Yiddish Studies

Germanic Languages

Department website: https://germanic.columbia.edu/

Office location: 414 Hamilton Hall

Office contact: 212-854-3202, germanic@columbia.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Annie Pfeifer, 409 Hamilton Hall, ap750@columbia.edu, 212-854-8986

Director of the Language Program: Jutta Schmiers-Heller, js2331@columbia.edu, 212-854-5381

Director of Academic Administration and Finance: Kerstin Hofmann, 415 Hamilton Hall, kh3168@columbia.edu, 212-854-1624
 

The Department of Germanic Languages

The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures is considered one of the very best in the country. Many of the faculty specialize in the study of German literature and culture from 1700 to the present. German majors acquire proficiency in examining literary, philosophical, and historical texts in the original, as well as critical understanding of modern German culture and society. Particular attention is given to German-speaking traditions within larger European and global contexts. Courses taught in translation build on Columbia’s Core Curriculum, thereby allowing students to enroll in upper-level seminars before completing the language requirement.

All classes are taught as part of a living culture. Students have ample opportunities to study abroad, to work with visiting scholars, and to take part in the cultural programs at Deutsches Haus. In addition, the department encourages internships with German firms, museums, and government offices. This hands-on experience immerses students in both language and culture, preparing them for graduate study and professional careers.

Upon graduation, German majors compete successfully for Fulbright or DAAD scholarships for research in Germany or Austria beyond the B.A. degree. Our graduating seniors are highly qualified to pursue graduate studies in the humanities and social sciences, as well as professional careers. Former majors and concentrators have gone on to careers in teaching, law, journalism, banking and consulting, international affairs, and communications.

German literature and culture courses are taught as seminars integrating philosophical and social questions. Topics include romanticism, revolution, and national identity; German intellectual history; minority literatures; Weimar cinema; German-Jewish culture and modernity; the Holocaust and memory; and the history and culture of Berlin. Classes are small, with enrollment ranging from 5 to 15 students.

The department regularly offers courses in German literature and culture in English for students who do not study the German language. The department also participates in Columbia’s excellent program in comparative literature and society.

The Yiddish Studies Program

The Yiddish Studies Program at Columbia University, the global leader in Yiddish scholarship and teaching, focuses on the experiences and cultural efflorescence of Ashkenazic Jewry over a thousand years and five continents. It is a perfect exemplar of Columbia’s interests in global and transnational study, weaving together language, literature, and culture in a way that echoes the best of Columbia’s justly famed humanities programs.

The program in Yiddish studies offers both the undergraduate Major and Concentration, in addition to graduate studies leading to the Ph.D. In both the undergraduate and graduate program, emphasis is placed not merely on acquiring linguistic proficiency and textual study, but also viewing Yiddish literature in a larger cultural and interdisciplinary context. The graduate program, the only degree-granting Yiddish Studies Program in the United States, is considered one of the world’s most important, with its graduates holding many of the major university positions in the field.

Students of Yiddish have ample opportunities to enhance their studies through a number of fellowships. The Naomi Fellowship, a fully-subsidized Yiddish Study Abroad program allows students to explore Yiddish culture and history in Israel and Poland. The Irene Kronhill Pletka YIVO Fellowship enables students to expand on their archival research skills in New York. Upon graduation, our majors compete successfully for Fulbright and other prestigious scholarships, and are highly qualified to pursue careers in humanities, social sciences, as well as artistic and professional careers.

Students work with faculty in Germanic languages, Jewish studies, history, and Slavic studies to broaden their understanding of the literature, language, and culture of Eastern European Jewry. The Yiddish Studies Program is also closely affiliated with the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, which offers diverse programming and other fellowship opportunities. Classes are small, and instruction is individualized and carefully directed to ensure that students gain both a thorough general grounding and are able to pursue their own particular interests in a wide-spanning field. The program also offers classes taught in translation for students who do not study Yiddish. The Yiddish programming, such as lectures, monthly conversation hours, Meet a Yiddish Celebrity series, as well as the activities of the Yiddish Club of Columbia’s Barnard/Hillel allows students to explore Yiddish culture outside the classroom.

The German Language Placement Exam

The German Language Placement Exam  is offered every semester to students who already speak the language in order to determine their language level (Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced) and the right level language course. Visit our website for details. 

