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German Studies Graduate Program


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The Graduate Program in German Studies offers seminars in German literature, culture, and linguistics leading to the Ph.D. degree. Interdisciplinary studies in Comparative Literature, Linguistics, Women’s Studies (WS Certificate), and Human Rights (HR Certificate), among others, are available in cooperation with other sections and departments. The graduate program strongly supports an interdisciplinary, intercultural, and transnational approach to German Literary and Cultural Studies, including trans-disciplinary literary and cultural theory, "interkulturelle Germanistik," literature and other arts, and anthropological and philosophical inquiries into literary studies. Additional expertise: Black-German Studies, Gender Studies, Film and Media Studies, German-Jewish Studies, Literature/Culture and Philosophy, and Interarts Studies. Admission is competitive, and qualifying graduate students are financially supported by teaching or research assistantships.

The expertise of our faculty covers the entire modern spectrum from German Classicism and Romanticism via Modernism and Holocaust Studies to East/West German literature and culture, "Gegenwartsliteratur" by German-speaking authors of different national and cultural backgrounds, and literature and new media. Additional interests of the program: Black-German Studies, Gender Studies, Film and Media Studies, German-Jewish Studies and Literature/Culture and Philosophy and Interarts Studies. In general, faculty members are experts in particular theories and periods, beginning with the 18th century, but all have subfields and venture into interdisciplinary territory. Most importantly, every faculty member is eager to explore new and innovative questions together with graduate students!

Two journals are housed in the UConn program, The Brecht Yearbook, with Prof. Friedemann Weidauer as managing editor, and Flusser Studies, with Prof. Anke Finger as co-founder and co-editor.

Teaching
The Graduate Program in German Studies has a rigorous language and pedagogy program. All faculty participate in an integrated approach to cultural and linguistic inquiry, and all are involved in the articulation of the entire Curriculum. Teaching assistants are introduced to language teaching research and methodologies with particular emphasis on teaching towards intercultural and linguistic competencies, beginning with elementary German language and culture classes. Qualifying graduate students are financially supported as teaching, administrative or research assistants.

The German department at the University of Connecticut is nationally known for its innovative undergraduate curriculum, including interdisciplinary programs such as:

Eurotech
http://www.engr.uconn.edu/EUROTECH/
(leading to a undergraduate dual degree, B.A. in German and B.S. in Engineering)

Linkage Through Language
http://www.languages.uconn.edu/programs/ltl/
(applied language study linked to courses mostly in the social sciences and the arts)

Our teaching assistants have a chance to teach in these programs and learn by doing. We also offer teaching methods courses and a number of workshops in the Multimedia Language Center. The on-campus Institute for Teaching and Learning provides additional workshops and materials to improve teaching skills for small and large classes.

GRE / TOEFL
The GRE exam is not required but welcome. Applicants for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs should submit a sample of their written work as part of the admission procedure to Graduate Admissions. International Students must send results of the TOEFL test with their applications. All potential applicants are encouraged to inquire about the graduate program with Prof. Anke Finger.

Associations and Organizations