German

Location:	Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building 6135 University Avenue Room 3025 P.O. Box 15000 Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
Telephone:	(902) 494-1082
Website:	german.dal.ca
Email:	german@dal.ca

Introduction

German, the most widely used language in Europe, is spoken by approximately 100 million people as their native tongue in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, and some parts of Eastern Europe. The cultural, economic, and scientific role of the German-speaking countries makes the knowledge of German indispensable to the study of most academic disciplines. The number of publications in the German language is second only to the number published in English.

The departmental program "German Studies" is the investigation of German culture and its place in the formation of the modern world. The program concentrates on significant aspects of the cultural tradition of the German-speaking countries. From Luther to Nietzsche, Freud, and Marx, German writers have moved people and nations to change the course of the world. The literary and intellectual development of Germany culminated around 1800 in the epochs of "Klassik" and "Romantik". The authors of this epoch (Lessing, Herder, Lenz, Goethe, Schiller, Novalis, The Schlegel brothers, and Hegel) founded their writings on a thorough knowledge of the cultural tradition of Europe, especially Greek culture. As scientists, historians, and politicians they described problems and questions of a universal nature in their works. They became the first historians of literature and created the discipline of aesthetics. The universality of the authors of the period 1770-1830 explains their present-day relevance and makes the study of German important and attractive.

Major or honours students may, with the approval of the Department of German, take up to one year (30 credit hours) at a university in a German-speaking country and receive credit at Dalhousie. The Department has study abroad arrangements with the universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg. In addition there is a "visiting scholars" program which brings distinguished scholars from Germany to Dalhousie.

For students of Engineering or Business, the Department offers access to one of the most prestigious MBA programs in International Industrial Management in Germany at the University of Esslingen in co-operation with Daimler and Bosch

For advanced Engineering students, the Department offers access to the MSc in Automotive Engineering and the MSc in Information Technology and Automation Systems at the same Graduate School.

Degree Programs

In addition to the departmental requirements listed below, students must satisfy the requirements outlined in the Degree Requirements section.

The following programs are normally followed, other possibilities do exist. Students considering a degree in German are advised to consult with the undergraduate advisor of the Department.

Applications for Honours Programs should be discussed with the departmental advisor at an early stage. Later applications can also be accommodated.