German

German is spoken by an estimated 130 million people and is an official language of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As the largest economy in Europe, Germany is an important U.S. trade partner and a major global power. Knowledge of German is useful for those employed in international and European business.

Germany and Austria also offer excellent advanced degree, post-graduate and research opportunities, particularly for STEM students.

German Courses

GRMN 101. Beginning German I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Enrollment requires any student with previous exposure to German to take the placement test to determine eligibility. For students with no prior knowledge of German. Beginning grammar, reading, writing and oral skills.

GRMN 102. Beginning German II. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 101 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Continuation of beginning grammar, reading, writing and oral skills.

GRMN 201. Intermediate German I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 102 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in German. Building toward intermediate-level cultural competence and proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing through authentic materials.

GRMN 202. Intermediate German II. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 201 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in German. Increasing intermediate-level cultural competence and proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing through authentic materials.

GRMN 205. Intermediate Conversation. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 201. Conducted in German. Designed to increase the student's proficiency in the spoken language through audio-oral exercises, dialogues and free conversation.

GRMN 300. Communication and Composition. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 202, GRMN 205 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in German. Building toward intermediate-high proficiency in the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal and presentational. Authentic materials enhance intercultural competence and communication skills.

GRMN 301. Self and Society: Effective Writing. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 202, GRMN 205, GRMN 300 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in German. Students advance their knowledge of the German language and German-speaking cultures while developing their reading and writing skills. Students examine a variety of texts and media and gain strategies for interpretation and discussion, with a focus on effective writing.

GRMN 305. Oral Communication. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 202, GRMN 205, GRMN 300 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in German. Practice in the spoken language with emphasis on discussions relating to topics of current interest.

GRMN 307. German Conversation and Film. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 202, GRMN 205 or GRMN 300; GRMN 300 recommended. Conducted in German. The course is designed to develop the student's communication skills, oral comprehension ability and knowledge of contemporary culture through discussion of selected German films. Emphasis is also placed on vocabulary development and writing practice.

GRMN 311. German Through the Media. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 202, GRMN 205 or GRMN 300; GRMN 300 or GRMN 301 recommended. Designed to develop language proficiency by using material available through the various media: newspapers, magazines, films, Internet, podcasts and radio broadcasts.

GRMN 314. Commercial German. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 301. Designed to develop the student's ability to use German as a means of oral and written communication in the business world. Emphasis on the acquisition of technical tools necessary for business exchanges in specialized fields.

GRMN 320. From the Vandals to Kant: Civilization and Literature I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: GRMN 202, GRMN 205 or GRMN 300; GRMN 300 or GRMN 301 recommended. Conducted in German. A survey of German-speaking culture and literature from its origins to the Enlightenment. Also emphasizes enhancing German-language skills in vocabulary, reading, speaking and writing.

GRMN 321. From Faust to Nazism: Civilization and Literature II. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 202, GRMN 205 or GRMN 300; GRMN 300 or GRMN 301 recommended. Conducted in German. A treatment of German culture and literature from the Age of Goethe to the rise of Nazism. Also emphasizes enhancing German language skills in vocabulary, reading, speaking and writing.

GRMN 322. From Kafka's World to the EU: Civilization and Literature III. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 202, GRMN 205 or GRMN 300; GRMN 300 or GRMN 301 recommended. Conducted in German. A survey of German culture and literature from the 1920s to today. Also emphasizes enhancing German language skills in vocabulary, reading, speaking and writing.

GRMN 420. The Turn of the Century. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 300; GRMN 305 or 307 or 311; GRMN 301 or 320 or 321 or 322. Conducted in German. A course dealing with the major intellectual, philosophical, artistic and cultural trends from the turn of the century through the Weimar period as reflected in the writings of authors such as Kafka, Mann and Hesse. Includes impressionism, expressionism and neue Sachlichkeit.

GRMN 421. The Postwar German Scene. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 300; GRMN 305 or 307 or 311; GRMN 301 or 320 or 321 or 322. Conducted in German. A course dealing with the political, social and intellectual developments of the German-speaking countries from the end of World War II to the present as reflected in the literary works of their major authors.

GRMN 422. German Film. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 300; GRMN 305 or 307 or 311; GRMN 301 or 320 or 321 or 322. Study of selected topics in German film from the beginnings to today, particularly as seen in their social, historical and cultural contexts. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

GRMN 423. Folk/Popular Culture. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 300; GRMN 305 or 307 or 311; GRMN 301 or 320 or 321 or 322. Study of selected topics related to folk traditions and/or popular culture in German-speaking countries. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

GRMN 424. Culture and Society. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 300; GRMN 305 or 307 or 311; GRMN 301 or 320 or 321 or 322. Study of issues in the culture and society of German-speaking countries today. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

GRMN 425. Language in Context: ____. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Course can be repeated with different topics up to a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 300; GRMN 301, 305, 307 or 311; and GRMN 320, 321 or 322. Conducted in German. Study of German language and linguistics. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

GRMN 491. Topics in German. 1-3 Hours.

Variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 9 credits. Prerequisites: GRMN 300; GRMN 305 or 307 or 311; GRMN 301 or 320 or 321 or 322. An in-depth study of selected topics in German. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.

GRMN 492. Independent Study. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; variable hours. Variable credit. Maximum of 3 credits per semester; maximum total of 6 credits for all independent study courses in German. Prerequisites: GRMN 301; GRMN 320 or 321 or 322; GRMN 420 or 421 or 422 or 423 or 424 or 491; and senior standing with a minimum of 85 credits earned toward the degree. A course designed to give students an opportunity to become involved in independent study in a literary or linguistic area or subject in which they have an interest.

GRMN 500. German for Graduate Students. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. This course is designed to prepare graduate students for the reading knowledge examination for higher degrees. Each graduate department will determine the nature and form of the certifying examination.

GRMN 502. German Communication. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 1-4 lecture hours. 1-4 credits. An intensive study of communication in German. The content of this course will emphasize primarily oral, written and listening skills.

GRMN 512. German Civilization. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 1-4 lecture hours. 1-4 credits. Prerequisite: functional fluency in German since the class will be taught in German. A comprehensive study of the civilization and culture of Germany and its global expressions.

The VCU Bulletin is the official source for academic course and program information.