Heidelberg at Heidelberg Summer Program

2008 Summer Program in German Language and German Studies

May 23 - July 5, 2008

  • Innovative curriculum combining language instruction and experiential learning,
  • Intermediate and advanced classes
  • Extensive program of excursions, study trips and cultural events
  • GermanRail pass

2008 Summer Calendar

Heidelberg

Dominated by the massive ruins of the Heidelberg castle perched on the mountainside, Heidelberg is home to Germany's oldest university with more than 25,000 students.

Our summer school is located in the International Study Center on the modern campus of the University of Heidelberg. The Center is near the river, pool, student cafeteria, and university sports facilities. The heart of the Old Town with museums, shops, sidewalk and internet cafés is just a few bus stops away

Instruction and Credit

All language courses are taught by faculty members of the University of Heidelberg. You enroll in either intermediate or advanced German courses for 6 semester hours of credit. Classes meet mornings Monday through Friday. You may also take one or two optional 1-credit mini-courses, thus earning a total of 6 to 8 credits.

Core Courses:

GER 201, 202 Intermediate German (6 sem. hrs.) Students practice all four language skills, review basic grammar and work on expanding their vocabulary.

GER 301 Advanced German (3 sem. hrs.) Practice in conversation, composition, and mastery of advanced grammatical forms and vocabulary on the basis of texts dealing with everyday life and current social issues in German-speaking countries. (Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.) Note: this course is taken concurrently with German 306.

GER 306 Cross-Cultural Encounters in Contemporary Germany (3 sem. hrs.) Students improve their proficiency by participating in interactive sessions with schools, businesses, political representatives and culture-makers in and around Heidelberg. The focus will be on intellectual encounters outside of the classroom which are prepared in advance and evaluated subsequently. (Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.) Note: This course is taken concurrently with German 301.

Elective Mini-Courses:

GER 307a German Cultural Sampler (1 sem. hr.) Students will be introduced to various works of German music, theatre, opera, art, etc. prior to attending performances or visiting exhibitions.

GER 307b Germany and the European Union (1 sem. hr.) From the perspective of Germany, this seminar will focus on the challenges that currently confront the European Union such as expansion and membership, regional economic growth, and immigration. Prerequisite: First-year college-level German or equivalent.

GER 307c Berlin Seminar (1 sem. hr.) This course focuses on the new role of Berlin as political and cultural center of a reunified Germany. It includes a 4-day study trip to Berlin, with visits to the Bundestag, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charley, and various museums. Transportation, housing, meals, tours, and museum entrance fees are provided by the program.

Excursions

The program sponsors numerous excursions to places of historical and cultural interest in southern Germany and neighboring France such as

  • Strasbourg with its famous cathedral and the European Parliament
  • The city of Speyer, resting place for many German emperors
  • Frankfurt, Goethe's birthplace and Germany's financial center
  • The Black Forest, where we hike and visit traditional houses
  • Historic Wissembourg, situated at the French-German border
  • Along the Castle Road through the Neckar river valley

Individual travel

With the exception of the Berlin study trip (which takes place halfway through the program) the weekends are free for you to travel individually with your GermanRail Pass. Students often plan these trips together. In the past, students have gone to places such as Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Dresden, or (by paying extra) to Venice, Amsterdam or Prague. Some students use this opportunity to revisit old friends from high school exchanges in Germany or to look for long-lost German relatives.

German language partners

German students from Heidelberg University or from Heidelberg's University of Education are looking forward to being your language partners. They will help with orientation, with practical matters, and with conversation practice.

Housing and meals

You will live with a German host family in a single or double room with shared bathroom. Meals are included in the program fee. You will usually have breakfast and an evening meal with your host family and have lunch in the University cafeteria.

Program Fee

The general program fee of $4,500 for 2008 includes:

  • tuition
  • housing and meals
  • passes for public transportation in and around Heidelberg
  • the 4-day Berlin study trip
  • several one-day excursions and various cultural events
  • a GermanRail Pass
  • an official transcript

Not included in the program fee are the costs for the transatlantic flight and transfers from and to the Frankfurt airport, books and health insurance.

Financial Aid

Students may apply for a University Summer Course Scholarship ('Hochschulsommerkurs-Stipendium') offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Deadlline is January 31, 2008. Please apply early! For information on this scholarship possibility, go to www.daad.org. Click on 'Scholarship Applications'. Students are encouraged to discuss financial aid opportunities with the study abroad advisor on their home campus.

Eligibility

Prior to entering the program applicants must have

  • sophomore status at an accredited college or university,
  • a grade point average of B or better,
  • at least one year of college-level German (or the equivalent).

Applications

Please download the application (pdf) and an Academic/Personal Reference Form (pdf). The 3-page application needs to be printed from the browser, completed, and sent with a non-refundable deposit of $20 by March 15 to:

Heidelberg @ Heidelberg Summer Program
Heidelberg College
310 E. Market St.
Tiffin, Oh 44883

E-mail: ajy@heidelberg.edu
Toll free: 1-800-925-9250
Phone: 1-419-448-2062
Fax: 1-419-448-2217
    Heidelberg at Heidelberg Germany

Semester or year at Heidelberg

You may wish to extend your stay in Heidelberg by applying for participation in the fall term of the American Junior Year (AJY) at Heidelberg University. Students who successfully complete the six week intensive summer course will automatically fulfill the language requirements for admission to the AJY program.. The application deadline is April 15. To receive more information on the AJY full year or semester program, please click here.