The German Language Program

First- and second-year German language courses emphasize spoken and written communication, and provide a basic introduction to German culture. Goals include mastery of the structure of the language and enough cultural understanding to interact comfortably with native speakers.

After successfully completing the elementary German sequence, GERM UN1101 ELEMENTARY GERMAN I-GERM UN1102 , students are able to provide information about themselves, their interests, and daily activities. They can participate in simple conversations, read edited texts, and understand the main ideas of authentic texts. By the end of GERM UN1102 , students are able to write descriptions, comparisons, and creative stories, and to discuss general information about the German-speaking countries.

The intermediate German sequence, GERM UN2101 INTERMEDIATE GERMAN I-GERM UN2102 INTERMEDIATE GERMAN II, increases the emphasis on reading and written communication skills, expands grammatical mastery, and focuses on German culture and literary texts. Students read short stories, a German drama, and increasingly complex texts. Regular exposure to video, recordings, the World Wide Web, and art exhibits heightens the cultural dimensions of the third and fourth semesters. Students create portfolios comprised of written and spoken work.

Upon completion of the second-year sequence, students are prepared to enter advanced courses in German language, culture, and literature at Columbia and/or at the Berlin Consortium for German Studies in Berlin. Advanced-level courses focus on more sophisticated use of the language structure and composition (GERM UN3001 ADVANCED GERMAN I-GERM UN3002 ADVANCED GERMAN II ); on specific cultural areas; and on literary, historical, and philosophical areas in literature-oriented courses (GERM UN3333 INTRO TO GERMAN LIT (GERMAN)).

In Fulfillment of the Language Requirement in German

Students beginning the study of German at Columbia must take four terms of the following two-year sequence:

Course List

Code	Title	Points
GERM UN1101	ELEMENTARY GERMAN I
GERM UN1102	ELEMENTARY GERMAN II
GERM UN2101	INTERMEDIATE GERMAN I
GERM UN2102	INTERMEDIATE GERMAN II

Entering students are placed, or exempted, on the basis of their College Board Achievement or Advanced Placement scores, or their scores on the placement test administered by the departmental language director. Students who need to take GERM UN1101 ELEMENTARY GERMAN I-GERM UN1102 ELEMENTARY GERMAN II may take GERM UN1125 Accelerated Elementary German I & II as preparation for GERM UN2101 INTERMEDIATE GERMAN I.

Student Advising 

Consulting Advisers 

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Annie Pfeifer, 409 Hamilton Hall, ap750@columbia.edu, 212-854-8986

Director of the German Language Program: Jutta Schmiers-Heller, js2331@columbia.edu, 212-854-5381

Director of the Yiddish Language Program: Agnieszka Legutko, abl209@columbia.edu, 212-854-3202

Students can contact the DUS with advising questions. The Department of Germanic Languages is represented at the Academic Resources Fair prior to the beginning of the fall semester and hosts fall and spring open houses for interested students. 

Enrolling in Classes 

The German Language Placement Exam is offered throughout the year to students who already speak the language in order to determine their language level (Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced) and the right level language course. Visit our website for details. 

Preparing for Graduate Study 

Upon graduation, German majors compete successfully for Fulbright or DAAD scholarships for research in Germany or Austria beyond the B.A. degree. Graduating seniors are highly qualified to pursue graduate studies in the humanities and social sciences, as well as professional careers. Former majors and minors have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in law, journalism, banking and consulting, international affairs, education, and communications.

In addition to applying for Fulbright or DAAD scholarships, students considering graduate work may also wish to write a senior thesis or develop an independent research project with a faculty mentor. 

Students interested in pursuing a PhD or MA in the field of Germanic Languages should therefore speak with the Director of Undergraduate Studies and other faculty members no later than the beginning of the fall semester before applying (i.e., typically the fall of the senior year).

Coursework Taken Outside of Columbia 

Coursework in fulfillment of a major or minor [or special program or concentration] must be taken at Columbia University unless explicitly noted here and/or expressly permitted by the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the program. Exceptions or substitutions permitted by the Director of Undergraduate Studies should be confirmed in writing by email to the student.

