Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures (GRAD)
The Carolina-Duke Graduate Program in German Studies
The Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures offers a Ph.D. in German studies in conjunction with Duke University. The Carolina–Duke graduate program in German studies is a fully merged graduate program that draws on one of the largest German studies faculties in the country, as well as on the considerable library holdings of each institution. Students apply to a single program and graduate with a diploma bearing the names of both Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
While the Carolina-Duke graduate program in German studies does not admit students for the M.A., students in the program are able to receive an M.A. while en-route to the Ph.D. at any time after successfully passing the Writing Proficiency Review (WPR). (For more information about the WPR, please see "Course of Study" under the Programs tab.)
The Carolina-Duke Graduate Program in German Studies
The Carolina-Duke Graduate Program in German offers students a combination of disciplinary rigor and interdisciplinary flexibility that recognizes the fundamental interrelation of all the cultural expressions of societies where the German language is spoken. Taking full advantage of the intellectual, educational, and cultural resources of two great universities, the program offers an attractive combination of individual attention in small classes and a close connection to the broader communities of literature, cultural studies, and German studies at Duke University and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The core German studies faculty (at a current number of 19 one of the largest in North American German studies), represents all branches of research in the field, including medieval studies, gender and sexuality studies, literary theory and poetics, European intellectual history, modernism, realism, German-Jewish studies, Holocaust studies, politics and culture in the 20th century, film and media studies, science studies, Afro-German and Turkish-German culture, and contemporary society. This ensures that all major aspects of German literary, cinematic, and cultural history, from medieval manuscripts to contemporary cinema, are covered by experts in the field. Faculty engage in innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research projects involving other departments and programs and support close intellectual ties with major German universities. Students take courses full time in their first year of study; in subsequent years they acquire pedagogical training and teaching experience at both a private (Duke University) and a public (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) university. Multiple program options are available to students, from the study of historical periods and genres (medieval to contemporary) to literary criticism and theory. Interdisciplinary work is strongly encouraged. Admission is competitive and limited to no more than seven students a year. Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are committed to offering six consecutive years of full funding, including tuition, to students in good standing in the program.
Admissions Requirements
We seek applicants with extraordinary academic records and intellectual curiosity, and we welcome applicants of any nationality, from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. A bachelor's degree or the international equivalent is required, generally in German studies or a related field. All applications are routed through The Graduate School at UNC–Chapel Hill in a single admissions process that ensures that incoming students matriculate fully at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at Duke University. Please read UNC's admissions instructions for detailed information about the application process and requirements. Additional information is available on the Carolina-Duke website. Questions regarding translation issues and foreign degrees and transcripts should be directed to gsll@unc.edu.
Application Deadline
Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications by early December and meet all posted deadlines.
Teaching
Teacher training is a central component of the Carolina–Duke Graduate Program in German Studies. Both departments provide rigorous training in foreign language teaching, which includes an introduction to the interdisciplinary fields of applied linguistics and second-language acquisition. Teaching assistantships are normally available to students in their second through fifth years of study who continue to make satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degree and remain in good standing in the program. It is crucial that teaching assistants (TAs) have highly advanced German language skills. During their first year, students' language proficiency in German will be evaluated. Only students who achieve a level of C1 according to the Common European Frame of Reference (CEFR) will be asked to teach in the German language program. Students who do not possess the required proficiency in German will be expected to obtain this proficiency as soon as possible. Beginning TAs generally teach first-year German and take the foreign language pedagogy course concurrently with their first semester of teaching. In later semesters graduate students often teach second-year German and occasionally more advanced undergraduate courses as well (German culture and society, advanced composition). In addition, students may serve as discussion leaders in larger lecture courses or serve as research assistants. Study and Research Abroad Students are strongly encouraged to study and conduct research abroad as an integral part of their graduate work. Both Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have strong, long-standing partnerships with German universities. Duke offers student exchanges with the Free University of Berlin and the University of Potsdam, programs in which graduate students in German studies regularly participate.
Furthermore, select graduate students will be invited to serve as mentors, instructors, and/or program assistants in the undergraduate Duke study abroad summer program in Berlin.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has partnerships with German universities, including exchanges with the University of Tübingen and the state of Baden-Württemberg, and a new exchange with the University of Zürich. Further, graduate students in German at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have a strong track record for successful DAAD and Fulbright fellowships for study abroad.
Course of Study
- Five core courses: Foreign Language Pedagogy: Theories and Practice; Foundations in German Studies, 1000 to 1750; Foundations in German Studies, 1750 to 1900; Foundations in German Studies, 1900 to the Present; and Theories and Methods in German Studies. Incoming students who have satisfactorily completed equivalent graduate courses may be exempted by the directors of graduate studies and graduate advising from one or more of the required courses.
- Students are required to take two courses outside the German studies program that complement the students' areas of interest in an interdisciplinary fashion. In their first semester students take all their coursework in the program. In subsequent semesters, students may take one course per semester outside the program. All courses taken outside the program must be approved by the directors of graduate study.
- A total of 16 courses (including those enumerated above), two of which must be credit for work on the dissertation.
- Demonstration of advanced reading knowledge of an additional foreign language (a language besides English and German) that is appropriate to the student’s areas of research interest. This may be done at any point during the student’s studies, but the requirement must be satisfied prior to the time that the doctoral thesis is submitted for the final defense.
