Director spring 2011: Professor Claire Baldwin, Department of German
Program prerequisites | Course descriptions | Living arrangements
Extra costs | Calendar | Further information | Helpful links
The Freiburg Study Group is affiliated with the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg, Germany. It is designed to
1) give students—who have previously studied German in the unavoidable artificiality of the classroom—the opportunity to develop and polish their skills through immersion in a German-speaking environment;
2) provide students with first-hand experience of German culture in all its variety; and
3) help students integrate their German language skills into their broader intellectual life by providing them with an opportunity to pursue their chosen areas of concentration together with native German students in courses at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität.
The group will travel together with the director during the first weeks of the program and settle in Freiburg in early April. During this travel period students will begin their first two courses: the composition and culture courses. The semester at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität begins in mid-April and ends on July 23, 2011. In the week immediately preceding the start of the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität’s semester, students participate in orientation activities. During the semester students will complete the director’s two courses started during the travel segment and take two more courses from the regular offerings of the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität.
Prerequisites and selection criteria
Satisfactory completion of German 351 or the permission of the director is required for participation in the Freiburg Study Group. Students will be selected based on their German language preparation and their general intellectual and personal maturity.
Courses
GERM 341 Advanced Conversation and Composition
This course addresses the needs of American students studying and living in a German environment. It focuses on the language skills needed for coping as a student at a German university. A first part is taught by the director while the group travels; a second part is taught in Freiburg by the director and tutors in accordance with the specific needs of the individual student.
GERM 457 German Culture and Literature
This course is designed to give students a sense of Germany that goes beyond the university setting. Students are presented with a survey of German culture that draws on their immediate experience abroad. In addition to a study trip to several areas of German-speaking Europe, the course includes museum visits, theater and opera performances, and concerts. As with German 341, this course has two components: the pre-semester weeks (in March), which are devoted to travel, and the semester at Freiburg, during which regular class sessions are held.
GERM 400, 403 Electives Abroad
Courses of the students' choice at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität. They may be chosen from any field, the only restrictions being the prerequisites for each specific course and in some science courses, the availability of lab space.
Living arrangements
Students are housed in the dormitories of the University of Freiburg. The director will arrange for these accommodations. We make every effort to see that Colgate students are housed with Freiburg students and not with other study group members.
Extra-curricular opportunities
Students may participate in various university and community extracurricular activities such as sports, choruses or orchestras, etc.
Extra costs
Costs above Colgate’s tuition include room and board, airfare, a travel surcharge to cover the group’s extensive travel, and necessary out-of-pocket expenses. On the average students can expect to spend $3,500 to $4,500 more than for a semester on campus. The increased costs are used in calculating the aid packages of students who receive financial aid, provided this is their first study group experience.
Students who are planning extensive personal travel will need to increase their budget accordingly.
Estimate Student Expenses Freiburg Study Group
Field trips
In the first weeks of the program students will travel with the director to several cities chosen to illustrate important aspects of the political, economic, and cultural development of German-speaking Europe. This travel is an essential part of German 457: German Culture and Literature.
Calendar
Early March through July 23, 2011 (last day of classes). Students may remain in their dormitory rooms until the end of July.
Travel arrangements
Students do not travel as a group either to or from Europe. Students make their own travel arrangements and will meet in Germany at the beginning of the group activities, at a time and place arranged by the director.
Orientation
Three orientation sessions in the fall prior to departure help to prepare students for their experience at a German university. Previous study group participants and one or more native German students in residence at Colgate will serve as resource persons for the new study group.
Further information
Applications may be obtained either from the German Department administrative assistant, Shawna Eaves, 219A Lawrence Hall or from the Off-Campus Study office, 105 McGregory. Applications should be submitted to Shawna Eaves, 219A Lawrence. The deadline for submission of applications is November 20, 2009. Early submission of applications is encouraged. Please contact Prof. Claire Baldwin if you have any further questions. (cmbaldwin@colgate.edu; phone 228-7281).
Helpful links
General information
Field trip information
Course related materials