German Studies

GERMAN STUDIES FACULTY

Gesa Zinn
Associate Professor

Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1995

Fields of Specialization: German Women Writers and Filmmakers, Roma and Sinti

• Office: Humanities 459
• Phone: (218) 726-8990
• E-Mail: gzinn@d.umn.edu
• Homepage: http://www.d.umn.edu/~gzinn

Kristen Hylenski
Assistant Professor

Ph.D., Yale, 2006

Fields of Specialization: Literature and Dance, 19th and early 20th Century Literature and Culture

• Office: Humanities 479
• Phone: 726-6538
• E-Mail: khylensk@d.umn.edu
• Homepage: http://www.d.umn.edu/~khylensk

M.Ed., Second Languages and Cultures, English as a Second Language, University of Minnesota, 1991

Fields of Specialization: German Language Instruction, German Culture, Teaching World Languages

• Office: Humanities 453
• Phone: (218) 726-6155
• E-Mail: mmullins@d.umn.edu
• Homepage: http://www.d.umn.edu/~mmullins

• E-Mail: jconant@d.umn.edu

GERMAN STUDIES COURSES

• For a description of the German Studies Program, visit the UMD Catalog and select Majors/CLA and then German Studies, or go directly to German Studies.
• Visit the Course Description page to see a description of each German course.
• Click on the Course Guide to see available classes for each semester.

ENROLLING IN THE RIGHT COURSE

• Language
  • Students with 3 years of high school German should enroll in the Fall semester in German 1201 Intermediate German I.
  • Students with 4-5 years of high school German should enroll in the Fall semester in German 2301 Advanced German.
  • Students with 2 years of recent high school German should enroll in the Spring semester in German 1102 Beginning German II.
  • Students who have not studied German should enroll in the Fall semester in German 1101 Beginning German I.
  • If you have doubts about your placement, please contact one of the German faculty.
  • Native speakers of German should also consult with one of the German faculty about proper placement.
  • German 3302 Advanced Composition and Conversation may be taken at any point beyond German 2301.
• Culture/Literature
  • Students normally follow German 2301 with upper division literature and culture courses.
• Credit by Exam
  • Students who begin their work in German 1202 or German 2301 and who earn an A or a B will receive credit for the courses they have skipped, BEGINNING WITH German 1201. To receive this credit, students will need to pay to Administration a credit-by-exam fee ($50/credit) and fill out the appropriate forms. Please ask your German Studies instructor how to do this.

GERMAN STUDIES MAJOR / MINOR

• See major description (College of Liberal Arts).
• See minor description (College of Liberal Arts).
• See teaching major description (College of Education and Human Service Professions).
  • Student Portfolios : Important information concerning the B.A.A degree.
• Oral Proficiency Exam
  • An Oral Proficiency Exam in German is required for all majors. Usually it is recommended that students take this exam as they are about to graduate. Students should consult with Professor Zinn to have this exam scheduled.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Study Abroad
  • Students may wish -- and are encouraged -- to study abroad during the summer, during an academic semester, or for an entire year.
  • Students may enroll in study abroad courses (for zero tuition) while they are away. This allows students to maintain their UMD enrollment and to use their financial aid.
  • Please check files in the Dept. of Foreign Languages and Literatures (H 452) and in the International Education Office (Deb Good, Cina 111) to learn about specific programs.
    
  • Department's Study Abroad Program - a three-week program offered in May or January, depending on the year, to Potsdam/Berlin; contact Michael Mullins or other German Studies faculty for more information.
  • Please visit the International Education website for additional information.
• Alpha Mu Gamma
  • Alpha Mu Gamma is the National Honor Society for all foreign languages. Students in this organization traditionally view films, host special events around campus, and have dinners with faculty. See the Alpha Mu Gamma Web Page.
• Departmental Honors
  • Students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.30 in all German major courses may be invited by faculty to submit a sample of their work, in order to be considered for departmental honors and to receive a degree with distinction. Please contact the department for further information.
• Scholarships
  • Scholarships are available to students through competition, for study abroad. Scholarships available in 2007-08, included: The Jonathan Conant Scholarship, for students of German; The Stephanie Imholte Hagelberg Scholarship, for students of German, Spanish and French; and scholarships in honor of high school language teacher Ms. Frances A. Knobloch. Scholarships are announced each Fall.
• Majors are encouraged to participate as tutors for the lower division courses.
• Participation in UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) is encouraged so that students can work jointly on research topics of mutual interest with a faculty member.
• Career Opportunities
  • Our students who have majored in German Studies enjoy a large variety of career options. Please see the Department for further information.