Courses in German studies are designed both for students wishing to specialise in German studies (language, linguistics, literature and their relation to culture and society), and for those requiring a broad education in the humanities and social sciences. The first-year subjects offer a general introduction; in later years a number of options are arranged around core courses. Practical language study is an integral part of all courses.
Teaching and learning in German studies take place in three areas: language learning; the culture and intellectual life of the German-speaking countries; and linguistics from a German language perspective.
The Department of German Studies attracts students from different faculties and a variety of language backgrounds, each with different vocational interests. For this reason, the courses offered must be general in nature, while at the same time providing the opportunity to specialise in one or all of the three areas on which this department focuses.
The major objective is to provide the environment for students to develop, or develop further, their communicative competence in German, which includes grammatical, discourse, sociolinguistic and strategic competence. Equal emphasis is placed on the four primary language learning skills of speaking and listening, reading and writing, and students are set progressive targets for linguistic competence. Students beginning German at Monash have the opportunity to access the more advanced courses of the post-VCE stream at third-year level. The competence aimed at for students majoring in German is a good level of achievement in the internationally recognised Mittelstufenprüfung. This requires an ability to speak German with sufficient fluency and accuracy to participate in conversation of both social and abstract types, to understand the main elements of all standard speech, to express oneself effectively in writing and to read with adequate understanding a range of German text types.
The university study of a language subject must include the study of the culture - in its broadest sense - of the countries and societies that use the language. Students are expected to develop a coherent overview of German culture and German intellectual life. This knowledge is to be added to and deepened with progression through year levels. Specific knowledge of key texts, writers and thinkers as well as central or recurring themes and problems in German cultural life is to accompany this progression.
An understanding of the specificity of the German-speaking culture(s) and their contribution to European civilisation is part of this overall objective. A narrow focus on purely literary culture is avoided in the attempt to develop a broader understanding of what `culture' includes. Students must therefore progressively learn to deal with a range of literary text types presented from a sociohistorical perspective, and to identify the specificities of German culture.
Linguistics is the systematic study of the nature and use of language in general. The study of linguistics from a German perspective establishes the link between the learning of the German language through learning about the German language, its structure, nature and applications. By examining the structure of German, and the ways in which it differs from English, students are expected to develop insight into processes of acquisition, differences between situational usage (register), and the relationship between language and society. The fundamental learning aim can thus be viewed in terms of achieving an understanding of the relationship between language and culture both from a contemporary and a historical perspective.
Students majoring in German should have the capacity and the desire to continue to develop and use the knowledge and skills gained during their studies.
Three different first-year sequences are offered. A first-year sequence, except with the permission of the head, will normally consist of GRN1115 followed by GRN1125 or GRN1215 followed by GRN1225 or one of GRN1315/GRN1415/GRN1515/GRN1615 followed by the corresponding GRN1325/GRN1425/GRN1525/GRN1625.
A minor sequence comprises:
(i) one of GRN1315/GRN1415/GRN1515/GRN1615 (Advanced language and literature) followed by GRN1325/GRN1425/GRN1525/GRN1625 respectively followed by the appropriate language core subjects GRN2415/GRN2515/GRN2615 and GRN2425/GRN2525/GRN2625 and the culture core subjects GRN2015 and GRN2025; or
(ii) GRN1115 and GRN1125 (Introductory German) followed by the language core subjects GRN2215 and GRN2225 and the reading subjects GRN2055 and GRN2065; or
(iii) GRN1215 and GRN1225 (Intermediate German) followed by GRN2315 and GRN2325 and GRN2075 and GRN2085.
A student wishing to complete a major sequence in German will take one of the following three sequences.
(i) One of GRN1315/GRN1415/GRN1515/GRN1615 (Advanced language and literature) followed by GRN1325/GRN1425/GRN1525/GRN1625 respectively in first year, followed by the appropriate language core subjects GRN2415/GRN2515/GRN2615 and GRN2425/GRN2525/GRN2625 and the culture core subjects GRN2015 and GRN2025 in second year. The third part of the major comprises the language core subjects GRN3515 or GRN3615 and GRN3525 or GRN3625 plus sixteen additional points at third-year level.
(ii) GRN1115 and GRN1125 (Introductory German) followed by the language core subjects GRN2215 and GRN2225 and the reading subjects GRN2055 and GRN2065 in second year. The third part of the major comprises the language core subjects GRN3315 and GRN3325 together with the third-year culture core subjects GRN3075 and GRN3085.
(iii) GRN1215 and GRN1225 (Intermediate German) followed by the language core subjects GRN2315 and GRN2325 plus GRN2075 and GRN2085 in second year. The third part of the major comprises the language core subjects GRN3415 and GRN3425 plus sixteen additional points at third-year level.
Extra subjects (options) are available at both second and third-year levels. At second-year level the appropriate language core is the pre- or corequisite for the culture core offered in the same semester, and the culture core is the pre- or corequisite for any options taken. At third-year level in the Introductory stream, optional subjects are in addition to the compulsory language and culture cores. At third-year level in the Intermediate and Advanced streams, the appropriate language core is the pre- or corequisite for any options taken. Under special circumstances the appropriate option may count as part of a minor sequence.
The attention of students is also directed to the programs of the centres for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, European Studies, and Women's Studies, some subjects of which, with the permission of the head, may be taken as part of their German course.
At the discretion of the department, native speakers educated in a German speaking country may be permitted to participate in higher level language work.
Students who have already taken language work at a higher level will take another subject in second and third year or undertake additional language work to the satisfaction of the department.
Students wishing to participate in the overseas studies scheme at a German university should seek information from the department.
The fields in which the department desires to sponsor research are:
In second year students are offered in each semester a culture core and a language core (both of which are compulsory) and additional subjects in German culture and linguistics.
General prerequisite: Sixteen points of German at second-year level. In third year, students in the Introductory stream must do GRN3315 and GRN3325 (language core) and GRN3075 and GRN3085 for a total of twenty-four points, which completes the major sequence. Non-core subjects (options) may be taken in addition to the compulsory core subjects. Students in the intermediate and advanced streams must do the appropriate language core subjects and must choose additional non-core subjects (options) to a value of at least sixteen points.
All fourth-year level students must take subjects to a total value of forty-eight points. Literature honours students must take GRN4415 and GRN4425 or GRN4515 and GRN4525 or GRN4615 and GRN4625, GRN4335 and GRN4345, GRN4355 and at least one further subject from GRN4255, GRN4265, GRN4275, GRN4285 or GRN4375. Students may choose one relevant subject from another department or from the centres for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, European Studies, or Women's Studies.
Linguistics honours students must take GRN4415 and GRN4425 or GRN4515 and GRN4525 or GRN4615 and GRN4625, GRN4365 and at least two further subjects in German linguistics, which can include GRN4375, plus an additional eight points. They may take one relevant subject, normally at fourth-year level, from another department.
Combined honours may be taken in German and another discipline provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both departments/centres.
Departments may grant an extension of time for submission of the honours thesis or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date must be made to the Committee for Undergraduate Studies.
With the permission of the head of the department, fourth-year students may complete a part of their course at a university in a German-speaking country. In cooperation with the overseas university, the department will draw up courses for students studying away from Monash (see below under German study abroad program). Normally, students studying overseas will do so during the northern winter semester, from October to March, preceding their fourth year. Students intending to do this are required to make early arrangements with the department.
For postgraduate courses offered by the department, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1998.