Course Descriptions

Department of European and Classical Languages and Cultures

Professors N. J. Bracher, L. B. Cooke, R. J. Golsan (Head), M.C. Hawthorne, C.W. Kallendorf, S.M. Oberhelman; Associate Professors O.M. Cooke, E.P. Garrison, C. F. Konrad, T.V. Laane, R. Larson, E.T. Rich, R. Schoolcraft, R.R. Shandley, C.J. Steppich, E. Williams; Assistant Professors F. Ciccolella, M. Marchesini, L. Powell; Senior Lecturers I.K. Bakelmann, C.D. Schaile, F. Vionnet-Bracher; Lecturers G. Adams, N.I. Golsan, C. Zhao

Incoming students who intend to enroll for the first time in a French, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, or Latin course at Texas A&M University, who have previous knowledge, however acquired, of the language in which they plan to enroll, and who have no college credit in the language, must take a placement test to determine the appropriate course for their level of ability. The foreign language placement test also serves as a basis for credit by examination.

Students will be expected to complete the 201 and 202 language courses in sequence before taking upper-division courses. Those who already have a high level of proficiency may either request an examination for credit in the courses or begin with a higher level course with approval of instructor. Once, however, students register for a higher-level language course, they are no longer eligible to receive credit for prerequisite courses.

International students whose native language is not English are exempted from satisfying the University foreign language requirement. These students are not allowed to register for courses in their native language (101, 102) which are used to fulfill that requirement.

European Studies
(EURO)

220. Contemporary French Culture. (1-0). Credit 1.

Cultural and practical orientation for students participating in the summer study abroad programs in France; brief introduction to contemporary social and cultural institutions; discussions of French university system; oral reports and final paper; readings and discussion in English and French. Prerequisite: FREN 101 or equivalent.

223. French Culture and Society in French Literary Masterpieces in Translation. (3-0). Credit 3.

Analysis and understanding of French culture and contemporary society through the study of masterpieces of French literature including novels, plays, short stories and films. Cross-listed with FREN 223.

230. Contemporary German Culture. (1-0). Credit 1.

Cultural and practical orientation for students participating in the summer study abroad programs in Germany; brief introduction to contemporary social and cultural institutions; discussions of German university system; oral reports and final paper; readings and discussion in English and German. Prerequisite: GERM 101 or equivalent.

232. Exploratory German Language and Culture. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to the fundamentals of German language and culture; immersion in a European culture; acquisition of skills and insights necessary to experience life in Germany; study of comparisons and contrasts between German and North American culture.

240. Contemporary Russian Culture. (1-0). Credit 1.

Cultural and practical orientation for students participating in the summer study abroad programs in Russia; brief introduction to contemporary social and cultural institutions; discussions of Russian university system; oral reports and final paper; readings and discussion in English and Russian. Prerequisite: RUSS 101 or equivalent.

285. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4.

Individual supervision of readings or assigned projects in European studies selected for each student individually. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor and department head.

289. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of European studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

311. Diversity Issues in Classical Studies. (3-0). Credit 3.

Study of diversity, ‘otherness,’ and tolerance in Greco-Roman antiquity; and the effects of intolerance on modern classical studies. Prerequisite: ENGL 104 and junior or senior classification.

323. Immigration and Ethnicity in Contemporary France. (3-0). Credit 3.

Immigration and ethnic groups in contemporary France, their effects on national identity and politics, and their cultural representations. Prerequisite: ENGL 104 and junior or senior classification. Cross-listed with FREN 323.

405. European Cinema. (3-0). Credit 3.

Exploration of key movements in European cinema from 1895 to the present, including both national cinematic traditions, such as Italian Neorealism or French New Wave, and international trends such as Formalism, Expressionism, or Auteurism.  Prerequisite:  FILM 201 or approval of instructor.  Cross-listed with FILM 405.

425. French Film. (3-0). Credit 3.

Overview of French cinema from its origins to the present; interpretation of French cultural history and politics through film; taught in English. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with FREN 425 and FILM 425.

