AMERICAN CULTURE AND LITERATURE
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
GEP0510 Contemporary Germany– History, Politics and Society since 1945 Spring 3 0 3 4
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: GE-Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. BURCU ALARSLAN ULUDAŞ
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: This course will explore the development of Germany since the end of the Second World War. It will focus on the evolution of Germany as two separate societies after the war, on the process of Germany’s reunification, and finally on current developments since 1990

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
-to acquire an insight and thorough understanding of the crucial topics in the history of 20th century Germany (totalitarianism, the rise and development of National Socialism and the Third Reich), the legacy of the Nazi experience in postwar national culture
- to acquire an insight and thorough understanding of postwar historical culture in Germany
- to acquire an insight and thorough understanding of modern and contemporary German history as integral part of European and global history
- to acquire an insight and thorough understanding of the central theoretical and historiographical debates in present-day Germany

Course Content

The course will include short excursions to relevant local sites that are readily available in the capital region of Berlin (Federal Parliament, Turkish Embassy, EU Representation in Berlin, etc.), as well as to local sites of historic interest (Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Wall Memorial + Documentation Center, etc.). Also included will be short trips to other German cities, to give students an impression of the diversity and differences within Germany. Field trips shall include cities like Hamburg (for the North of Germany), Munich (for the South of Germany), Dresden (for the East of Germany), and Bonn (for the West of Germany, and as the former German capital city).

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction Complied Material
2) the German political system(s), Complied Material
3) Germany’s postwar history, Complied Material
4) its emerging role in the European Community/Union Complied Material
5) European Union's recent and current regional and global role and impact Complied Material
6) the changes in German society Complied Material
7) German people’s collective psyche, memory, and national sentiment(s), Complied Material
8) Midterm
9) Field Trip: capital region of Berlin (Federal Parliament, Turkish Embassy, EU Representation in Berlin, etc.) Complied Material
10) Field Trip: local sites of historic interest (Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Wall Memorial + Documentation Center, etc.). Complied Material
11) Field Trip: Hamburg (for the North of Germany), Complied Material
12) Field Trip: Munich (for the South of Germany) Complied Material
13) Dresden (for the East of Germany) Complied Material
14) Bonn (for the West of Germany, and as the former German capital city). Complied Material

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:
References:

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 5
Midterms 1 % 35
Final 1 % 60
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 40
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 60
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 14 3 42
Study Hours Out of Class 10 2 20
Midterms 1 15 15
Final 1 20 20
Total Workload 97

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) Upon graduation, students will acquire key skills and attributes to conduct research to use research tools, to solve problems, to communicate effectively and to transfer skills to the workplace.
2) Upon graduation, students will have developed the ability to discuss key issues in fluent English.
3) Upon graduation, students will have developed the ability to compose written documents in English with a mature prose style.
4) Upon graduation, students will have gained broad knowledge of the American and English literary canons.
5) Upon graduation, students will have developed the ability to analyze, synthesize and criticize sophisticated works of American and English literature.
6) Upon graduation, students will have achieved in depth the understanding of contemporary American culture.
7) Upon graduation, students will have developed the ability to draw links among diverse literary texts and documents and establish critical connections and adopt an interdisciplinary attitude. 2
8) Upon graduation, students will be able to develop new projects individually or in teams.
9) Upon graduation, students will be able to apply their knowledge into their lives for interdisciplinary problem-solving and solutions. 3