German

German Studies Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a German Studies minor involves an interdisciplinary range of courses. These courses focus on:

• Developing language skills from elementary to advanced levels
• Academic experiences incorporating language literacy
• Textual analysis
• Cross-cultural research

Many of our students double-major or complete a minor related to their major, including studies in Business, Public and International Affairs or International Studies.

The German Studies program fosters a critical understanding of German culture through the study of language, literature, art, history, film, media and contemporary culture. The program also develops strong writing and communicative skills crucial for careers in:

• Journalism
• Public relations
• Teaching
• Governmental service
• Scientific research
• Pharmaceuticals
• International commerce

The German Studies major provides an excellent preparation for graduate work, especially when combined with disciplines such as business, chemistry, history, philosophy, sociology, music or art history. The German Studies program offers majors the opportunity to apply for scholarships and awards in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and through the Office of International Programs.

Students in German Studies also benefit from across-campus courses within the University of North Carolina's German Exchange, which offers access to a wide variety of German classes throughout the NC system. While enabling study across campuses, the German Studies faculty continually build and support co-curricular opportunities such as the German Club, scholarly lectures and film events.

Students are encouraged to participate in the semester abroad program through the UNC- Baden Württemberg Exchange Program, which places students at one of 9 universities in southwest Germany, including:

• Heidelberg
• Göttingen
• Mannheim

Students of German often participate in UNCW's dual-degree the Cameron School of Business TABSA program, in which students can earn both a German and an American B.A. in business. Students regularly enroll in UNCW's intensive summer study abroad in Bonn and Bremen.

For more information, contact our German Studies Coordinator, Dr. Olga Trokhimenko.

German Major Receives Prestigious Fulbright Award to Teach in Germany

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Nicholas Sweet '17 will be putting his degrees in German and international studies to work when he travels to Germany in mid-August thanks to a Fulbright Scholarship.

He will be working in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz as an English teacher's assistant, helping students learn more about the language and American culture.

UNCW Professor of German Raymond Burt recommended that Sweet consider applying for a Fulbright during a meeting about his departmental honors thesis. Specifically, he recommended the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award.

Sweet had studied abroad in Germany during his junior year and was anxious to get back.

“I volunteered as an English as a Second Language conversation partner for most of my academic career at UNCW and was dead-set on applying,” he said. “As a German major and with my love of teaching languages, it was the perfect opportunity.”

Sweet found the application process a bit “overwhelming.” He credits Burt and UNCW faculty members Olga Trokhimenko, Herbert Berg and Derrick Miller for their guidance.

Nicholas is a member of Sigma Iota Rho, an international studies honor society and a German tutor at the University Learning Center. A native of Vermont, Sweet’s parents relocated to Wilmington shortly before he enrolled at UNCW. He plans to visit New England and work towards getting his ESL teaching certification before he leaves for Germany.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program of the United States. Excellence in teaching and scholarship, and having a global focus, are priorities as outlined in UNCW’s Strategic Plan. UNCW was recognized as a top producer of Fulbright Scholars in 2016. Having students, faculty and staff consistently honored with Fulbrights is a measure of UNCW’s continued success.

- Caroline Cropp

German Major Receives SURCA Award for Research on Harry Potter

Madeline Martin is a German and Geography double major with a minor in Geospatial Technologies. Working with Dr. Olga Trokhimenko, Professor of German at UNCW, they received a SURCA award for spring 2017. Their research explored the world of Harry Potter through the lens of its proverbial language and its gender dynamic. The project is Martin's first large-scale involvement in a research/scholarly activity.

Martin and Trokhimenko addressed questions such as: .

• How does J. K. Rowling use the proverbial language in general?
• What role does the proverbial material play in the creation of Rowling’s Secondary World?
• Is there a difference between the Wizard and non-Wizard use of proverbs and idioms?
• Do the two communities share knowledge or exist independently and why?
• What repercussions does this have on their portrayal and the audience’s understanding of and relation to the text?
• What effect do power dynamics, age, and gender have on the use of the folkloric material in the text?
• Finally, how is proverbial language transferred (or not?) to the novels’ film's adaptations and what are the possible reasons and implications of this?

Martin recently presented their research at the UNCW Showcase of Student Research.

"As to my current profession, I serve in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Charleston, SC. I am in the Nuclear Power Program, and my job title is Electronics Technician Third Class. I recently completed Nuclear Power School, and am nearing the start of my last phase of training before being stationed somewhere out in the wide world!" - Thomas Jones

Intensive German Language Summer Program

Locations: Bonn and Bremen, Germany
Dates: July 3 - August 1, 2019
Apply By: March 15, 2019
Led By: Derrick Miller Dr. Raymond Burt

Students with any or no previous German language instruction are eligible for this program. Participants spend four days in Bonn with a UNCW faculty member becoming acclimated to life in Germany and touring the Rhineland. Participants then travel to Bremen and enroll in a German language course.