Advanced Placement

The department grants 3 credits for a score of 5 on the AP German Language exam, which satisfies the foreign language requirement. Credit is awarded upon successful completion of a 3000-level (or higher) course with a grade of B or higher. This course must be for at least 3 points of credit and be taught in German. Courses taught in English may not be used for language AP credit. The department grants 0 credits for a score of 4 on the AP German Language exam, but the foreign language requirement is satisfied.

Barnard College Courses

The German programs at Columbia and Barnard work together closely. Students may take courses at Barnard to count towards the Major or Minor with the approval of the DUS. Students at Barnard should speak to their advisor at Barnard regarding Columbia courses as the departments are distinct and the requirements for their respective majors are different.

Transfer Courses

When students transfer to Columbia from other institutions, their coursework at their previous institution must first be considered by their school in order to be evaluated for degree credit (e.g., to confirm that the courses will count toward the 124 points of credit that every student is required to complete for the B.A. degree). Only after that degree credit is confirmed, departments may consider whether those courses can also be used to fulfill specific degree requirements toward a major or minor [or special program or concentration].

Study Abroad Courses

Classes taken abroad through Columbia-led programs (i.e., those administered by Columbia’s Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement and taught by Columbia instructors) are treated as Columbia courses, equivalent to those taken on the Morningside Heights campus. If they are not explicitly listed by the department as fulfilling requirements in the major or minor [or special program or concentration], the DUS will need to confirm that they can be used toward requirements in the major/minor.

Classes taken abroad through other institutions and programs are treated as transfer credit to Columbia, and are subject to the same policies as other transfer courses. There will be a limit on the number of courses taken abroad that can be applied to the major/minor, and they must be approved by the DUS.”

FUBiS Summer Language Program in Berlin

The department offers a language-intensive German program over the summer at the Freie Universität Berlin (FUBiS). Financial support is provided primarily by the Germanistic Society of America and the Max Kade Foundation, with some help from Barnard College, Columbia College, General Studies, Columbia Engineering, and the Department of Germanic Languages.

The FUBiS scholarship is for students who have completed at least two semesters or equivalent of German language instruction in our German language program by May of the year they are applying. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and German language aptitude. Each scholarship includes a travel grant, tuition for a six-week/ one month-long German language course, and lodging at the summer program of the FU University. For additional information on FUBIS, please contact our department and visit https://www.fubis.org. 

Berlin Consortium for German Studies

The Berlin Consortium for German Studies (BCGS) provides students with a study abroad program, administered by Columbia University, which includes students from other consortium member schools (Princeton, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Chicago). You can study a semester or a full academic year. We have the original immersion program (4 semesters + of German required) and a program for students with less German. Please visit the Global Engagement page and click on the tab “Calendars and Pathways” to see all the options available to you: https://global.undergrad.columbia.edu/program/bcgs

For additional information on the Berlin Consortium, see the Study Abroad—Sponsored Programs section in this Bulletin, visit the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement, or consult the program's office at uge@columbia.edu.

Summer Courses

Summer courses at Columbia are offered through the School of Professional Studies.

Courses taken in a Summer Term may be used toward requirements for the major/minor only as articulated in department/institute/center guidelines or by permission of the Director(s) of Undergraduate Studies. More general policies about Summer coursework can be found in the Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin.

Core Curriculum Connections

Faculty and graduate instructors from the Department of Germanic Languages regularly teach in the Core, usually Literature Humanities and Contemporary Civilization. 

The Department of Germanic Languages also offers several courses that build on the coursework in Contemporary Civilization including “Marx, Nietzsche, Freud” (GERM4670GU) and “Aesthetic Theory - Frankfurt School” (CLGR 4210GU) and “Aesthetics and Philosophy of History” (CLGR4250GU).

Undergraduate Research and Senior Thesis 

Undergraduate Research in Courses 

Beyond the wide-ranging language instruction, the department offers courses that teach students critical theory and interdisciplinary thinking that are applicable to many areas of knowledge. Courses like “Literary Theory: Nietzsche-Agamben” (CLGR4130GU) introduce students to theoretical and interdisciplinary methods. “Advanced Topics” (UN3991) introduces students to contemporary topics and scholarly debates and is based on current research interests of faculty members. Students are also given an opportunity to develop an independent research project.

Students should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students can register for Directed Readings with a faculty member.