- A writing proficiency review, normally by the end of the second year.
- A Ph.D. preliminary exam, normally by the end of the third year.
- A dissertation chapter and prospectus review defense, normally by the end of the fourth year.
- An oral dissertation defense, normally by the end of the fifth year.
In addition, students are strongly encouraged to attend the program's monthly "works-in-progress" seminar, at which faculty, advanced graduate students, and guests present their current research. Students are also strongly encouraged to audit one graduate course per semester once they have completed their required coursework, during terms in which they are in residence.
Qualifying Requirements
- Satisfactory performance in all coursework.
- Satisfactory performance in the teaching program.
- Demonstration of proficiency in German, including all four competencies (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), at a level of C1 (according to the Common European Frame of Reference), usually by the time the student enters the program or by the end of the first year of study.
- Demonstration of reading knowledge in a second foreign language relevant to the student's research, as approved by the directors of graduate studies.
- Up until the completion of their preliminary exam, all students will submit an annual plan of study report. Doing so encourages students to reflect in broad terms on their current intellectual interests and possible future trajectories for these interests. Visit the Annual Plan of Study Report web page for more information.
- Successful completion of the writing proficiency review, normally by the end of the second year of study. Normally, students will submit a revision of a paper originally written for one of their courses.
- Completion of the preliminary examination with a grade of "pass." The exam is normally taken in the third year of study.
-
Students who have completed their preliminary exam will submit a dissertation abstract instead of an annual plan of study report.
- Participation in a bi-weekly dissertation colloquium once the student has successfully passed the preliminary examination, for each semester the student is in residence. Participants submit an abstract of their project at the beginning of each semester and share chapters of their work in progress.
- Successful completion of a dissertation chapter review, usually by the end of the fourth year of study.
Coursework
Checklist of 16 Courses
1. Foreign Language Pedagogy
2. Foundations in German Studies, 1000 to 1750
3. Foundations in German Studies, 1750 to 1900
4. Foundations in German Studies, 1900 to the Present
5. Theories and Methods in German Studies
6–7. Electives: Courses from outside the program
8–14. Electives
15–16. Dissertation research
Carolina-Duke Courses
Students will enroll in courses both at Carolina and at Duke. In addition to the UNC German courses listed in this catalog, students should also look at the Duke graduate German courses.
Courses outside German Studies
Students will normally take at least two courses outside the German studies program. They are encouraged to take more as relevant to their interests and research.
All Carolina–Duke graduate students should familiarize themselves with Duke University's Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirements. International Carolina–Duke graduate students should familiarize themselves with the English Language Proficiency requirements.
Transfer Credit
Students coming in with an M.A. in German may, at the discretion of the directors of graduate studies, receive credit for coursework completed at their previous institution. Decisions about credit for prior coursework will be made at the end of the students' first year in the Carolina–Duke graduate program.
Reviews, Examinations, Dissertation
The Annual Plan of Study Report
All students are required to prepare and submit to the directors of graduate studies an updated plan of study form by January 31 of years one through three. Once the preliminary exam has been taken, students prepare and submit instead an abstract of their dissertation project.
The Writing Proficiency Review
For the writing proficiency review–an hour-long oral review that takes place in the second year of study–students submit a scholarly paper, normally written in English and about 30 pages in length, which expands and reworks a paper written for one of their courses. The director of graduate studies sets up a committee of three faculty members, including the student's primary advisor, in consultation with the student.
Ph.D. Committee
For the purpose of the preliminary examination and the dissertation chapter review, the Ph.D. committee consists of four faculty members, including the faculty advisor, selected by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor and the director of graduate studies. A fifth faculty member will be added to the committee for the dissertation defense. Typically, faculty members from the preliminary exam will also serve on the dissertation review and dissertation defense committees. At least one faculty member must come from each university department, and the majority of the committee must consist of Carolina–Duke German faculty members.
The Preliminary Examination
The purpose of the preliminary exam is to ensure competency in a teaching field and to establish a comprehensive intellectual framework for the dissertation project. The exam should be designed so that students approach their teaching interests and dissertation research in such a way as to engage a set of broad questions that will speak to scholars both within and outside the field of German studies. The exam centers on two equally weighted lists, one of which generally concerns itself with a broadly defined literary field, such as a recognized period, movement, or genre across several periods. The other list focuses on a more specific topic such as represents the student's projected area of doctoral research, it being understood that by "area" of doctoral research something broader is envisioned than a list of texts immediately pertinent to the "topic" of the dissertation. In keeping with the prevalent conception of German studies, at least one of the exam lists ought to have a substantive interdisciplinary component; this might include integrating a particular historical span of literary production with an adjacent and related area, such as visual culture, music, religion, cultural anthropology, literary or critical theory, media studies, philosophy, linguistics, or political theory.
The preliminary examination has both a written and an oral component. The written portion of the exam is a take-home, open-book exam, consisting of two substantial questions, one on each field, given every other day. Students are given 48 hours per question and are expected to write for each question an original essay of roughly 15 pages on the assigned topic. Students are encouraged to make use of all available technology and of any materials, resources, databases, etc., they would normally consult while doing research. The oral portion of the exam, with questions from all examiners, lasts about 90 minutes and generally takes place no more than two weeks after the written exam.
