Course Offerings

Course Selection

For your pre-departure planning you may wish to consult the Course Description Booklet which can be downloaded in PDF format from the above link to Sample Course Descriptions.

Upon arrival, you will take part in a 4-week preliminary course at the AJY Study Center. The Preliminary Course involves four weeks of intensive practice in listening and reading comprehension, advanced German grammar and intercultural encounters. The course prepares students for the University's mandatory German Language Proficiency Examination. Two semester credits are awarded upon successful completion of all course requirements. Students have the option of earning a third credit by participating in a community activity during their first semester.

Approximately two weeks before the start of the University semester, the University administers the German Language Proficiency Exam (DSH) to all incoming foreign students. The results of this exam help determine placement in coursework for the ensuing semester. Students who do not pass the exam will have a restricted course selection, which entails intensive language courses at the International Study Center of the University. Students who pass this Proficiency Exam will take coursework at the Seminar for German as a Foreign Language and in other departments of the University.

Prior to the start of the University semester, you will meet with the resident director to draft a preliminary course list. Within the first three weeks of the University semester, you will meet again with the resident director to finalize your course selection for that semester.

You may take courses at the University of Heidelberg and at the Junior Year Study Center. Course offerings at the University cover a wide range of topics. An official University catalog is published shortly before the start of each semester. Because course offerings fluctuate and there is no guarantee that a course will be given in any given semester, you should plan to take as many required courses on your home campus before and after your stay at the University of Heidelberg.

Tutorials
For interested students enrolled in lecture courses in regular University departments, an attempt is made to arrange weekly tutorials. The tutors review topics from the lectures, assign appropriate readings, and assist students in preparing for their final exam or in researching their term paper. Before a tutorial can be established, a minimum number of students is required. Participating students usually earn one additional semester hour of credit for the course.

Course Descriptions
Please browse the attached PDF document for descriptions of courses offered.