Course Descriptions
German Courses
GERM 131 Elementary German I (1)
Listening/comprehension, speaking, and reading developed through intense oral practice and frequent language laboratory exercises.
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 132 Elementary German II (1)
Listening/comprehension, speaking, and reading developed through intense oral practice and frequent language laboratory exercises.
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 231 Intermediate German I (1)
Ability to read with direct association in German. Listening/comprehension and basic grammar patterns. The second semester includes discussion of cultural topics and practice in directed writing.
Prerequisite: GERM 132
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 232 Intermediate German II (1)
Ability to read with direct association in German. Listening/comprehension and basic grammar patterns. The second semester includes discussion of cultural topics and practice in directed writing.
Prerequisite: GERM 231
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 241 (IT; 4th Sem Lang) Topics in German Culture (in translation) (1)
This course enables students to acquire knowledge of selected artists and thinkers, genres and periods in the German cultural tradition. Potential topics include film, plays, fairy tales, novels and poetry as well as selected readings in Philosophy and the Arts.
Mode of Inquiry: Interpreting Texts
General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Fourth Semester Language Requirement
- Offering: Annually
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 331 (W) German Composition and Discussion (1)
Reading and discussion in German on a variety of topics and texts relevant to the areas of letters, fine arts, and humanities. Cultural and literary vocabulary, syntax, introductory phonetics, and laboratory exercises stressing comprehension and pronunciation. (Recommended for students interested in study overseas.) Conducted in German. Prerequisite: GERM 232 or completion of language proficiency or consent of instructor.
General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing centered
- Offering: Annually
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 332 Advanced German Composition (1)
Readings and discussion, enlargement of vocabulary to meet the idiom of the highly educated German; discussions and compositions on abstract and more sophisticated topics. Conducted in German.
Prerequisite: GERM 331 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Alternate years
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 333 Contemporary German Culture (1)
In examining contemporary German culture since 1945, this course will concentrate on trends, movements, forces, and attitudes that shape life within the three German-speaking countries. Conducted in German.
Prerequisite: GERM 331 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Alternate years
- Instructor: Fischer
GERM 340 Introduction to German Literature (1)
Reading and discussion in German on a variety of topics and texts from the main writers, epochs, and genres of German literature. Practice in the vocabulary and methods of literary analysis. Conducted in German.
Prerequisite: GERM 331 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Alternate years
- Instructor: Staff
GERM 430 History of German Thought (1)
Selections of German writings that express those thoughts and ideas that have contributed substantially to the heritage of human culture. Representatives from the following areas: arts, biography, history, mysticism, philosophy, politics, psychology, and science. Conducted in German.
Prerequisite: GERM 340 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Alternate years
- Instructor: Fischer
GERM 431 From the Enlightenment to Romanticism (1)
German literature and related forms of artistic and intellectual expression from the Enlightenment to Goethe’s death. Considered against the background of general European cultural history, selected readings from Lessing, Goethe, Schiller, Kleist, Novalis, Heine, Buchner, and their contemporaries. Conducted in German.
Prerequisite: GERM 340 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Alternate years
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 432 Realism and Naturalism (1)
German literature and related forms of artistic and intellectual expression from Goethe’s death to the end of the 19th century, considered against the background of general European cultural history. Selected readings from Grillparzer, Buchner, Droste-Hulshoff, Stifter, Keller, Storm, Hauptmann, and their contemporaries. Conducted in German.
Prerequisite: GERM 340 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Alternate years
- Instructor: Staff
GERM 433 Modern Literature (1)
Representative novels and short stories of such writers as Thomas Mann, Hesse, Rilke, and Brecht. Conducted in German.
Prerequisite: GERM 340 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Alternate years
- Instructor: Fischer
GERM 490–491 Reading and Conference (.5 or 1)
Designed to enable a student to acquire the necessary knowledge and experience of literary periods which are not covered by courses offered at Willamette University.
Prerequisite: GERM 331, Junior or Senior standing and G.P.A. of 3.0 or better
- Offering: On demand
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 496 (W) Senior Seminar (1)
The seminar will focus on the life and works of one major author (e.g., Goethe, Rilke, Nietzsche, Mann, etc.). Students are expected to write a research paper and present it to the class at the end of the semester.
General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing centered
Prerequisite: Senior standing in German
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
GERM 497 Literary Research (.5)
Students will meet with a professor in the German program for seven seminar meetings and discuss a theme or an author within the area of German literature. The emphasis will be on the relationship between literature and society. Students are expected to write a 15-page research paper which will be presented to a larger audience at the end of the semester.
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Fischer, Staff
Russian Courses
RUSS 131 Elementary Russian I (1)
The course introduces the basic features of Russian grammar and provides an essential Russian vocabulary for practical conversation, reading, writing, and aural comprehension. Classroom work is supplemented with laboratory and multimedia practice.
- Offering: Annually
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 132 Elementary Russian II (1)
The course introduces the basic features of Russian grammar and provides an essential Russian vocabulary for practical conversation, reading, writing, and aural comprehension. Classroom work is supplemented with laboratory and multimedia practice.
