Department of German
UW-Madison
College of Letters & Science

Graduate Program Booklet: Studying Outside the Department - Some of the Opportunities

Students are encouraged to work in an interdisciplinary fashion while studying in the German Department and may take advantage of course offerings in other departments which can lead to an external Ph.D. minor, a joint M.A., or a special certification. The following is only a selection of possibilities. More information on these departments and programs can be found on their websites, which are listed at http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadprogs.html. See also FACULTY IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS: http://german.lss.wisc.edu/about/fac_other.htm

Linguistics: The Department of Linguistics offers a full range of courses in modern theoretical linguistics. Numerous linguistics courses are also offered by departments such as Scandinavian, English, French & Italian, Spanish & Portuguese. Students in the Department of German may elect to use these courses to constitute their external minor, as well as offerings in theoretical linguistics in individual language departments and in the Department of Linguistics. Professor Salmons is affiliated faculty in Linguistics. 

Medieval Studies:  Students will find pertinent courses in the Departments of Classics (Medieval Latin), History (Paleography), Scandinavian (Old Norse), and English (Old English), French and Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, and Art History. The Medieval Studies Program of the University of Wisconsin sponsors lectures and modular courses by visiting scholars and Madison faculty on a regular basis. A monthly newsletter provides information on campus lectures and both regional and national conferences of interest to medievalists. Professor Calomino sits on the Medieval Studies Board.

Women's Studies:  The Women's Studies Program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2000/2001, is one of the oldest and largest in the United States. It offers courses covering the entire range of traditional disciplines, providing students with the opportunity to study issues of gender and the complex reality of women's experience and position, both historically and in contemporary societies. Courses also consider the critical contributions of feminist thought to the development of individual disciplines. The curriculum reflects the interdisciplinary nature of Women's Studies and contemporary feminism. Professor Kaiser holds a joint appointment in Women's Studies and has recently chaired the Program.

Communication Arts: Students in critical media studies may specialize in film or television history, theory, and criticism. They are encouraged to balance empirical study with critical analysis, theoretical conceptualization, and practical experience, and to specialize according to their particular interests. Students of German will find excellent resources in Communication Arts, including over 100 German-language feature films on video for on-site viewing. Professor Silberman teaches regularly in Communication Arts. 

European Studies Program: The European Studies Program, established in 1968, is designed to promote integrated interdisciplinary studies on contemporary Europe for graduate students. Students in the program work for a higher degree in a specific discipline while taking interdisciplinary courses toward a certificate or minor in European Area Studies. Professor Silberman sits on the Steering Board of the European Studies Program. 

Jewish Studies Center: From a range of disciplines, Jewish Studies interprets some 3500 years of the Jewish experience, encompassing such aspects as religion, culture, society, and politics as well as relationships with numerous cultures and societies. The Center offers a Certificate in Jewish studies through an array of courses crosslisted with other departments, including Anthropology, English, French, German, Hebrew and Semitic Studies, History, Philosophy, Slavic studies, Theater & Drama, and the Law School. Professor Berghahn holds a joint appointment in Jewish Studies.

School of Music: In addition to studies in performance, composition, and music education, the School of Music offers a wide range of graduate-level courses in its Masters' and Ph.D. programs that are of special interest to students in the department of German, (ie. topics in music history and culture from the Middle Ages to the present, aesthetics, history of music theory.) Musicology and music-theory faculty members with specialties in German-related areas include David Crook, Jeanne Swack, Brian Hyer, Lawrence Earp, Susan Cook, Lee Blasius, and Pamela Potter.

Scandinavian Studies: The oldest such department in the Americas, Scandinavian studies encompasses the entire range of Nordic languages, literatures, and cultures - Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish. Students in the German Department have frequently completed the minor or even a second M.A. in Scandinavian studies.

Second Language Acquisition: An SLA minor offers both a theoretical and practical background to teaching curricula based on principles of second language learning and teaching. A combination of courses in research methodology as well as theoretical and applied linguistics combines with instruction in a specific foreign language. Graduate students have the opportunity to specialize in Second Language Acquisition either within their linguistics major in the German Department or through an external interdepartmental Ph.D. Minor. Professor Chavez is the liaison on the SLA Committee.

English as a Second Language: Wherever there is a professional approach to the teaching of English as a second or foreign language, there will be an expectation that the teachers hired will have appropriate academic preparation as well as experience. Since 1968, the Department of English, through its Programs in English Linguistics, has offered a battery of courses recommended as appropriate academic preparation for prospective ESL/EFL teachers and which constitute a Certificate in TESL.

Theatre & Drama: The Department of Theatre and Drama has a strong undergraduate and graduate (through Ph.D.) program, with courses offered in two broad areas: 1) Theatre Research - including theatre history and theory, multicultural and interdisciplinary approaches and 2) Production (theater practice), subdivided into a) acting/directing and b) design/technology. Professor Gross is affiliate faculty in Theatre and Drama.

Looking for Dutch?
Contrary to what you might think, Dutch makes its home in the Department of German. Professors Taylor, Louden and Howell offer a dynamic program in the language, literature, and culture of the Netherlands, including exchange programs and regular visitors from Holland and Belgium.

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