The German Studies program emphasizes the humanistic endeavor of understanding and evaluating culture. Courses are focused on language, literature, and film in context, that is, within the historical, social, philosophical, linguistic, intellectual, and political circumstances of their production and continuing reception. Courses on German-language literature, film, and culture offer a variety of critical perspectives from historical, social, or politically engaged readings to feminist analysis and cultural studies. Topics range from authors, periods, and genres to the history of German-language literature and film, philosophy, theory and criticism, European cultural relations, and cultural artifacts in a globalized social and political context.
The German Studies major can be combined as a double major with any other UCI course of study, and the minor may be taken in tandem with any UCI major.
Courses in the program are taught in German to the extent compatible with the aim of the course. In the lower-division language courses students develop skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing through an engaging, collaborative, task-based curriculum. The courses place a great deal of emphasis on meaningful cultural literacy in German, employing a diverse range of authentic texts and materials from the beginning. During the second year (intermediate), students benefit from a curriculum based on authentic literary and cultural content (theatre, media) and simulation of real world situations. These courses have the additional goal of contributing to students education in the humanities and developing their skills in critical thinking.
