GERM 128 - German Life & Culture

Credits: 5
Explores various elements of culture in Germany and other German-speaking countries. Focuses on modern life in relation to cultural priorities, traditions, and popular culture. Features key cultural topics such as the arts, literature, food, innovation, and sustainability. Analyzes the persisting differences between former East and West Germany post-reunification and its evolution into the modern-day crossroads of Europe. Examines Germany’s changing social dynamics as influenced by its status as a primary destination for immigrants and refugees, both in recent times and in previous eras. Course instructed in English.

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for ENGL 99.

Satisfies Requirement: Humanities/Fine Arts/English
Course Fee: $2.00

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Compare and contrast traditional and modern German culture and society.
Assess contributions of women in recent German history.
Examine ”Vergangenheitsbewältigung” or how Germans come to terms with their own history.
Analyze popular works representing German culture in music, film, architecture, literature, and influential thinkers of the time.
Identify differences in life between East and West Germany and the effects of German reunification.
Demonstrate intercultural competence to work and/or live in a German-speaking country.

Program Outcomes

Analyze cultural perspectives and values of a multicultural world.
Form, analyze, and assess beliefs while demonstrating intellectual humility and respect towards the beliefs of others.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.