A Track - Semi-Intensive German Language - Beginner
Within six weeks, this course will help you to develop basic competences in listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as a basic knowledge of the German culture. By the end of the course you will be able to deal with everyday situations in a German- speaking environment and to conduct simple conversations. You will have developed reading strategies that allow you to understand simple newspaper and magazine articles as well as short literary texts. In addition, you will learn to write, revise and proofread short texts in German.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Beginner
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Contact Hours: 6
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
A Track - Semi-Intensive German Language - Intermediate
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the basic level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This course will help you to expand your competences in listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as strengthen your knowledge of grammar, while emphasizing self-correction. You will also expand your knowledge of the German culture and analyze and interpret cultural, political, and historical topics in German-speaking countries and compare them with your own cultural background.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Intermediate
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Contact Hours: 6
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
A Track - Semi-Intensive German Language - Intermediate Advanced
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the basic level and the first part of the intermediate level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This course will help you to expand your competences in speaking and writing within six weeks, while emphasizing self-correction. Furthermore, it will help you to increase your vocabulary, to deepen grammar usage, and develop effective reading and listening strategies. In addition, you will analyze and interpret cultural, political, and historical topics in German- speaking countries and compare them with your own cultural background.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Intermediate
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Contact Hours: 6
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
A Track - Berlin and the Digital Music Era
In many ways, Berlin is a center for contemporary electronic music. This is primarily due to the strong connection between technological and aesthetic developments. Nightclubs, such as the Berghain, have a worldwide reputation for their sound systems, which allow a specific acoustic experience and encourage nightlong dancing and partying. Berlin-based companies such as Ableton and Native Instruments are global leaders in their music software, especially in the context of techno, electronica and electronic dance music. Many DJs and musicians´ market themselves or their tracks via blogs and streaming services. Particularly in the context of sound art, there are fairly strong parallels with media art.
Due to the key 'digital' aspects of such phenomena, we often speak of a 'Digital Age' in which Berlin plays a particular role in the field of music. However, the 'analog' phenomena are constantly growing, so that there is some debate over the beginning of a 'post-digital age'. This corresponds with an increasing focus both on the virtual and haptic dimension. Among other things, software companies have made strong efforts over the past years to develop their own hardware controllers for their computer programs in order to be able to better design musical processes manually.
Based on such phenomena, the course will explore the relationship between aesthetic trends and technological developments with the focus on the cultural and economic conditions in Berlin. Particular emphasis will be made on the past and present of techno, (experimental) electronica and electronic dance music. What makes Berlin a magnet not only for thrill-seeking club-goers, but also for DJs, musicians, producers and developers? How does this relate to the recent past of Berlin since the fall of the Berlin Wall, especially given the gentrification processes? To what extent is Berlin's creative scene at the same time internationally networked and can its conditions only be understood in a global context?
Beyond the Berlin perspective, the course examines the current conditions of production and consumption as well as the performance and distribution of music. How do legal/illegal file sharing and streaming services affect listening to music? What is changing in music culture through sampling, remixing, mashup and approaches to interactive music in video games? What opposing trends are out there?
In addition to the joint discussion of texts and film excerpts, excursions also provide an opportunity for an exchange with proven experts in the course subject areas.
At the end of the course, the participants can elaborate on and present a topic (either alone or in a group) of their choice in the context of the general list of topics on the course.
View Syllabus
A Track - Semi-Intensive German Language - Advanced
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the intermediate level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The course aims to deepen your competence in speaking and writing and to expand and refine your vocabulary usage, so that you are able to express and discuss ideas, opinions and information at the academic level. the course helps you to develop effective reading and listening strategies and deepen your knowledge of grammar structures. In addition, you will analyze and interpret cultural, political, and historical topics in German-speaking countries and compare them with your own cultural background.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Advanced
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
A Track - Creating a Solo Performance: Berlin Cabaret/Kabarett
This course is an acting course that introduces the student to the research, writing and performance techniques of cabaret performers. Kabarett is the German word for \"cabaret\" but has two different meanings","the first describing a form of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theater and the latter describes a kind of political satire. Unlike comedians who make fun of all kind of things, Kabarett artists (German: Kabarettisten) pride themselves as dedicated almost completely to political and social topics of more serious nature which they criticize using techniques like cynicism, sarcasm and irony. While studying and analyzing the techniques of a wide variety of cabaret performers through its inception, students will explore aspects of writing monologues and implementing those techniques with the ultimate goal of creating and performing their own material -sense of\ntruth- with the courage necessary to stand-alone on stage."]
Language of Instruction: English
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Contact Hours: 6
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
A Track: Sustainable and Social Business
In this course, we introduce the students to sustainable and social entrepreneurial thinking and acting by teaching them state-of-the-art tools and methods applied by companies and startups worldwide, which students could use to turn their own ideas into actual green and social business ventures. The students receive an overview on topics, such as corporate planning, social start-up finance and pitching. Besides examining how to create the more traditional business plan, we will particularly focus on the following tools: Design Thinking, Systems Thinking, Value Proposition Canvas and Business Model Canvas. Furthermore, we look into creativity techniques, which can help to generate business ideas and the most relevant tools needed to make use of one’s own research results. The students will apply the newly learned tools and methods by analyzing existing case studies and developing their own business ideas.