Dissertation Overview
A successful German studies Ph.D. dissertation is expected to be a mature and competent piece of writing, embodying the results of significant and original research, and it must constitute a significant contribution to the field of German studies.
Following the preliminary exam in their third year of study, students are generally expected to complete their dissertation chapter review during their fourth year of study and to defend their dissertation by the end of the fifth year.
Once a student has begun work on the dissertation, the Annual Plan of Study requirement is replaced by a requirement that the student produce a dissertation abstract. This abstract is to be updated on an annual basis and, once it has been approved by the dissertation advisor, turned in by the deadline for the Annual Plan of Study.
Dissertation Chapter and Prospectus Review
In consultation with their advisor, students develop a dissertation project. Students submit to the dissertation review committee a chapter of 30 to 45 pages, a seven-to-ten-page overview of the dissertation, and a comprehensive bibliography. The oral review lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Dissertation Defense
When the student and the primary advisor are satisfied that a defensible draft is complete, they will offer it to the members of the committee for final approval and set a date for the final examination (also known as the dissertation defense). The defense will usually be held as soon after submission of the final draft as is practical and in keeping with University and Graduate School requirements.
Following each UNC faculty member's name is a section number that students should use when registering for independent studies, reading, research, and thesis and dissertation courses with that particular professor. For registrations at UNC for thesis or dissertation courses with a Duke professor, students should choose section (1).
Carolina–Duke Graduate Program in German Studies
carolina-duke-grad.german.duke.edu
Professors
Ruth von Bernuth (10) (UNC), Medieval and Early Modern, Jewish Studies, Yiddish, Popular Culture, Disability Studies
Eric Downing (2) (UNC), 18th-to-20th-Century Narrative Fiction, Literary Theory, Realism and Aestheticism
Stefani Engelstein (1) (Duke), Intellectual and Cultural History, Jewish Studies, 18th- and 19th-Century Literature
Richard Langston (7) (UNC), Postwar and Contemporary Literature, Avant-Garde Studies, Popular Culture and Literature, Literary and Cultural Theory
Priscilla Layne (16) (UNC), 20th- and 21st-Century Literature, Film and Music, (Post)Subculture Studies, Multiculturalism, Afro-German History and Culture, and Gender Studies
Jakob Norberg (1) (Duke), Postwar Literature and Society, 20th-Century Austrian Literature, Political Theory
Henry Pickford (1) (Duke), Aesthetics, Literary and Critical Theory, Philosophy and Literature, Aesthetics
David Pike (8) (UNC), 20th-Century Literature, East German and Soviet Culture and Politics
Paul T. Roberge (9) (UNC), Historical Linguistics, Older Germanic Dialects, Comparative Germanic Grammar, Pidgins and Creoles, Afrikaans, Language, Ethnicity, and Politics
Associate Professors
Kata Gellen (1) (Duke), German Modernism, Austrian Literature, German-Jewish Studies
Inga Pollman (5) (UNC), Film and Media Theory and History, Early Cinema, German Cinema, Film and Science, Aesthetic and Critical Theory
Sarah Pourciau (1) (Duke), Aesthetics, Theology, Music and Sound, Literary and Critical Theory, Philosophy and Literature, Science and Culture, 19th and 20th Century, Modernism
Aleksandra Prica (15) (UNC), Medieval and Early Modern German Literature and Culture, Media Studies, Literature and the Bible, Literature and Knowledge, Poetology and Hermeneutics, Historical Processes, Aesthetics of Form
Gabriel Trop (11) (UNC), 18th-Century Studies, Poetry and Poetics, Romanticism, Philosophy and Aesthetics
Assistant Professors
Adi Nester (29) (UNC), Jewish Studies, 19th and 20th Century, Political Theory, Philosophy, Theories of Language and Translation, Music and Sound
Mert Bahadir Reisoğlu (1) (Duke), Turkish-German Studies, Media Theory and History, 20th- and 21st-Century Literature, Film and Theater, Intellectual History
Lecturers
Susanne Freytag (Duke)
April Henry (Duke)
Instructor
Amy Jones (Duke)
Adjunct Assistant Professors
Heidi Madden (Duke), 19th Century, Comparative Literature and Theory
Dan Thornton (25) (UNC), Postwar German and Austrian Literature, Expressionism, Neue Sachlichkeit, Golden Age and 20th-Century Dutch Literature, Holocaust Studies, Jewish Literature in the Diaspora
Professors Emeriti
Clayton Koelb (UNC)
Michael Morton (Duke)
Ann Marie Rasmussen (Duke)
James Rolleston (Duke)
Professor of the Practice Emerita
Ingeborg Walther (Duke)
Associate Professors Emeriti
Walter K. Francke (UNC)
Norman Keul (Duke)
Assistant Professor Emerita
Helga Bessent (Duke)
Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures
Associate Professors
Radislav Lapushin (14), Russian Literature
Stanislav Shvabrin (22), Russian Literature
Assistant Professor
Eliza Rose (12), Polish and East-Central European Literature
Teaching Associate Professor
Eleonora Magomedova (6), Russian Language
Natalia Chernysheva (UNC), Russian Language
Teaching Assistant Professors
Adnan Džumhur (UNC), Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Languages
Matt McGarry (UNC), Russian Language
Lecturer
Agnieszka Majewska (UNC), Polish Language
Professors Emeriti
Madeline G. Levine
Hana Pichova
Peter Sherwood
Associate Professors Emeriti
Lawrence Feinberg
Hana Pichova
Christopher R. Putney
Ivana Vuletic
Subjects in this department include German (GERM), Duke German Studies Courses, Dutch (DTCH), Slavic (SLAV), Russian (RUSS), Czech (CZCH), Hungarian (HUNG), Macedonian (MACD), Polish (PLSH), and Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS).
