GMST 008. Texts in Context: Topics in German Culture and Society from the Reformation until Today

This fourth-semester course is designed to advance linguistic skills through engagement with a specific topic. Studying literary, artistic, journalistic, and historical sources, students enhance their analytical, writing, and communication skills. This course is the gateway to all upper level courses in the German Studies curriculum. Topics alternate every year.

Topic for S’24: Freundschaft/Friendship

Ready to further develop your German language skills while exploring German culture through the lens of friendship?

Critical engagement with literary and philosophical texts, music, film, news, podcasts, and social media will not only enhance your analytical and communication skills, but also allow you to examine how concepts of friendship and “freundschaftliche” relationships - from German classicism and romanticism to children’s books and the “11 Freunde” on today’s soccer fields - intersect with issues of race, gender, and sexuality, and continue to shape German-speaking communities.

Along with a review and expansion of German grammar, this fourth-semester course serves as a gateway to the upper-level German Studies curriculum.

Topic for S’25: Nature and Ecology in German Culture
Prerequisite: GMST 003 or Placement Test Score between 425-525.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Eligible for GSST
Spring 2023. Schnader.
Spring 2024. Schnader.
Spring 2025. Meirosu.
Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: German Studies
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/german-studies

Access the class schedule to search for sections.