Senior Thesis Coursework and Requirements

A senior thesis is not required for the major. Students interested in a senior thesis or research project may do so through independent study with a faculty member over one or two semesters. Students should approach a faculty member at the end of their junior or beginning of their senior year.

Undergraduate Research Outside of Courses 

Students can learn more about pursuing undergraduate research beyond the classroom by talking to the DUS or consulting the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Some faculty members offer undergraduates research opportunities during the academic year or over the summer. Students may also wish to pursue research projects abroad with consultation from faculty members or mentors.

Department Honors and Prizes

Department Honors

Normally no more than 10% of graduating majors receive departmental honors in a given academic year. For the requirements for departmental honors, see the DUS.

Academic Prizes

All prize recipients are announced at the end of the spring semester of each academic year.

The German Academic Achievement Award is awarded to the top students in German language classes. The award is made by the department together with the support of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany. The prize consists of a certificate provided by the Consulate and a small gift provided by the department.

The Deutscher Verein Prize is a cash prize given annually to a single Columbia College junior or senior who submits the best essay on a prescribed topic in German Literature or culture. Essays can be in English or in German. 

The Deutsches Haus Prize for Distinguished Undergraduate Achievement is given to a graduating German major or minor who has demonstrated excellence and promise in the field of German Studies. 

Other Important Information

Deutsches Haus

Deutsches Haus, 420 West 116th Street, provides a center for German cultural activities on the Columbia campus. It sponsors lectures, film series, and informal gatherings that enrich the academic programs of the department. Frequent events throughout the fall and spring terms offer students opportunities to engage with current issues in the field and practice their language skills. Twice a month during the semester, the department offers “Kaffeestunde,” an open German conversation hour for speakers at all proficiency levels. The department also holds monthly Dutch and Yiddish Conversation hours as well as a recently-developed “Games Afternoon” [Spiele-Nachmittag]. 

Grading

Courses in which a grade of D has been received do not count toward the major or concentration requirements.

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Professors

• Mark Anderson (on leave Fall 2024)
• Stefan Andriopoulos 
• Claudia Breger (Chair)
• Jeremy Dauber 
• Andreas Huyssen (emeritus)
• Harro Müller (emeritus)
• Dorothea von Mücke 
• Annie Pfeifer 
• Oliver Simons 

Senior Lecturers

• Wijnie de Groot (Dutch)
• Agnieszka Legutko (Yiddish)
• Jutta Schmiers-Heller (German)

Lecturers

• Xuxu Song (German)
• Simona Vaidean (German)

Guidance for Undergraduate Students in the Department

Program Planning for all Students

Students who entered Columbia (as first-year students or as transfer students) in or after Fall 2024 may select from a curriculum of majors and minors. The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, and role of majors and minors in those requirements, can be found in the Academic Requirements section of the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student matriculated at Columbia and the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student was a sophomore and declared programs of study.

Students who entered Columbia in or before the 2023-2024 academic year may select from a curriculum of majors and minors and concentrations. The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, and the role of majors and minors in those requirements, can be found in the Academic Requirements section of the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student matriculated at Columbia and the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student was a sophomore and declared programs of study.

Course Numbering Structure 

The 1000 and 2000-level courses are typically language classes including Elementary, Intermediate, and Conversation. At the 3000/4000-level, courses are either advanced language classes and literature/culture classes. While many 3000/4000 courses are taught in English, others are taught in the target language and have language prerequisites or requirements.

Guidance for First-Year Students

Students who have had prior German instruction are required to take the placement test, which is offered every semester. Students may enroll in 3000 and 4000 level literature and culture courses taught in English before or without completing the language requirements.

Guidance for Transfer Students 

When students transfer to Columbia from other institutions, their coursework at their previous institution must first be considered by their school in order to be evaluated for degree credit. Only after that degree credit is confirmed, departments may consider whether those courses can also be used to fulfill specific degree requirements toward a major or minor [or special program or concentration].

Undergraduate Programs of Study

Major in German Literature and Cultural History

The goal of the major is to provide students with reasonable proficiency in reading a variety of literary, philosophical, and historical texts in the original and, through this training, to facilitate a critical understanding of modern German-speaking cultures and societies. Students should plan their program of study with the director of undergraduate studies as early as possible. Competence in a second foreign language is strongly recommended, especially for those students planning to attend graduate school.

