German

This course is for absolute beginners. This course introduces students to the fundamentals of German grammar, reading, and writing while developing some basic communicative skills. This course teaches students simple structures, lexis and phrases which enables them to communicate in a limited number of common everyday situations in German-speaking countries.

In this course, students gain an integrative understanding of the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with equal emphasis on data-driven AI (especially machine learning) and model-based AI (especially planning and reasoning). They come to understand AI from the perspectives of decision theory, machine learning, optimization, and classical problem solving. Students learn to independently implement and understand core algorithms from these areas and can identify appropriate problem formulations and AI algorithms for a given application. Course topics include problem formulations and algorithmic approaches from decision theory (including reinforcement learning, multi-armed bandits, control theory), machine learning, optimization, and inference, classical planning, and problem solving. The class also discusses fundamental and recurring algorithmic principles such as dynamic programming, optimization-based vs. sampling-based methods, and decision trees.

 

This course starts with the question of what is understood by “gender” in gender studies and a systematization of the field of gender studies in STEM/planning. In the second part students examine studies of gender studies in STEM and planning in different disciplines. The course concludes with a project phase in which students are in working groups on topics from the field of gender studies on STEM/planning using the materials provided and present the results.

This seminar explores the interface between queer identity, music, and history and investigates how musical spaces may serve as mirrors and critiques of societal norms. Students investigate the experiences of queer artists through a historical perspective and see how they use music as a form of social critique and expression. Beginning with operatic roles in the 17th century, through contexts like the 19th century cakewalk, the cabaret of the Weimar republic in the 1920s-1930s, as well as hip-hop culture, the seminar uncovers how gender transgressivity and performance art are reflected in music. Students analyze queer and transgressive music scenes as “heterotopias” (Foucault) – places of resistance against societal norms – and discuss the role of music in the construction of community and identity. Important texts by Audre Lorde, Michael Foucault, and Theodor W Adorno offer theoretical foundations through which the interventional power of music in the negotiation of identity and difference can be understood. Students develop their own case studies of queer artists and their visual, cultural, musical, and/or social moments of intervention.

This course is conducted in the German language and is designed to teach students who are new to German or have basic German skills the basic expressions and grammar necessary for daily life. The course enables students to develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in German in a range of predictable situations and contexts and allows students to interact in a simple way orally and in writing. 

The history of the Jewish people in East Germany has become a focus of interest in the last few years. This seminar focuses on the perspective of Jewish returners, both prominent and not and focuses on a series of questions and topics: The catastrophe of the Holocaust causes a great many questions about the various lifestyles of East German Jews: What persuaded them after the Holocaust to return to Germany? Which hopes and expectations did this new community have? And to what extent did return to Germany mean the immigration into a socialist utopia, which was a reaction to the atrocities of the past and promised a future and foothold for returnees? But with hope and expectations often comes disappointment: How was the East German antisemitism, both private and occasionally also public, experienced, and what did it mean for returnees; how did they perceive East German evasion surrounding discussion of and responsibility for the Holocaust? The course explores these themes through autobiographical texts and scientific secondary literature.

This course focuses on sustainability and its impact as the most important global transformation project of the current time. It primarily discusses theories of change and human planning and design, but also topics such as justice, freedom, progress, growth, capitalism, and inequality.

This pre-semester course prepares foreign students for academic study at a German university. The focus is on the improvement of oral and written expression as well as grammar and lexical proficiency. The course covers selected topics on German politics and society within a historical context. In addition, excursions are planned to introduce students to German culture. Students work with cultural topics in everyday situations and broaden their intercultural knowledge. They are introduced to independent learning methods and familiarize themselves with typical learning situations at German universities. In this class at the B2.2/C1.1 level according to CEFR, students consolidate their knowledge of grammar and study complex structures and do in-depth study of grammatical structures that are typical of academic writing and its application in text production and reception. The course includes exercises to improve oral and written communication such as doing research, structuring, presenting, and discussing. Writing skills are enhanced through different types of academic texts and handouts. Students critically analyze different types of texts and systematically expand their vocabulary (including abstract vocabulary) and stylistic ways of expression.