Participants are placed according to their skill level into appropriate language courses offered by the Hochschule Bremen. These courses meet every weekday and are small (with about 15 students from around the world in each course).

Additional, optional lectures and activities are also offered. Participants receive 6 UNCW credit hours that count towards the German minor or major. They can be used to satisfy the University Studies World Language requirement and the Exploration Beyond the Classroom requirement.

Learn More About Your German Professor

The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies and interns abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints.

Award amounts vary depending on the length of study with a maximum award of $5,000. Recipients of the Gilman Scholarship are eligible to receive an additional $3,000 Critical Need Language Supplement for a total possible award of up to $8,000.

Eligibility Requirements

• US Citizen
• Federal Pell Grant recipient (check your financial aid package)
• Undergraduate student in good academic standing

Application Deadlines

• Early Decision – First Tuesday of October for spring and summer programs
• Final Deadline – First Tuesday of March for summer, fall, and full-year programs

What is Required in the Application?

• Statement of Purpose Essay
• Community Impact Essay
• Transcripts

View application

The Senior Class Giving Campaign is a unique opportunity for seniors like you to pay it forward to the next generation of Seahawks by giving back to the area of campus closest to your heart.

A gift of $20.21 to the Department of World Languages and Cultures can help provide funding for:

• Scholarships
• Student Conference Travel
• Scholarly Events and Lectures

Make your gift today to World Languages and Cultures and support the success of future Seahawks!

Giving to World Languages and Cultures

The activities and courses offered by the WLC department help our students to think globally and critically. Your support is greatly appreciated and will help our future generation to be global citizens.

There are four opportunities that donor can contribute:

World Languages Department Fund

The purpose of this fund is for miscellaneous use not covered by regular departmental operational budget, travel/research. This money would support pedagogical /research/other needs (unrestricted)

World Languages Cultural Events

The purpose for this fund is for inviting scholars/speakers: paying for honorarium, travel, lodging, food, advertisement, and operational costs specific to the Cultural Event.

World Languages Scholarships

Scholarship for Undergraduate Students:

• Lapaire-Stites French Studies Scholarship
• The Edward and Esther Bloedorn Scholarship in German
• The Eunice T. and Marguerite B. MacRae Scholarship in French
• Department of World Languages and Cultures Academic Scholarship
• Helena R. Cheek Scholarship
• Text Book Scholarship

For more information about each scholarship.

Scholarship for Graduate Students:

• Nieka 'Sean' Wright Memorial Scholarship For more information about the scholarship.

Please contact the department chair, Dr. Derrick Miller, for more information for those interested in creating a Named Scholarship/Lecture Series/Endowed Professorship.

Online Credit Card Gift

On the online form under “Choose Area To Support,” please list “World Languages and Cultures Department” in the “Search for an Area” box.

Mailing a Check

Please fill out the hard copy giving form. Check "I prefer to make a restricted gift designated to" and next to "Other" write:

• "World Languages Department," or
• "World Languages cultural event," or
• "World Languages” followed by the name of the scholarship.

We thank you so much for your contribution for our students and faculty to make a difference!

First-Time Senior Donors

As a token of appreciation for making your first gift to UNCW, you will receive:

• Invitation to the Senior Toast
• VIP parking pass to commencement (passes are extremely limited and only available to the 1^st 500 donors)
• Class of 2017 commemorative glass

Contact Keith Fraser by email or contact the Department of World Languages and Cultures at 910.962.3340 with questions.

Senior Class Giving Campaign

University Learning Center (UNCW)

Ryan Probst, 
probstr@uncw.edu
910.962.2127

German Tutor

ULC student employees will tutor students in German courses. The University Learning Center cultivates the lifelong learning potential of UNCW students. We provide programs and services that support students as they develop independent learning strategies, personal responsibility, intellectual maturity, transferable skills and a respect for diverse learning experiences. ULC tutors are uniquely able to "de-center" traditional teaching approaches in order to focus on student learning.

That is, rather than learning taking place in a classroom setting with a dominant "voice of authority," tutors are able to work with students on their learning goals in a non-evaluative (and so, non-threatening and non-punitive) setting.

Tutors are able to empathize with student anxieties and apprehensions while showing them that even class assignments (aimed at a group) provide opportunities for individual learning. While conducting tutoring sessions, tutor often learn as much, albeit on a different level, as the tutees. In addition, the interpersonal skills that tutors develop during their time in the ULC are valuable for any career they eventually choose.