Program Details

Overview

Part I: Berlin, Germany (January – February)

Students take intensive German classes at the HU German Language Academy (HU GLA) at the Language Center of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, where they are placed at an appropriate linguistic level.

Part II: Vienna, Austria (March – June)

Students take two program-specific courses and direct enroll at the University of Vienna.

Program-specific courses

All mandatory program courses are taught in German.

Erlebtes Theater (Theater Alive)

“Theater Alive” explores why theater still stirs up controversy, especially in Vienna. Students study dramas or musical works that are being performed in Viennese theaters during the current season, and then see them brought to life on the stage. The course changes from season to season, but always stresses a range of plays from classic to contemporary, and of productions from the traditional to the experimental (and sometimes shocking). Taught by Macalester faculty.

Vienna: Mapping and ‘Counter-Mapping’ a Modern Metropolis

Combining theoretical approaches with visits to local museums, buildings, and other sites, this course introduces students to the city of Vienna from an Urban Studies perspective.

• Taking students’ first encounter with Vienna as a starting point, the course addresses themes such as: How do we imagine and approach a new city? How do various media (texts, images, films . . .) influence our experience of the built environment? How does the “official” image of a city differ from one’s personal experience of it, and how can one account for both?
• Students read course materials, attend film screenings, visit sites, and carry out empirical research by means of observation and mapping.
• Taught by a local scholar and cultural anthropologist specialized in Material Culture and the representation of built environments (also by less conventional means such as graphic novels, short films or games).

Direct enroll at the University of Vienna

With guidance from the program director (and their respective departments), students can choose to enroll in a variety of courses offered by the University of Vienna. Taught by University of Vienna faculty.

The list of courses offered in the current semester can be found in the Course Directory.

Note: Courses vary greatly between semesters. For students in the process of applying, this directory is for reference purpose only.

Excursions

Two longer trips (four to five days), as well as a series of day trips or shorter excursions are integrated into the program courses. Past destinations have included, among others, Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Ljubljana, Kraków, the Abbey of Melk, a vineyard, and a tour of the Burgtheater.

Information about program timeline can be found at Calendar & Costs.

Important to Know

Course Credits

Students receive up to 20 Macalester credits through the program. Credits breakdown is as follows:

• German course at HU GLA: 5.5 credits
• Two Macalester courses in Vienna: 4 credits / course
• Direct enroll courses at University of Vienna: up to 6.5 Macalester credits (13 ECTS) in total

Staff

A Macalester College German Studies faculty member serves as resident director in Vienna.

Accommodations

• In Berlin, students stay either with fellow German learners in a dormitory setting or in a homestay.
• In Vienna, students live in suite apartments in a dormitory with a single room with a private bathroom and share a kitchenette with three other students.

For more details, visit Housing.

Internship Opportunities

Students may complete an unpaid, non-credit-bearing internship (individually arranged).

Program Fees

Costs are equal to Macalester comprehensive fee for one semester. For more information, visit Calendar & Costs.

How to Apply