Description

Holzkirchen (pop. 15,000) is located in the pre-Alpine plain about 20 miles south of Munich. Commuter trains provide rapid transportation throughout the metropolitan area and access to the many cultural offerings of Munich. There are numerous opportunities for recreational activities in the mountains and lakes of the Bavarian Alps and nearby Austria. KU's program in Holzkirchen was established in 1961 and is conducted in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Holzkirchen-Otterfing and the Freunde der Universitat Kansas in Holzkirchen.

After a brief orientation in Holzkirchen, students will travel by train to Koln and Berlin with side trips to Bonn and Mayschoss. Following their return to Holzkirchen, students will live with host families, attend classes, participate in cultural events as well as make excursions to nearby points of interest: Berchtesgaden, Neuschwanstein, Chiemsee, Dachau, etc. The group will spend a weekend hiking the Bavarian Alps. A commuter ticket for the metropolitan Munich region also is provided for the month of July.

Language of instruction in all classes is German. Outside of classes students are expected to use German for all everyday purposes when engaged in group activities (meals, excursions, etc.). Classes meet mornings Tuesday through Friday and afternoons Tuesday through Thursday. Mondays are reserved for day-long excursions. Lunch is provided for the group at a local restaurant on instructional days.

Highlights

Courses Offered

Each student enrolls in GERM 453 Special Studies in German and two additional courses based on preparation. Students completing the fourth semester of college German should enroll in GERM 340, GERM 400 and GERM 453. More advanced students (three to four German courses beyond fourth-semester college German) should normally take GERM 618, GERM 620, and GERM 453. Other combinations are possible. Please consult with Professor Keel if you have any questions about course selection. Class selection may not be changed after July 1.

Instructors, besides Professor William Keel, are faculty of the Volkshochschule with training in Deutsch als Fremdsprache and traditional German studies.

GERM 340 Deutsche Grammatik (3 credit hours) Extensive practice in writing short compositions with review of selected grammar topics. Prerequisite: GERM 216 or fourth semester German course.

GERM 400 Introduction to German Literary Masterpiece (3 credit hours) Reading and analysis of a number of illustrative works of 19th and 20th-century German literature, selected to familiarize the student with various literary genres and techniques. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in GERM 340 or completion of another intermediate composition course.

GERM 453 Special Studies in German Language, History and Culture (3 credit hours) This course is required of all program participants. Students will keep journals during travel periods and excursions, as well as write short essays about historical and cultural sites visited. In Holzkirchen, the group will view and discuss feature films with a focus on recent German history and culture. Most meetings will be held in the afternoons. Prerequisite: GERM 216 or fourth semester German course.

GERM 618 Moderner deutscher Sprachgebrauch (3 credit hours) Systematic study of advanced topics of German grammar and idiomatic usage. Emphasis on matters of stylistics in written compositions. Prerequisite: Advanced standing.

GERM 620 Deutschland in Geschichte und Gegenwart (3 credit hours) Discussion of the historical background of contemporary Germany with emphasis on the developments of the 20th century as well as the current political structure and the social and economic consequences of the unification of Germany on 3 October 1990. Individual reports and research projects on current issues of interest. Prerequisite: Advanced standing.

Program Director
Dr. William Keel, Chair and Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Kansas. Dr. Keel studied at the University of Bonn for three semesters and has directed over 25 summer institutes for KU since 1980.

Accommodations
Students will live with host families in Holzkirchen.

Credit
Nine hours of credit in German are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• German

Cost in US$:

Program Fees Include:

Credit

Nine hours of credit in German are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program.

Experience Required

yes

Eligibility Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university who have completed four semesters of college-level German or the equivalent (four years of high school German, etc.) Minimum 2.50 GPA required. (Exceptions considered only after submission of a petition.) Application Procedures The program is limited to 25 students. Early application is encouraged. Applications received after the deadline will only be considered on a space available basis.

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available

Financial Aid KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program. Limited KU Study Abroad supplemental scholarships are available to KU degree seeking students. Applications are available online. The scholarship application deadline is March 1 for Summer programs. Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Process Involves

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Transcript

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