The major in German literature and cultural history requires a minimum of 30 points, distributed as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Points
GERM UN2102	INTERMEDIATE GERMAN II
GERM UN3001	ADVANCED GERMAN I (can be waived and replaced by another 3000 level class upon consultation with the DUS)
or GERM UN3002	ADVANCED GERMAN II
GERM UN3333	INTRO TO GERMAN LIT (GERMAN)
Select two of the following survey courses in German literature and culture (at least one of these must focus on pre–20th-century cultural history):
GERM UN3442	Literature in the 18th and 19th Centuries
GERM UN3443	SURVEY OF GERMAN LIT:19C (GER)
GERM UN3444	SURVEY OF GERMAN LIT:20C (GER)
GERM UN3445	German Literature After 1945 [In German]
One course in German intellectual history
GERM UN3991	Advanced Topics in German Literature
The remaining courses to be chosen from the 3000- or 4000-level offerings in German and Comparative Literature–German in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Intermediate German II (GERM UN 2102) can be counted toward the required 30 points, but the total of points from language courses should not be higher than six points.

Senior Thesis

A senior thesis is not required for the major. Students interested in a senior thesis or research project may do so through independent study with a faculty member over one or two semesters.

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Major in Yiddish Studies

The program is designed as a combination of language and content courses. First- and second-year Yiddish language courses emphasize spoken and written communication, and provide a basic introduction to Eastern European Jewish culture. Goals include mastery of the structure of the language and enough cultural understanding to interact comfortably with native speakers.

After second-year Yiddish language courses are completed, students should feel sufficiently comfortable to begin to work with Yiddish literature in the original. Upper-level undergraduate/graduate courses are designed to accommodate students with a range of Yiddish language experience, and intensive language summer study abroad, such as the Naomi Prawer Kadar International Yiddish Summer Program (the Yiddish Studies program at Columbia offers the fully-subsidized Naomi Fellowship for students of Yiddish), or other academic summer programs, is also encouraged for improvement in language acquisition and comprehension.

The goal is to provide students with reasonable proficiency in reading a variety of literary, philosophical, and historical texts in the original and, through this training, to provide them with a critical understanding of Yiddish-speaking culture and society.

The second pillar of the Yiddish program is an intimate exposure to the literature and culture of the Yiddish-speaking Jewry. That exposure is achieved through several courses in Yiddish literature, which, although they may cover a variety of subjects or proceed from a number of methodological and disciplinary orientations, share a rigorous commitment to analyzing and experiencing that literature within an overarching historical and cultural framework.

These courses in Yiddish literature, culture and Jewish history will provide students with a solid interdisciplinary foundation in Yiddish studies. Inevitably and necessary, these courses, whether taught in Yiddish, English, or in a combination of the Yiddish text and English language instruction – cover the sweep of Yiddish literary history from the early modern period to today.

Students should plan their program of study with the director of undergraduate studies as early as possible. There is a prerequisite of two years of Yiddish, or equivalent to be demonstrated through testing.

The Major in Yiddish Studies requires a minimum of 30 points, distributed as follows:

1. Two courses of advanced language study (6 points); YIDD UN3101, YIDD UN3102
2. Three courses in Yiddish literature (9 points); e.g. YIDD UN3500, YIDD GU4420
3. At least one course related to a senior thesis (3 points);
4. Four related courses, at least one of which is in medieval or modern Jewish history (12 points); e.g. HIST UN4604, YIDD GU4113.

A senior thesis is required for the Major in Yiddish Studies. Students interested in a senior thesis or research project may do so through independent study with a faculty member over one or two semesters. Students must conduct original research, some of which must take place in the Yiddish language, and are required to submit a culminating paper, of no less that 35 pages.

Elective courses:

Elective courses can be taken at Columbia as well as at affiliated institutions such as the Jewish Theological Seminary, Barnard College, New York University, etc. Columbia’s arrangements with the joint degree appointing program at JTS, i.e. JTS and GS Joint program with List College, offers students exposure to a wide variety of courses on Yiddish and Yiddish-related topics taught by experts in the field of Yiddish and comparative Jewish literature.

