an exciting new era. This course will help students excavate the archaeology of their family history by orientating them through some of the rich repositories of records and censuses, to help locate them and their family in the 21st century.

• Intercultural Communication

  Spring

  Speech Communications 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  An analysis of the impact of culture on communication. This course also offers students the opportunity to develop an awareness of cultural differences and the ability to deal with them. Interactions, gestures and communication styles often differ between cultures and can easily lead to misunderstandings. We will analyze our own cultures in order to better understand those around us. The course contents will cover theoretical background, application, and active learning elements.

• Myths and Legends

  Spring

  Anthropology German 300-level 3 credits Taught in German

  All cultures have developed their myths and legends, consisting of narratives of their history, religions, and heroes. Myths and legends hold symbolic meaning, and this is a major reason why they have survived. They are the authority in the study of existentialism and annotations of myths are necessary.

  In this course the emphasis is put on two major fields:

  •Different myths from Antiquity to Modern Age. A special attention will be given to Greek, Roman and North-European Mythology.

  •Special topics such as mythological places and creatures etc.

  The globalizing postmodern world evokes the need for understanding different, old cultures within its specific historical contexts. The human search for an explanation of the world through basic principles (God, universe, nature, and man) and their relation to each other is a legitimate academic approach.

  In this context, the course proposes to study how man has created a system of myths, legends and symbols throughout history in different cultures that produced a series of modern phenomena and cultural conventions connected to its specific localizations.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

• Teaching German as a Foreign Language

  Spring

  German 400-level 3 credits Taught in German

  This course is designed to introduce students to methods and strategies of teaching German as a Foreign Language. We will cover language acquisition theories, linguistics, learning and teaching strategies, as well as lesson planning tools and monitoring learning outcomes. Students will observe USAC German classes and apply their skills in small student teaching units. The class is tailored to students who are considering starting a foreign language teaching career, as well as students who are already teachers’ training programs.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level German, or equivalent

To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

Internships

For eligibility requirements and application information, see the USAC internship page.

For more information about placement options, see the Lüneburg internship page.

Host University Courses