Core modules
In your first you will take language classes designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of written and spoken German

To complement your language skills you will follow a programme focussing on contemporary German society and the origins of modern German culture in the late eighteenth century This provides an excellent and comprehensive foundation for studying further aspects of German literary visual and political culture in the later stages of your degree

In History you will take a core History module called Making of the Modern World this contextualises later modern history by providing a framework in which major historical processes of the later modern era are studied on a worldwide scale You will also be able to choose between optional modules in early modern or modern history

In intermediate and final in addition to core and optional modules in History you will go on to develop your language skills in more advanced language modules and your own particular interests beyond the language

Our modules reflect the research specialism of academics in the German department and cover a broad range of subjects in German culture society literature politics business philosophy film and history You can also opt to study some of our interdisciplinary cross-School modules

You can choose to spend your abroad studying at a university in a German-speaking country or on a British Council Assistantship or a work placement

Currently during the abroad students usually attend a residential orientation course in Germany at Easter time Led by departmental staff who travel out to lead the event the course offers skills development pastoral care careers advice and guidance on final study

Important information

We are planning to make some exciting changes to our German and History (BA) degree for 2024 entry We continually review our curricula to reflect developments in the relevant disciplines to deliver the best educational experience The core and optional modules will undergo approval through the University's rigorous academic processes As modules are approved we will update the course information on this webpage It is therefore very important that you check this webpage for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer Sign up to receive updates

Year One
Modern German Language 1
You will develop your translation grammatical and speaking skills in German and in doing so broaden your vocabulary and range of idiom expression and awareness of various stylistic registers You will work in a pair or group on a media project under the supervision of a tutor which will contribute to your end-of-year mark in spoken German

Read more about the Modern German Language 1 moduleLink opens in a new window including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022 23 of study)

or

Modern German Language for Beginners
As a beginner in the acquisition of the German language you will cover the main linguistic skills in speaking listening writing and reading You will focus on gaining grammatical accuracy as well and communicative fluency and competence By the end of the you will be expected to be able to sustain everyday conversations in German read authentic texts such as newspaper articles follow the gist of TV extracts and be able to write an intermediate range of texts in German You will also work on basic translations to and from German as a means of consolidating your knowledge

Read more about the Modern German Language for Beginners moduleLink opens in a new window including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022 23 of study)

Making of the Modern World
We live in the here and now But what got us here? This module studies the string of major social political and cultural developments that established our modern world Radical (and not so radical) ideas from the Enlightenment the industrial revolution’s structural transformations of how we work build and buy things and the struggles and stumbles of imperialism capitalism and globalisation have gone far to set terms of life in the twenty-first century The module will also help you develop your critical voice as a historian while asking comparative questions about historical difference across the world

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Power and Passion The Making of Modern German Culture
Starting with the study of the society of late 18th century Germany you will consider the cultural and intellectual changes of this period and in particular the rise of the middle classes in the Age of Enlightenment You will engage with the work of the globally significant writers of this period including Goethe and Schiller and study the light they cast on the emerging middle-class consciousness just prior to the cataclysmic changes of the French Revolution of 1789

Read more about the Power and Passion The Making of Modern German Culture moduleLink opens in a new window including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022 23 of study)

Intermediate Year
Modern German Language 2
In this second-year module you will increase your general and specialised vocabulary in German through translation into English and German essay-writing in German spoken and listening comprehension and work on business-related materials In pursuit of these aims you will learn to identify and rectify grammatical problems and gain increased sensitivity towards language in general and an awareness of register semantics and style in particular You will also gain important research skills including correct use of dictionaries

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or

Modern German Language 2 (Post-beginners)
You will increase the range of your general and specialised vocabulary in German improve your speaking listening and comprehension skills and develop your ability to translate from German including through a sound knowledge of grammar register semantic nuances and style There will be opportunities to write in German and to work on business-related materials

Read more about the Modern German Language 2 (Post-beginners) moduleLink opens in a new window including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022 23 of study)

Reason Romantics and Reactions Germany in the Age of Revolution
You will get to grips with the emerging sense of German nationhood against the background of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars You will study concepts such as the state the nation and the classical ideal as an aesthetic and political model through the work of authors such as Goethe Schiller and Hölderlin before exploring German Romanticism up to its critical reappraisal in the 19th century You will develop your appreciation of the role of the artists in the German Weltanschauung and the rise of nationalism to broaden your understanding of how literature reflects different models of progress and anticipates social and political change

Read more about Reason Romantics and Reactions Germany in the Age of RevolutionLink opens in a new window including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022 23 of study)

A selection of optional modules in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (30 credits) and in History (60 credits)

Final Year
Modern German Language 3
In this third-year module you will use vocabulary of increasing sophistication in both general and specialised fields and improve your skills in spoken and written German and translation You will improve your listening and reading comprehension skills and learn to identify and rectify grammatical problems An important aim of the course is to cultivate sensitivity towards language in general and an awareness of register semantics and style in particular

Read more about the Modern German Language 3 moduleLink opens in a new window including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022 23 of study)

A selection of optional modules in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (30 credits) and in History (60 credits)