German (GERM)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Review of basic and advanced grammatical structures. Course strengthens application of grammar in context for undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students also work with grammar issues encountered in the foreign language classroom.
GERM 410. Getting Medieval. Or: What Makes Us Modern?. 3 Credits. In GERM 410 we will strive to understand what the adjective 'medieval' entails and juxtapose it with notions of what it means to be modern. We will examine mostly German medieval works of art and literature and put them in dialogue with modern adaptations of the Middle Ages.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-KNOWING or FC-PAST.
GERM 416. The Viking Age. 3 Credits. Lecture/discussion course on Viking culture, mythology, exploration, and extension of power in northern Europe (approx. 750-1050 CE) as represented in sagas, the Eddas, runic inscriptions, and chronicles. Readings and discussions in English. Previously offered as GERM 216.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-PAST.
GERM 426. Play Time: Theater in the Medieval and Early Modern World. 3 Credits. This course explores the vibrant world of medieval and early modern performance and theater. Students will discover how religious and secular plays were a formative component of marking time and creating community through their integration into liturgical practice, with Jews performing Purim plays and Christians staging plays at Christmas, during Carnival and Lent, and Easter. They will encounter entire cities transformed into public spaces of performance, often political and for days at a time.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-PAST.
GERM 444. The Origins of Radical Thought. 3 Credits. This course examines the historical conditions governing the emergence of radical thought in the nineteenth century with an emphasis on the German context. It will analyze some of the boldest thought experiments of the period--whether conservative or revolutionary, ideologically right or left--by following an intellectual itinerary from Hegel to Marx. We will then interrogate the consequences of this trajectory for contemporary theory and culture.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-PAST or FC-VALUES.
GERM 449. Vienna, Munich, Berlin. Revolution in German Art ca. 1900. 3 Credits. Investigation of the interconnectedness of turn-of-the-century arts, philosophy, and psychoanalysis with focus on Berlin and Vienna. Works by Hauptmann, Wedekind, Schnitzler, Freud, Schoenberg, Hofmannsthal, Hofmannsthal/Strauss, Rilke, and T. Mann. Class discussions and lectures in English Reading in English (German optional).
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-PAST.
Explores Nietzsche on literature, and Hesse's and Mann's literary thematization of Nietzsche's philosophy. Emphasis on conceptions of character, myth, music, and language, and Nietzsche's cultural and moral critique and its reevaluation in light of the 20th century political crises. Taught in English; some readings in German for qualified students.
GERM 465. German Guilt, Suffering and, Trauma. 3 Credits. This course explores canonical German literary texts written between 1945 and 2000 that wrestle with the historical transformation of German guilt for world war and genocide into suffering and trauma.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-VALUES.
GERM 467. Contemporary German and Austrian Cinema. 3 Credits. Examines exciting new directions in German and Austrian cinema from the past 20 years. By analyzing weekly films, students develop skills in film analysis and criticism; read reviews, interviews, and film-theoretical texts; write a film review; and produce a critical essay. Films with English subtitles; readings and discussions in English. Students may not receive credit for both GERM 367 and 467. Previously offered as CMPL 267/GERM 267.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-KNOWING.
GERM 475. Different than the Others: Stories of Queer German Liberation, 1864-2021. 3 Credits. This English-language seminar introduces students to over 150 years of LGBTQ+ repression and liberation in German-speaking Europe, from the prohibition of same-sex acts in 1871 to the present, through the lens of German literature and film. Readings and class discussions in English. Previously offered as GERM 282.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-POWER.
GERM 481. Berlin: Mapping a (Post) Modern Metropolis. 3 Credits. This course aims to capture the spirit of the city as students engage in multiple texts from the 19th and 20th centuries representative of the city's literary, cultural, and visual history. The texts range from Theodor Fontane's bourgeoisie in Mitte to the Turkish-German minority in Kreuzberg. In addition to reading literary texts, students will also watch films and music videos, and discuss art and architecture.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-PAST.
GERM 483. Recycling the Past: East German Literature. 3 Credits. Explores the practice in East Germany of adapting earlier literatures and setting contemporary narratives in distant times. East German authors used cultural heritage as a screen for utopian sentiments and for pursuing the relationships between everyday life, historical conditions, and political circumstances. Readings and discussions in English.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-PAST.
GERM 493. Internship in German. 3 Credits. This course enables a student to earn a maximum of three credit hours for a faculty-supervised internship directly related to the study of German literature or culture, or that uses the German language in day-to-day conduct of business in a German-speaking environment.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: HI-INTERN.
Development of phonology and morphosyntax from ancient times to present. Political, social, and literary forces influencing the language.