430. Seminar in German Literature and Culture. (3-0). Credit 3.

Survey of major literary and intellectual landmarks of a period in German history (Enlightenment, Romanticism, High Modernism, post-1945); study of literary works in context of social and cultural history, with attention to Germany’s particular place in Europe and the world; taught in English.  May be taken two times.  Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.  Cross-listed with GERM 430.

431. German Author and Genre Studies. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examines the work of a specific author, such as Goethe, Schiller, Kafka, Brecht, Frisch, Grass or the diachronic study of a specific genre, e.g., poetry, drama, prose; taught in English.  May be taken two times.  Prerequisite:  Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.   Cross-listed with GERM 431.

432. Music in German Culture. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examination of the role of music in German cultural and national self-definition from the 18th century to the present; the political and ideological role of music; study of genres and media including opera, art song, Singspiel, protest songs and film; taught in English.  Prerequisite:  Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.  Cross-listed with GERM 432.

434. Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to the life and thought of Martin Luther; study of the Protestant Reformation in Germany from theological, political, and social perspectives; taught in English.  Prerequisite:  Junior or senior classification, or approval or instructor.   Cross-listed with GERM 434 and RELS 434.

435. German Film. (3-0). Credit 3.

Consideration and analysis of major works and directors of German film; interpretation of culture through film; relationship of film to history, literature, and other arts; taught in English.   Prerequisite:  Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with GERM 435 and FILM 435.

436. German Fairy Tales. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to and study of fairy tales and children’s literature through German tradition in these forms; reception of fairy tales through adaptation and modernization; taught in English.  Prerequisite:   Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.  Cross-listed with GERM 436.

441. The Russian Novel I:  Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. (3-0).  Credit 3.

Study of the major works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky; discussion of the literary nature and purpose of novels, especially in the context of Russian culture; taught in English.  Prerequisite:  3 hours of English literature at 200 level or above, or approval of instructor.   Cross-listed with RUSS 441.

442. The Russian Novel II:  The Twentieth Century. (3-0). Credit 3.

Study of major Russian novels from ca. 1900 to the end of Stalinism; exploration of topics relevant to Russia’s experience in the 20th century; taught in English.  Prerequisite:  3 hours of English literature at 200 level or above, or approval of instructor.  Cross-listed with RUSS 442.

443. Contemporary Russian Prose. (3-0). Credit 3.

Study of Russian and Soviet 20th-century prose literature, with emphasis on post-Stalinist and post-glasnost writers. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with RUSS 443.

444. Russian Drama. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to the masterpieces of Russian drama from the 19th century to the present; includes such authors as Pushkin, Chekhov, Gorky, Arbuzov, Rozov and Petrushevskaya; taught in English. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of instructor. Cross-listed with RUSS 444.

446. Russian Artistic Culture I:  Beginnings to 1900. (3-0). Credit 3.

Masterpieces of Russian art, including architecture, dance, theater, music, and literature, from its beginnings until ca. 1900; taught in English.  Prerequisite:   Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.  Cross-listed with RUSS 446.

447. Russian Artistic Culture II:  1890 to Present. (3-0). Credit 3.

Masterpieces of Russian art, including architecture, dance, theater, music, film, and literature, from ca. 1890 to the present; taught in English.  Prerequisite:   Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.  Cross-listed with RUSS 447.

451. Introduction to Italian Culture. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to the culture of the Italian Peninsula, from Middle Ages to present; study of major works of literature, political science, visual arts, music and cinema, to set Italy’s culture in its social and historical context; taught in English. Prerequisite:  Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with ITAL 451.

453. Italian Literature. (3-0). Credit 3.

Survey of Italian literature from Middle Ages to the present; focus on the Italian Renaissance’s relevance for contemporary Europe, the birth of a secular view of culture, and the dialogue with the classical tradition. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with ITAL 453.

455. Italian Cinema. (3-0). Credit 3.

Survey of Italian cinema from Neorealism to the present; taught in English. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with FILM 455 and ITAL 455.

485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4.

Individual supervision of readings or assigned projects in European studies, selected for each student individually. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor and department head.

489. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of European studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

491. Research. Credit 1 to 3.

Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in European languages and cultures. Prerequisites: 24 hours in courses taught in EURO department with at least 9 at 300-level or above; approval of department head.