Thanks to the consortial arrangements with other universities in the New York area (Barnard, NYU, Yale, Penn, etc.) students both in Columbia College and General Studies, can take courses at these institutions for degree credit, which allows for student exposure to experts in twentieth-century Soviet Yiddish literature, Yiddish women’s writing, Yiddish literature in Israel, and much more (Profs. Gennady Estraikh, Kathryn Hellerstein , and Hannan Hever). These arrangements allow students to have, if they so choose, an even broader intellectual experience than the already broad interdisciplinary opportunities available to them via the courses offered by the faculty on the Interdisciplinary Committee on Yiddish at Columbia.

Language courses need to be taken at Columbia.

Honors options:

Departmental Honors in Yiddish Studies can be granted to a total of 10% of the students graduating with the Major in Yiddish Studies in a given year across both Columbia College and General Studies.

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Minor in German

The total number of courses required for the minor is 5 courses (= minimum of 15 points).

Pre-requisites:

The minor requires at least 4 semesters of German language (= through Intermediate II), or equivalent proficiency determined by placement test. However, students can count the second semester of intermediate German (GERM UN2102) towards their five courses and begin other coursework (in translation) before completing the four semesters of language.

Language/Literature and Culture distribution:

A maximum of 6 points can be fulfilled with upper-level language courses (Intermediate II and/or Advanced). The remaining credits (= at least three courses) need to be 3000/4000-level literature/culture courses.

Required Course:

GERM UN3333 (Introduction to German Literature)

Course Description: Prerequisites: GERM UN2102 or the equivalent. Examines short literary texts and various methodological approaches to interpreting such texts in order to establish a basic familiarity with the study of German literature and culture.

Recommended Electives:

1. One of the period survey courses in German literature and culture

a. GERM UN3442 Survey of German Literature: 18th-Century

b. GERM UN3443 Survey of German Literature: 19th-Century

c. GERM UN3444: Survey of German Literature: 20th-Century

2. GERM UN3991: Advanced Topics in German Literature

Other electives:

The remaining courses can be chosen, in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, from the department’s other 3000- or 4000-level offerings in German and Comparative Literature-German (taught in German or English). 

Sequencing:

Four semesters of language (or equivalent) need to be completed before students can enroll in German-language literature and culture classes. The “Introduction to German Literature” will ideally be taken in the beginning of their work on the minor, while the "Advanced Topics” provides more of a capstone experience. We do, however, offer flexibility with sequencing to accommodate tight scheduling and encourage students with advanced competency to enroll in “Advanced Topics” as early as their junior year.

Minor in German Thought and Critical Theory

The minor enables students to gain a deeper knowledge of a critical intellectual and philosophical tradition, which was first established by Kant and then adapted by Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Arendt, and the Frankfurt School. In addition to historicizing the contexts that allowed for the emergence of this mode of critical thinking, the minor also trains students to extend this critical awareness to new but equally contingent circumstances that we encounter in our global presents and futures. The minor draws on and strengthens crucial core competencies of a Columbia undergraduate education, especially critical thinking, written communication, global awareness, oral communication, and research. Students expand their knowledge of critical arguments by Kant, Marx, Nietzsche, and Arendt whose texts they also read as part of Contemporary Civilization. Offered in cooperation with the Philosophy Departments at Barnard and Columbia, this interdisciplinary minor allows students to explore various dimensions of critical theory including literary theory, continental philosophy, aesthetics, and political theory. 

The total number of courses required for the minor is 5 courses (minimum of 15 points). Prerequisites: None. The second semester of Contemporary Civilization is recommended but not required. There is no German language requirement as part of the minor. Classes will be taught in English. 

Requirements: Students have to take two of the following three courses: 

1. CLGR4210GU: Aesthetic Theory - Frankfurt School 

Critical theory was the central practice of the Frankfurt School. Founded in Frankfurt in 1923 and later based at Columbia University, this interdisciplinary institute influenced fields like sociology, political science, film, cultural studies, media theory, and comparative literature. The course begins by examining the genealogy of the Frankfurt School in Marxism and its critique of fascism and traces its afterlife in aesthetic theory, deconstruction, and gender studies, as well as the specter of “Cultural Marxism” recently floating around right-wing circles. We read texts by key figures of the Frankfurt School such as Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Herbert Marcuse and Jürgen Habermas as well as works by adjacent figures like Walter Benjamin, Hannah Arendt, and Siegfried Kracauer. 