LING 101 recommended for undergraduates. Introduction to formal analysis of German grammar (phonology, morphophonemics, prosodics, morphology, syntax) within the framework of generative grammar.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. Reading and linguistic analysis of Early New High German texts, with study of phonology, morphology, and syntax. On demand.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. Reading and linguistic analysis of Old High German texts, with study of phonology, morphology, and syntax; comparison of the various dialects with other older dialects of Germanic. On demand.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. Reading and linguistic study of biblical texts (Heliand, Genesis) in Old Saxon, with study of phonology, morphology, and syntax; comparison with Old English, Old High German, and other Germanic dialects. On demand.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. Reading and linguistic analysis of Old Norse (Old Icelandic) texts, with study of phonology, morphology, and syntax; comparison with other older dialects of Germanic. On demand.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. Continuation of GERM 514. On demand.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. Reading and linguistic analysis of Gothic biblical texts, with study of phonology, morphology, and syntax; comparison with other older dialects of Germanic. On demand.
LING 101 recommended for undergraduates. Study of stylistic theories and practices in literature and linguistics, analysis of a large variety of texts, written exercises, training in the use of stylistic devices.
LING 101 recommended for undergraduates. Major topics in sociolinguistics: development of the German language, traditional dialects, variation in contemporary speech, German as a minority language (Alsace, Belgium), German outside of Germany (Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Liechtenstein).
LING 101 recommended for undergraduates. Special problems will be selected for intensive investigation. Subject matter of the course will be adapted to the particular interests of the students and instructor.
GERM 552. Structuralism, Poststructuralism, Posthumanism. 3 Credits. This course offers a survey of structuralist, poststructuralist, and posthumanist thought. It examines in particular how these forms of thought address the ethical, political, ecological, aesthetic and existential challenges of the present.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-KNOWING.
GERM 555. Interrogating Cultures of Fascism: Introduction to Frankfurt School's Critical Theory 1923-Present. 3 Credits. This research-intensive seminar for advanced undergraduates covers the history of the Frankfurt School and the scope of its theory for contemporary social, political, and cultural analysis. Taught in English; some readings in German for qualified students. Students must have junior or senior standing or have permission of the instructor. This 500-level course has no prerequisites. Because of the complexity of the texts, students should have at least sophomore and prior classroom experience with philosophical texts.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-KNOWING or FC-POWER.
GERM 556. Language Remains: Exploring the German-Jewish Dialogue. 3 Credits. This course explores German-Jewish writing before and after the Holocaust, focusing on the social and political position of Jews as a minority in German-speaking countries and how those are manifest in their writing and relation to the German language. Previously offered as GERM 466/JWST 466.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-POWER.
GERM 560. 20th-Century German Philosophy and Modern Youth Cultures. 3 Credits. This philosophical Approaches course investigates the rich European intellectual foundations on which 20th-century youth culture erected its triumvirate of sex, drugs, and rock music. Previously offered as GERM 280.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-KNOWING or FC-VALUES.
GERM 570. German Intellectual History. 3 Credits. Intellectual history is the examination of ideas and thinkers as they emerge and become significant in particular cultural and historical contexts. This course will focus on German intellectuals and explore their ideas and concepts as a springboard for us to challenge our own frameworks of understanding. Taught in English.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-KNOWING or FC-PAST.
GERM 572. The Fourth Dimension: The German Netflix Series "Dark" and the Mystery of Time. 3 Credits. In this course we will follow the narrative of one of the most recent cinematic explorations of the topic of time - the German Netflix series "Dark" (2017-2020) - into the great depths of theories and imaginations of time. The discussion of the series will be accompanied and supported by an introduction to the philosophy of time.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-KNOWING.
GERM 579. What is a Medium? German Media Theory from Aesthetics to Cultural Techniques. 3 Credits. This seminar provides students across the humanities with an overview of the historical and cultural relevance of German media theories. We will discuss the distinction between "art" and "medium", the role of technology and techniques, as well as the interaction of media theory and practice with politics. Films with English subtitles; readings and discussions in English. Previously offered as CMPL 479/GERM 479.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-KNOWING.
GERM 587. Theories of Migration of the 20th and 21st Centuries. 3 Credits. In this course we will engage with different theories around how migration affects societies by taking the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) as a case study. Since its founding in 1945, the FRG has seen several waves of migration. In this class we will read several theoretical texts and two novels to consider how Germany has been shaped by migration.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-GLOBAL or FC-POWER.
LING 101 recommended for undergraduates.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. With GERM 602, a two-semester sequence designed as preparation for the reading knowledge examination for higher degrees in the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, etc.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. Continuation of GERM 601.
Permission of the instructor for undergraduates. LING 101 recommended for undergraduates. Analysis of phonological, morphological, and syntactic development from Indo-European to the older stages of Germanic dialects.
Graduate-level Courses
For prospective teachers of German. Required of all teaching assistants.
This seminar provides experienced teaching assistants the opportunity to revisit the fundamentals in foreign language pedagogy while exploring in greater depth advanced issues like content-based instruction, technology, and supervising.
This seminar introduces students to methods of academic work in German Studies. As a discipline with deep historical and interdisciplinary roots, German Studies shares a wide array of theoretical approaches to its subject matter with other fields in the Humanities. We will examine a variety of these approaches including rhetoric, genre theory, hermeneutics, aesthetics, deconstruction, linguistics and speech act theory, psychoanalysis, structuralism and semiotics, critical theory, new historicism, gender theory, and media theory.
