German

Abstract

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  Profile of the study programme

  A specific feature of the German master programme at the University of Fribourg is that students study all three disciplines – German Linguistics, German Mediaeval Studies and Modern German Literature – which provides them with a broad knowledge of the German language. But they can also specialise within one of them, for example variational linguistics or German as a Foreign Language/German as a Second Language (linguistics), codicology or mediaeval comparative literature (mediaeval studies) or media culture studies or comparative literature (modern literature). It is also possible to specialise in German teaching. The course familiarises students with the techniques and methods of all three disciplines in such a way that they are capable of forming their own academic opinions and using them for their first independent research, such as the master thesis. This comprehensive course enables them to use their knowledge to teach German at various levels or in other areas of work. The master programme also opens the way to research.

  German Linguistics offers students a master programme which not only is aimed at consolidating their basis in linguistics but also guarantees participation in the key areas of research of the two chairs. The regular, project-focused master seminars deal with questions of language acquisition, use and variation. Students wishing to specialise in German Linguistics also have the possibility of doing practical research outside the university or, thanks to the collaboration with the Department of Multilingualism and Foreign Language Education, concentrating on German as a Foreign Language/German as a Second Language.

  The master programme in German Mediaeval Studies covers different literary genres of the early, high and late mediaeval period and as broad a variety of methodical approaches as possible. A block seminar by a visiting professor, part of the «Freiburger Gastprofessur für Germanistische Mediävistik» event, focuses on comparative studies, especially in relation to Romansch and German literature of the Middle Ages and early Modern period. Students also have the possibility of specialising in codicology and transmission history (in collaboration with the Manuscript Research Centre) or in comparative literature (German mediaeval literature in a European context). Current literary, media and cultural theory is discussed in master seminars and the Mediaeval Studies Research Colloquium; the colloquium of the Mediaeval Institute is devoted to interdisciplinary discussions.

  In Modern German Literature, literary texts and narratives in all media are investigated in the light of both their historical contexts and systematic features, since the 16^th century. This applies, for example, to issues regarding general rhetoric, how literary genres function, analysis of themes of individual literary works and groups of works, relationships to other literature and arts, etc. The profile of the Fribourg Modern German Literature includes focal points in the areas of methodological reflection and intermedial literary analysis. Due to the special linguistic and cultural location of Freiburg-Fribourg, comparative issues are of great importance.

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Minor study programmes to be chosen