- Offering: Annually
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 150 (IT) Tolstoy's War and Peace (1)
This course is devoted to a close reading of Tolstoy's War and Peace -- for many, one of the world's greatest novels. Topics include Tolstoy's use of language and literary innovation; Tolstoy's representations of consciousness and knowledge, human intentions and responsibility; Tolstoy's views on history and historiography; his depictions of life and his comments on the meaning of life; and, the role and meaning of war. Taught in English.
Mode of Inquiry: Interpreting texts
- Offering: Alternate years in fall
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 181 Bilingual Mentorship (.25)
Supervised mentorship with the Bilingual Program of the Salem-Keizer Public Schools. Students are matched with heritage speakers of Russian. Students are admitted to the course after receiving consent from instructor and the school district. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 1.0 credit.
- Offering: Fall, Spring
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 231 Intermediate Russian I (1)
The course continues the study of basic Russian language skills, introducing various language styles and adding to the students' vocabulary base. In second semester, students complete reading and composition assignments, and discuss and write reports on simple videos. Classroom work is supplemented with laboratory and multimedia practice.
Prerequisite: RUSS 131 and RUSS 132 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Annually
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 232 Intermediate Russian II (1)
The course continues the study of basic Russian language skills, introducing various language styles and adding to the students' vocabulary base. In second semester, students complete reading and composition assignments, and discuss and write reports on simple videos. Classroom work is supplemented with laboratory and multimedia practice.
Prerequisite: RUSS 131 and RUSS 132 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Annually
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 233 (W; TH; 4th Sem Lang Req) Russian Culture: Russian Ways and Views of Russia (1)
This writing-centered course acquaints students with major artistic achievements in Russian society from the 10th century to the present day -- in architecture, painting, literature, and music -- and explores particularly Russian manners and customs that define the everyday lives of its people. It examines the possible ways in which these achievements, manners, and customs might be said to define that society in a certain period. The materials are presented historically through films, music, pictures, paintings, readings, and food.
Mode of Inquiry: Thinking Historically
General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing centered; Fourth Semester Language Requirement
- Offering: Alternate years in springs
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 320 (W; IT; 4th Sem Lang Req) Introduction to Russian Literature in Translation (1)
[Crosslisted with LIT 320]
The course examines selected works in translation of Russian prose and poetry of the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to examining the works in their literary context (style, genre, linguistic peculiarities, rhetorical devices, irony, satire, etc.) the historical and societal viewpoint will also be discussed, so that the student will have a better understanding of the Russian people in each particular period of history.
Mode of Inquiry: Interpreting Texts
General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing centered; Fourth Semester Language Requirement
- Offering: Alternate years in fall
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 325 (IT) Topics in Russian Literature (1)
This course enables a student to acquire knowledge of selected authors, genres, and literary periods in Russian literature. Potential texts include Chekhov's plays, Dostoevsky's political novels, Russian fairy tales, Nabokov's prose, and the stories of contemporary women writers in Russia. Taught in English.
Mode of Inquiry: Interpreting Texts
- Offering: Alternate years in spring
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 331 Russian Composition and Discussion (1)
In this course the three creative elements of language learning, speech and writing are given foremost attention. Oral and written composition based upon reading of texts emphasizing Russian culture, as well as literary texts enabling the student to become acquainted with the literary vocabulary needed in more advanced letters courses. Exercises in syntax and introductory phonetics. Laboratory exercises stressing comprehension and pronunciation. Conducted in Russian.
Prerequisite: RUSS 232 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: The Ukraine visiting professor
RUSS 333 Russian Civilization and Culture (1)
Studies in geography, history, economics and the chronological development of culture and ideas. Class discussions. Oral and written reports in Russian.
Prerequisite: RUSS 331 or consent of instructor
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 370 Introduction to Russian Literature (.5)
The course examines selected works (in Russian) of Russian prose and poetry of the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to examining the works in their literary context (style, genre, linguistic peculiarities, rhetorical devices, irony, satire, etc.) the historical and societal viewpoint will also be discussed, so that the student will have a better understanding of the Russian people in each particular period of history. Course to be taught in Russian.
Prerequisite: RUSS 331
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 381 Bilingual Mentorship (.25)
Supervised mentorship with the Bilingual Program of the Salem-Keizer Public Schools. Students are matched with heritage speakers of Russian. Students are admitted to the course after receiving consent from instructor and the school district. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 1.0 credit.
- Offering: Fall, Spring
- Instructor: Conliffe
RUSS 490 (W) Reading and Conference (.5 or 1)
To enable students who have a sound grasp of Russian grammar and some experience in literary analysis to develop better reading skills and to expand their knowledge of Russian culture. The course is designed to assist and direct students' work on a larger research paper in Russian studies. It is an intensive reading and writing course, but also a course in which students share their work with their peers and instructor.
General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing centered
- Offering: On demand
- Instructor: Conliffe