First part of a three-semester sequence offering students a comprehensive, text-based survey of German literary history from the High Middle Ages to the present. The course introduces students to medieval German language, literature, and culture. Readings in English, German and Middle High German. Discussions in German. Previously offered as GERM 614. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Second part of a three-semester sequence offering students a comprehensive, text-based survey of German literary history from the High Middle Ages to the present. Previously offered as GERM 615. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Third part of a three-semester sequence offering students a comprehensive, text-based survey of German literary history from the High Middle Ages to the present. Previously offered as GERM 616. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
German literature of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. Close readings, lectures, and discussions of representative texts. Previously offered as GERM 625. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Literature in the Age of Enlightenment. Close readings, lectures, and discussions of representative texts. Previously offered as GERM 630. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Literature of the Romantic period. Close readings, lectures, and discussions of representative texts. Previously offered as GERM 640. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Literature of Realism, Naturalism, and related movements. Close readings, lectures, and discussions of representative texts. Previously offered as GERM 645. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Major figures of the period from the turn of the century to World War II. Close readings, lectures, and discussions of representative texts. Previously offered as GERM 650. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Literature since World War II in both the Federal Republic and the former GDR. Close readings, lectures, and discussions of representative texts. Previously offered as GERM 655. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Literature since German unification in 1989. Close readings, lectures, and discussions of representative texts. Previously offered as GERM 685. Permission of the instructor for undergraduates.
Selected topics in medieval literature. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in early modern literature. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in 18th-century literature. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in early 19th-century literature. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in later 19th-century literature. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in early 20th-century literature. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in later 20th-century literature. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in aesthetics and criticism. Topics will vary by offering.
Explores issues associated with various literary genres across various literary periods.
Selected topics in German cultural studies. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in gender studies. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in German Jewish studies. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in German cinema. Topics will vary by offering.
Selected topics in 21st-century literature. Topics will vary by offering.
An intensive seven-week seminar to be offered exclusively during fall semesters, this graduate-level course is taught by a distinguished short-term scholar with expertise in German literature, film or culture who is visiting from a German-speaking country.
Permission of the instructor and the director of graduate studies. Special readings and research in a selected field or topic outside the scope of current course offerings.
Registration course credit for students who are registered abroad as part of a graduate foreign exchange program.
Students enrolled in the Carolina-Duke Graduate Program in German Studies will enroll in this course during the semester in which they undergo the Writing Proficiency Review.
Duke German Studies Courses
(Please check the Duke University course catalog.)
Dutch (DTCH)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
The first course in the Dutch language sequence, DTCH 402 is a rapid introduction to modern Dutch with emphasis on all fundamental components of communication. Completion of DTCH 402 fulfills level 2 of a foreign language.
DTCH 403. Intermediate Dutch. 3 Credits. The second course in the Dutch language sequence, DTCH 403 focuses on increased skills in speaking, listening, reading, global comprehension, and communication. Emphasis on reading and discussion of longer texts. Completion of DTCH 403 fulfills level 3 of a foreign language.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: GLBL-LANG.
This third Dutch course completes the language sequence. DTCH 404 aims to increase proficiency in language skills (reading, speaking, writing) and is constructed around a series of themes meant to introduce students to Dutch society, culture, and history. Completion of DTCH 404 fulfills level 4 of a foreign language.
Ability to read and speak Dutch at intermediate to advanced level recommended. Introduction to Dutch literature from Middle Ages to the present. Survey of topics in Dutch culture.
Graduate-level Courses
Special readings and research in a selected field or topic under the direction of a faculty member.
Slavic (SLAV)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Explores the fictional representation of Jewish life in Russia and Poland by Russian, Polish, and Jewish authors from the 19th century to the present. Taught in English; some foreign language readings for qualified students.
Fictional and autobiographical expressions of the Slavic and East European immigrant experience in the 20th century. Readings include Russian, Polish, Jewish, and Czech authors from early 1900s to present. Taught in English; some foreign language readings for qualified students.
A comparative survey of the major trends in 20th-century Russian and Polish dramaturgy and theatrical production, with attention to aesthetic, professional, and political connections between the two. Taught in English; some foreign language readings for qualified students.
Comparative study of topics in non-Russian Slavic literatures and culture not covered in any other course. Specific topics will vary and will be announced in advance. Taught in English; some foreign language readings for qualified students.
Graduate-level Courses
Permission of the instructor. Special readings and research in a selected field or topic under the direction of a faculty member.
Russian (RUSS)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Intermediate-to-advanced communication, conversation, composition, phonetics, and grammar in contemporary cultural context. Meets the needs of learners looking to expand their practical knowledge of contemporary standard Russian in the context of present-day culture, while developing active applied skills pertaining to comprehension, production of, and communication in Russian.
RUSS 410. Intermediate-to-Advanced Russian Communication, Conversation, and Composition in Context II. 3 Credits. Hones skills necessary for advanced communication, conversation, and composition. Presents phonetics and grammar in contemporary cultural context. Learners expand their practical knowledge of contemporary standard Russian in the context of present-day culture, while developing applied skills pertaining to comprehension, production of, and communication in Russian actively using authentic cultural materials.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-GLOBAL.
Develops and maintains advanced skills for speaking, writing, listening, and reading in contemporary standard Russian in a variety of communicative situations. Assists advanced learners in solving a wide range of communicative tasks with the aid of unadapted authentic cultural materials.
