Through interdisciplinary approaches, comparative analyses and pluralistic methodologies, the emerging field of German Studies will ensure that the study of German language, culture and politics remains intellectually relevant to the lives of American students. Several years ago the faculty of Vassar's German Department recognized the merits of this intellectual shift by instituting a new German Studies major and changing its name to the Department of German Studies.

The German Studies department's offerings build the core of the German Studies curriculum at Vassar. In the courses for our major, we explore traditional and innovative issues ranging from bourgeois literary culture of the 19th century and Weimar culture to popular culture and East German women writers. We also supplement our German-language offerings every semester with cultural studies seminars in English. Ranging on topics such as film culture, travel, and the history of the Berlin Wall, these courses are designed to attract students who would otherwise never take a German course. The strengths of the German Studies curriculum also result from its partnerships with other interdisciplinary programs on campus. Members of the department have strong affiliations with International Studies, Media Studies, Women's Studies, and Film Studies. In 1998 under the auspices of the International Studies Program, the department offered a seminar on Berlin that included a two-week study trip to capital, which was made possible in part by a grant from the DAAD.

Though we have built a rich, interdisciplinary program with a strong campus profile, we believe it is insufficient to construct a German Studies program solely around upper-level German courses and seminars conducted in English. Thus, our primary goal over the past several years has been to restructure our language offerings as interdisciplinary, German Studies courses. The use of the new technology such as the MOO (an on-line virtual learning environment with powerful educational tools) is central to this expansive mission, since MOOs make it possible for language learners to pursue cultural studies research projects at an early stage in the language learning process.

MOOssiggang pages are maintained by Jeffrey Schneider and Silke von der Emde -- (C) Copyright 2000

Comments to JeSchneider@vassar.edu or vonderemde@vassar.edu

[Revised 12 February 2002]