German Courses

In this page you will find course descriptions and other information regarding our German courses at the beginner (100 to 300), intermediate (400 and 500) and advanced (600 and 700) levels to help you and your advisor determine which courses are most appropriate for you.

Check how to minor or major in German, our study abroad opportunities as well as our graduate studies , and scholarships !

Check the Spring 2024 schedule for days/times.

SPRING 2024 Offerings

Check the Spring 2024 schedule for days/times, and click on the list below to see course descriptions:
- Beginner courses: GRMN 101, 102, 300, 301
- Intermediate and Advanced: GRMN 522 , GRMN 705 , GRMN 728

Beginner German Classes

GRMN 101 - German I

This interactive course is for students with no previous experience in German. Students develop basic language skills and explore cultural products and practices of the German-speaking world. No-cost, open access textbook.

Designed for students with no prior experience in German, or less than one year of prior language study. 
contact nchroni@ksu.edu if you have placement questions

GRMN 102 - German II

In 102, students become more familiar with basic structures of German and continue developing cultural knowledge about the German-speaking world.

No-cost, open access textbook
Designed for students with one semester of college German or 1-2 years of high school German. 
contact nchroni@ksu.edu if you have placement questions

GRMN 300 - German III

In 300, students expand their vocabulary and become familiar with more complex grammar. They read and analyze texts and videos and engage in discussion.

Designed for students with two semesters of college German or 2-4 years of high school German.
contact nchroni@ksu.edu if you have placement questions
Counts toward Foreign Language requirements, the German minor or major

GRMN 301 - German IV

In 301, students read, interpret, and discuss longer German texts, extending the focus on language and culture. Students research various aspects of the history and culture of German-speaking countries and learn to write about and present the results of their research.

Designed for students with three semesters of college German or 3-5 years of high school German.
contact nchroni@ksu.edu if you have placement questions
Counts toward Foreign Language requirements, the German minor or major

Intermediate and Advanced German Classes

GRMN 521 - Intro to 18th/19th C. Literature

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Take your German to the next level while investigating the topics and styles of electrifying Romantic and Realist fiction. Together, we will explore short literary texts from genres such as fairy tales, poems, and stories of madness and mystery.

Pre-Req: GRMN 301
Required for German minor or major
Counts as Western Heritage, Literary/Rhetorical Arts

GRMN 522 - Introductory Topic in Grmn Literature & Cult 20th/21th Cent

Spring 2024 Topic: Society and Literature in the 20^th Century

In this introductory German literature course, students will gain an overview of the major authors, literary trends, and discourses of the twentieth century, with particular focus on the way literature aesthetically represents social positioning. We will examine the relationship between aesthetic innovation and historical epoch, as well as discuss literature’s responsibility for addressing contemporary issues. Students will develop their skills analyzing literature and discussing it in German. Readings and discussion are in German.

Pre-Req: GRMN 301
Required for German minor or major
Counts as Western Heritage, Literary/Rhetorical Arts

GRMN 526 - Business German

Learn the vocabulary, communicative skills and cultural competencies pertaining to the world of business and other professions in German. Create a German resume, develop interview skills and learn field-specific vocabulary.

Pre-Req: GRMN 301

GRMN 705 - Topics in 20th & 21th Century German Lit & Culture

Spring 2024 Topic: Outside-In: Exophonic Writers in Contemporary German Literature

Some of the most interesting literature being produced in German currently is by writers whose first language isn’t German! Some of these writers have come to Germany because of political turmoil in their home countries, whereas others have chosen Germany because they enjoy the language and its support for the arts. In this course, we will read novels, short stories, and poems by writers like Saša Stanišić (Bosnian-German), Yoko Tawada (Japanese), Sharon Dodua Otoo (British), and others who are making their mark on German language and literature through their language play, memoryscapes, and investigation of identity. Readings and discussion are in German.

Pre-Req: GRMN 521 or 522

GRMN 728 - History of the German Language

Spring 2024 Topic: A Cultural History of German

Where does German come from, how it did it break off from other languages such as Dutch and English to form its own language, and just why is it called Deutsch, anyhow? We will explore the exchange that took place between the language spoken by Romans and Germans and sift through relics of early German magical spells. The German of the Middle Ages, Mittelhochdeutsch, became a major language of courtly love and epics of knights, Nibelungen, and the holy grail. We will trace the impact that Martin Luther’s German translation of the Bible had on early modern German culture and figure out why the administrative language from around Dresden (Sächsische Kanzleisprache) won out among dialects as the basis of the German that we speak today. We will examine the rise of literary German in the age of Goethe, the standardization of spelling, German during the Third Reich, and more recent influences of American English and immigrant communities.

Pre-req: any 500 level or above German course.