RUSS 412. Advanced Communication, Conversation, and Composition in Contemporary Standard Russian II. 3 Credits. Prepares advanced learners of contemporary standard Russian for communication with educated native speakers of the language in the area of their professional competence. Furthers interactive skills for speaking, writing, listening, and reading in a variety of communicative situations pertaining to the learners' professional expertise.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: COMMBEYOND.
RUSS 415. Introduction to Russian Literature. 3 Credits. Reading and discussion of selected authors in Russian aimed at improving reading skill and preparing the student for higher level work in Russian literature. Readings and class discussions in Russian. Course previously offered as RUSS 250.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH.
RUSS 445. 19th Century Russian Literature and Culture. 3 Credits. A survey of the major novels and stories of 19th century Russian fiction, which have entered the canon of world classics and redefined the idea of literature. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-PAST.
Examines "The Absurd" in Russian literature and culture as it developed from 19th century to the present. Through works by important Russian writers and representative films students encounter facets of "The Russian Absurd" viewed as literary, cultural, and social phenomena. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
RUSS 455. 20th-Century Russian Literature and Culture. 3 Credits. As Russia became a laboratory for sociopolitical experiments of global significance, its culture reflected on the most spectacular of its aspirations and failures. Course surveys 20th-century literary, musical and cinematic artifacts that emerged to affect the world profoundly. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-KNOWING.
RUSS 464. Dostoevsky. 3 Credits. Study of major works of Dostoevsky and a survey of contemporary literary and cultural trends relevant to his creative career. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-PAST.
RUSS 465. Chekhov. 3 Credits. Study of major works of Chekhov and survey of contemporary literary and cultural trends relevant to his creative career. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-PAST.
Study of major works of N. V. Gogol and a survey of contemporary authors and literary trends relevant to his creative career. Lectures and seminar discussions. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
RUSS 477. Wicked Desire: Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita, on Page and Screen. 3 Credits. Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita (1955) became a global phenomenon due to its unflinching portrayal of pedophilia. This course will delve deeper into the novel's moral complexity, its international context, and its reflection in mass culture, including movies by Stanley Kubrick (1962) and Adrian Lyne (1997). Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH.
RUSS 479. Tolstoy. 3 Credits. Study of the major works of Tolstoy and a survey of contemporary authors and literary trends relevant to his creative career. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-PAST.
RUSS 480. Russian-Soviet Jewish Culture: Lofty Dreams and Stark Realities. 3 Credits. This course delves into the scintillating literary, visual, musical, and cinematic culture created by Jewish universalists seeking to build their new secular identity under the aegis of the Soviet Communist experiment in the aftermath of the 1917 Bolshevik coup. Surveys the works of Isaac Babel, Eduard Bagritsky, Marc Chagall, Sergey Eisenstein, Ilya Ehrenburg, Masha Gessen, Vasily Grossman, Osip Mandelshtam, and others. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students; films with English subtitles. Honors version available.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-GLOBAL or FC-PAST.
RUSS 486. Exploration of Russian "Women's Prose" and Svetlana Alexievich (Nobel Prize in Literature 2015). 3 Credits. Using Alexievich as our beacon, we will explore the writers behind the term "Russian Women's Prose": Valeria Narbikova, Lyudmila Petrushevskaya, Tatyana Tolstaya, and Lyudmila Ulitskaya. The course will delve into gender identity and body politics as they manifest themselves in the literary texts of lasting aesthetic quality and social relevance. Taught in English; some readings in Russian for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH or FC-GLOBAL.
Study of topics in Russian literature and culture not currently covered in any other course. The specific topic will be announced in advance. Taught in English. Some readings in Russian for qualified students.
RUSS 515. Advanced Russian Communication, Composition and Grammar in the Professions I. 3 Credits. RUSS 515 provides advanced learners with opportunities to develop linguo-cultural skills necessary to practice their profession in Russian. While engaged in academic discourse in contemporary standard Russian, learners research topics in their academic majors, prepare and give presentations and lead discussions focusing on their areas of professional competence. In addition to student-centered segments, the course comprises instructor-led discussions of current affairs and academic subjects. Readings, viewing materials, and discussions in Russian.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH, COMMBEYOND.
RUSS 516. Advanced Russian Communication, Composition and Grammar in the Professions II. 3 Credits. A continuation of RUSS 515, RUSS 516 develops and maintains the linguo-cultural skills of advanced-to-professional learners by preparing them for professional study-abroad experiences at Russophone institutions of higher learning. A seminar-style course with rotating instructors, it engages learners in contemplation, research, and discussion of subjects within the instructor's professional expertise. Readings, viewing materials, and discussions in Russian.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH, COMMBEYOND.
Examines Russian from the perspective of linguistic analysis. How do sounds, words, and sentences pattern in Russian? How do these compare with patterns in other languages? Also considers the influence of evidence from Russian on the development of linguistic theory.
Czech (CZCH)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Proficiency-based instruction at the elementary level that develops the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing). In addition to mastering basic vocabulary and grammar, students will communicate in Czech about everyday topics.
Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction in CZCH 401. Course emphasizes speaking, listening, reading, writing in a cultural context. Students enhance their basic vocabulary and grammar and will regularly communicate in Czech about everyday topics.
