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Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures

German Program

Castle Neuschwanstein at Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany

Image: Castle Neuschwanstein at Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany Credit: Softeis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

German Studies at California State University, Fresno offers courses in German language, culture, literature, and film, and is designed to serve both our Minor and the needs of students from our campus and community.

In treating the language and culture of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, German Studies prepares you to communicate in German so you can work, travel, and study in the very center of Europe. Many of our courses are specifically geared to the needs of students from business, music, English, history, and linguistics.

Professor Amila Becirbegovic is our German Professor and can assist students in creating a plan to complete a German minor.

Minor in German and fulfill your General Education Area C2 requirement

  • German 1B, German 2A and 2B meet the General Education C2 Requirement.

Credit by examination (CBE) for German courses

German Minor Requirements

  • GERM 2A, 2B (0-6 units)
  • GERM 101 (3 units)
  • GERM 50 or 150 (3 units)
  • German electives, upper division including at least one course in the series 112, 114, 116, 118A, 118B (9-15 units)

Total (21 units)

Course Descriptions

German (GERM)

1A. Elementary German (4) (offered in Fall Semesters only)
Beginning course. Imparts basic speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities in German as well as introduces the cultures of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Not open to students with two or more
years of high school German credit.

1B. Elementary German (4) (offered in Spring Semesters only)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. GERM 1A or permission of instructor recommended. Second semester course. Develops speaking, listening,
reading, and writing abilities; broadens knowledge of German, Swiss and Austrian cultures. Not open to those with three or more years of high school German. G.E. Breadth C2.

2A. Intermediate German (3) (offered in Fall Semesters only)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. GERM 1B or permission of instructor recommended. Third semester course. Builds reading, conversational, and writing facilities in German; develops linguistic and cultural
mastering of varied, increasingly complex situations. General review of grammar syntax; cultural topics. G.E. Breadth C2.

2B. Intermediate German (3) (offered in Spring Semesters only)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. GERM 2A or permission of instructor recommended. Fourth semester course. Builds further reading, conversational, and writing facilities in German; develops general linguistic and cultural competence. General review of grammar and syntax; cultural topics. G.E. Breadth C2.

8T. Selected Topics in German (1; max total 2)
Recommended: GERM 1A or permission of instructor. Language experience outside classroom stressed in oral topics. Problem vocabulary and grammar topics. CR/NC grading only.

50. Conversation (3; max total 6) (offered in Spring Semesters only)
Recommended: GERM 2B or concurrently or permission of instructor. Conversation on prepared topics, brief talks by students, short scenes from plays, sharpening of listening skills and oral expression. Preparation for "survival" in German speaking countries. (Spring
semester)

AREA I: Language and Culture

101. Composition (3; max total 6) (offered in Fall Semesters only)
Recommended: GERM 2B or permission of instructor. Development of
written expression through intensive practice, vocabulary building,
grammar and syntax review, cooperative work on improving composition,
analysis of varying styles. May be taken twice. (Fall semester)

103T. German Culture and Civilization
(3; max total 6 if no topic repeated) Studies in principal aspects of German (also Austrian and Swiss) history, thought, customs, institutions, film, arts, music, folklore, contemporary life; influence on Western civilization. Taught in English.

150. Advanced Conversation (offered in Spring Semesters only)
(3; max total 6) Recommended: GERM 2B or concurrently or permission of instructor. Intensive practice in advanced oral German to cultivate ease within a number of speech situations. Emphasis on current affairs in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. (Spring semester)

AREA II: Literature

112. German Literature to 1750 (3)
Recommended: GERM 2B or permission of instructor. In-depth studies of
German literature prior to 1750: Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation,
Baroque, Enlighten ment; including such authors as Wolfram, Walther von
der Vogelweide, Luther, Grim melshausen. Critical analysis of texts,
lecture, discussion, student reports.

114. German Literature through the Classical Age (3)
Recommended: GERM 2B or permission of instructor. From the beginnings to Goethe's death in 1832, concentrating on the Classical Age (Lessing,
Schiller, Goethe). Crit ical analysis of texts, lecture, discussion, student reports.

116. Nineteenth Century Literature (3)
Recommended: GERM 2B or permission of instructor. Investigates major 19th century authors such as Brentano, Tieck, Hoffmann, Büchner, Stifter, Keller, Raabe, Fontane. Critical analysis of texts, lecture,
discussion, student reports.

118A. Modern Literature: 1890-1945 (3)
Recommended: GERM 2B or permission of instructor. Investigates Classical Modernity (1890-World War II), including such authors as Kafka, Rilke, Mann, Brecht, Musil. Critical analysis of texts, lecture, discussion, student reports.

118B. Contemporary Literature: 1945-Present (3)
Recommended: GERM 2B or permission of instructor. Investigates the Postmodern Age (World War II to the present), including such author as Grass, Böll, Frisch, Handke, Bernhard, Wolf. Critical analysis of texts, lecture, discussion, student reports.

160T. Topics in German Studies
(1-3; max total 12 if no topic repeated) Intensive analysis, discussion, and evaluation of significant facets of German life through the study of specific movements, literary problems, themes, films, cultural artifacts, music, institutions, epochs, folklore, and regions.

190. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent Study. Approved for RP grading.

Graduate Course

(See Course Numbering System.)

Die Welt: Links to the World

Languages are international as well as personal. Here are some links to the world of German, some academic, some political, some cultural.

Dictionaries and Lexika

  • DWDS, Das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache des 20. Jahrhunderts. Very useful Lexikon (German/German) with lots of examples and synonyms.
  • Leo German & English Dictionary useful and modern translation tool
  • Beolingus.com Good German and English dictionary, shorter and more sorted than dict.leo; many links to other useful dictionaries.
    • wortschatz.uni-leipzig a thesaurus with word lists but short on definitions.
  • Deutsch/Englisches-Lexikon mit Synonymen
  • Adelung, Johann Christoph: Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der hochdeutschen Mundart (Wien, 1808)
    • A great glossary of words currently in the news aber in keinem Lexikon
    • List of Dictionaries

Other Links

German Faculty