Moreover, the students will gain a better understanding of the actual meaning of “sustainability” and learn which aspects and topics they need to focus on in order to develop modern and sustainable business models. During the analysis of existing case studies, the students will also learn about the “social business” approach and compare this with non-social business approaches.
The course offers a mix of theoretical input as well as creative and practical group work, which encourages the participants to think and act like a social and green entrepreneur.
Language of Instruction: English
View Syllabus
B Track - History of European Art: Local Traditions and Transnational Networks
This course explores European art and architecture from the 15th to the 20th century with a particular focus on urban centers like Florence, Rome, Venice, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Paris, London, and Berlin. The aim is to analyze how the visual arts contributed through the centuries to shape local identities as well as European cultural traditions common to different countries. The course will present iconic moments of the history of the arts in Europe by drawing a special attention to episodes of cultural exchanges and hybridization that arose from travelling artworks as well as from artists’ travels.
Language of Instruction: English
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Contact Hours: 6
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
B Track - Seduction and Terror: Hitler's Germany
This class focuses on Hitler’s Germany and it begins with the 19 th century background. Central to this session will be a discussion of the broad political currents, the agitators and petty demagogues who fueled the dissatisfaction and spread it widely. We will also examine the popular literature that Hitler and many of his supporters read and absorbed. Lastly, the class will examine the end of the war, the so-called ‘zero hour’, the destruction and collapse of Germany
Language of Instruction: English
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Contact Hours: 6
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
B Track - Europe, Migration, Refugees
This course is designed for all students having a personal, professional or political personal interest in a deeper and thus more differentiated understanding of transnational migration. We will encounter migrants’ viewpoints, which reach beyond the usual framings of ‘the poor migrant’ as ‘passive victim’, as a threat or as the ‘(anti-)hero’ of globalization. We will encounter viewpoints on the EU, which will constructively criticize as well as graciously affirm the spirit of the Union. We will encounter viewpoints of hope.
Language of Instruction: English
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 3
Contact Hours: 6
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
B Track - Economics of European Integration
What is today’s role of the European Union? After decades towards greater integration, economic relationships have recently become more fragile. Examples of the rise of disintegration include tendencies of secession and the exit of countries from international institutional arrangements. In view of strong interdependencies between economic actors (global supply chains), these disruptions seem to be particularly costly and may require appropriate policy responses.
This course introduces the main economic aspects of the current development of the European Union (EU) and its policies. The basic idea is to discuss general issues in economic integration with a strong emphasis on experiences in Europe. After reviewing the institutional, political and historical background of European integration, the main focus is on the economic analysis of the policies and prospects for the European Union and its economic impacts on individuals, firms and regions.
Some recent developments in the international policy agenda like sovereign debt crises, Brexit and the euro crisis will also be covered.
This course provides an introduction to economic tools and concepts useful for the analysis of European integration. More generally, students learn to apply economic theory to real-world problems.
Language of Instruction: English
View Syllabus
C Track - Intensive German Language - Beginner
This course is designed for the beginner student with no previous knowledge of German. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will
take responsibility for their learning. Within six weeks, this course will help you to develop basic competences in listening,
speaking, reading and writing as well as a basic knowledge of the German culture.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Beginner
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 5
Contact Hours: 9
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
C Track - Intensive German Language - Beginner
This course is designed for beginners with basic knowledge of German. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning. This course will help students to expand their competencies in listening, speaking, reading and writing within six weeks, deepen their knowledge of grammar as well as their knowledge of the German culture.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Beginner
Recommended US semester credits: 5
Contact Hours: 9
C Track - Intensive German Language - Intermediate
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the basic level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning. Within six weeks, this course will help students to expand their competencies in listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as strengthen their knowledge of grammar while emphasizing self-correction. Students will also expand their knowledge of the German culture and analyze and interpret cultural, political, and historical topics in German-speaking countries and compare them with their own cultural background.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Intermediate
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 5
Contact Hours: 9
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
C Track - Intensive German Language - Intermediate Advanced
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the basic level and the first part of the intermediate level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning.
This course will help students to expand their competencies in speaking and writing within six weeks while emphasizing self-correction. Furthermore, it will help them to increase their vocabulary, to deepen grammar usage, and develop effective reading and listening strategies.
In addition, students will analyze and interpret cultural, political, and historical topics in German-speaking countries and compare them with their own cultural background.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Intermediate
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 5
Contact Hours: 9
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
C Track - Intensive German Language - Advanced
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the intermediate level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning.
Language of Instruction: German
Language Level Required: Advanced
Course Level: Upper Division
Recommended US semester credits: 5
Contact Hours: 9
Course Level: Upper Division
View Syllabus