CZCH 403. Intermediate Czech I. 3 Credits. Continuation of proficiency-based instruction begun in Elementary Czech.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: GLBL-LANG.
Continuation of proficiency-based instruction begun in Elementary Czech.
Advanced readings and discussion in Czech in humanities and social science topics.
Advanced readings and discussion in Czech in humanities and social science topics, continued.
Introduction to Czech literature with an emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century prose. Taught in English. Some readings in Czech for qualified students.
CZCH 469. Milan Kundera and World Literature. 3 Credits. This course traces Milan Kundera's literary path from his communist poetic youth to his present postmodern Francophilia. His work will be compared with those authors he considers his predecessors and influences in European literature. Taught in English. Some readings in Czech for qualified students.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-AESTH.
Study of topics in Czech and/or Slovak literature and culture not currently covered in any other course. The specific topic will be announced in advance. Taught in English. Some readings in Czech for qualified students.
Hungarian (HUNG)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Pronunciation, structure of language, and reading in modern Hungarian.
Pronunciation, structure of language, and reading in modern Hungarian, continued.
HUNG 403. Intermediate Hungarian Language. 3 Credits. Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction begun in Elementary Hungarian.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: GLBL-LANG.
Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction begun in Elementary Hungarian, continued.
Advanced readings and discussion in Hungarian in humanities and social science topics.
Advanced readings and discussion in Hungarian in humanities and social science topics, continued.
Introduction to the phonology, morphology, and syntax of modern standard Hungarian, with emphasis on some of its distinctive typological features.
An introduction to Hungarian literature of the last five centuries through a selection of works in English translation, with supporting background materials including films (with English subtitles). Taught in English; some readings in Hungarian for qualified students.
Study of topics in Hungarian literature and culture not currently covered in any other course. The specific topic will be announced in advance. Taught in English; some readings in Hungarian for qualified students.
Macedonian (MACD)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Pronunciation, structure of language, and reading in modern Macedonian.
Pronunciation, structure of language, and reading in modern Macedonian, continued.
MACD 403. Intermediate Macedonian. 3 Credits. Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction begun in Elementary Macedonian.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: GLBL-LANG.
Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction begun in Elementary Macedonian, continued.
Advanced reading and discussion in Macedonian in humanities and social science topics.
Advanced reading and discussion in Macedonian in humanities and social science topics, continued.
Polish (PLSH)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
Proficiency-based instruction at the elementary level that develops the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing). In addition to mastering basic vocabulary and grammar, students will communicate in Polish about everyday topics.
Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction in PLSH 401. Course emphasizes speaking, listening, reading, writing in a cultural context. Students enhance their basic vocabulary and grammar and will regularly communicate in Polish about everyday topics.
PLSH 403. Intermediate Polish I. 3 Credits. Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction begun in elementary Polish.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: GLBL-LANG.
Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction begun in elementary Polish, continued.
Advanced readings and discussion in Polish on humanities and social science topics.
Advanced readings and discussion in Polish on humanities and social science topics, continued.
An overview of the major literary, cultural and social movements in 19th-century Poland (Romanticism, Positivism and Young Poland) as they relate to Europe more broadly. All readings and discussions in English; readings available in Polish for qualified students.
An overview of the literary and cultural movements in 20th and 21st century Poland as they relate to major historical changes of the century (World War I and World War II, Communism, Post-communism, accession to the European Union). All readings and discussions in English; readings available in Polish for qualified students.
Study of topics in Polish literature and culture not currently covered in any other course. The specific topic will be announced in advance. Taught in English. Some readings in Polish for qualified students.
Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS)
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses
This course is designed for new learners and heritage speakers of BCS who wish to develop elementary proficiency in four major language competencies: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It introduces key linguistic and sociocultural aspects of contemporary BCS and will be a valuable asset to students looking to reconnect with their family heritage, visit the region or simply get acquainted with this major Slavic language and its history.
Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction in BCS 401. Course emphasizes speaking, listening, reading, writing in a cultural context. Students enhance their basic vocabulary and grammar and will regularly communicate in the target language about everyday topics. Previously offered as SECR 402.
BCS 403. Intermediate Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian Language I. 3 Credits. The second year of BCS instruction will continue to build grammar and communication skills for intermediate-low and heritage speakers. We will revisit and review many of the grammar concepts from the previous year while gradually incorporating new vocabulary and developing cultural competencies through a variety of authentic sources in the target language (comics, films, music, and others). In addition to in-class presentations, students will frequently work in pairs and collaborate on small projects.
IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: GLBL-LANG.
Continuation of the proficiency-based instruction started in BCS 403. Previously offered as SECR 404.
Advanced readings and discussion in Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian on humanities and social science topics. Previously offered as SECR 405.
Advanced readings and discussion in Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian on humanities and social science topics. Continuation of BCS 405. Previously offered as SECR 406.
Introduction to South Slavic literatures and cultures with an emphasis on 19th- through 21st-century prose. Taught in English. Some readings in target language for qualified students. Previously offered as SECR 411.
Study of topics in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and other South Slavic literatures and cultures not currently covered in any other course. The specific topic will be announced in advance. Taught in English. Some readings in target language for qualified students. Previously offered as SECR 490.
Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures
426 Dey Hall, CB# 3160
(919) 966-1642