2. GERM4670GU: Marx, Nietzsche, Freud  

Along with Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche and Freud have radically altered what and how we know; about humans, language, history, religion, things and life. Because their thought has shaped our sense of ourselves so fundamentally, Michel Foucault has referred to these three authors as discourse-founders. As such they will be treated in this class. Special attention will be paid to the affinities and competition among their approaches. Secondary sources will be subject to short presentations (in English) of those students capable of reading German. 

3. CLGR4250GU: Aesthetics and Philosophy of History (in English) 

This course offers an introduction to German intellectual history by focusing on the key texts from the 18th and 19th century concerned with the philosophy of art and the philosophy of history. Instead of providing a general survey, this thematic focus that isolates the relatively new philosophical subspecialties allows for a careful tracing of a number of key problematics. The texts chosen for discussion in many cases are engaged in lively exchanges and controversies. Readings are apportioned such that students can be expected to fully familiarize themselves with the arguments of these texts and inhabit them. 

Electives: In addition, students take elective courses to be chosen from the following list of classes. They can also petition for other elective courses to count toward the minor, dependent on approval by the DUS of German. 

Approved electives: 

PHIL UN 2301 History of Philosophy: Kant-Nietzsche  

PHIL UN 3251 Kant 

PHIL UN 3264 19th Century Philosophy: Hegel 

PHIL UN 3351 Phenomenology & Existentialism 

CLGR GU4215 Spirit and Ghosts from Kant to Marx 

CLGR GU 4420 Walter Benjamin 

CLGR GU 4130 Literary Theory: Nietzsche-Agamben 

CLGR GU 4251 Kant with Arendt (NEW COURSE PENDING APPROVAL)

Minor in Yiddish Studies - to be updated shortly

For students who entered Columbia in or before the 2023-24 academic year 

Concentrations are available to students who entered Columbia in or before the 2023-2024 academic year. The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, and the role of the concentration in those requirements, can be found in the Academic Requirements section of the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student matriculated at Columbia and the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student was a sophomore and declared programs of study.

Concentrations are not available to students who entered Columbia in or after Fall 2024.

Concentration in German Literature and Cultural History

The concentration in German literature and cultural history requires a minimum of 21 points in German courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Points
GERM UN3333	INTRO TO GERMAN LIT (GERMAN)
At least one of the period survey courses in German literature and culture
GERM UN3442	Literature in the 18th and 19th Centuries
GERM UN3443	SURVEY OF GERMAN LIT:19C (GER)
GERM UN3444	SURVEY OF GERMAN LIT:20C (GER)
GERM UN3445	German Literature After 1945 [In German]
GERM UN3991	Advanced Topics in German Literature
The remaining courses to be chosen from the 3000- or 4000-level offerings in German and Comparative Literature in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies

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Concentration in Yiddish Studies

The concentration in Yiddish studies requires a minimum of 21 points, distributed as follows:

1. Two courses of advanced language study (6 points); YIDD UN3101, YIDD UN3102
2. Two courses in Yiddish literature (6 points); e.g. YIDD UN3500, YIDD GU4420
3. Three related courses, at least one of which is in medieval or modern Jewish history (9 points); e.g. HIST UN4604, YIDD GU4113.

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Special Concentration in German for Columbia College and School of General Studies Students in STEM fields

The special concentration in German requires a minimum of 15 points.

Course List

Code	Title	Points
GERM UN3333	INTRO TO GERMAN LIT (GERMAN)
At least one of the period survey courses in German Literature and Culture
GERM UN3442	Literature in the 18th and 19th Centuries
GERM UN3443	SURVEY OF GERMAN LIT:19C (GER)
GERM UN3444	SURVEY OF GERMAN LIT:20C (GER)
GERM UN3445	German Literature After 1945 [In German]
GERM UN3991	Advanced Topics in German Literature
Two courses to be chosen from the 3000- or 4000-level (taught in German or English) offerings in German and Comparative Literature German in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies

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Comparative Literature-German

Comparative Literature-Yiddish

Dutch

Finnish

German

Swedish

Yiddish

Of Related Interest

Course List

Code	Title	Points
German (Barnard)
GERM BC3010	CURRENT ISSUES: GER ＆ AUSTRIA
GERM BC3012	TELENOVELAS
GERM BC3028	Contemporary German Prose Fiction (English)