Brown in Germany - Academics
Curriculum
All program participants receive a month-long orientation and German language course prior to the beginning of the regular university session. In Tübingen, the orientation is provided by the Akademisches Auslandsamt of the university and includes a week in a mountain town near Tübingen. In Berlin, the orientation is Brown-sponsored; more information on events and excursions can be found on the Brown in Berlin program website. Students should note that neither orientation program earns course credit.
Following the orientation, students enroll in at least four courses at Humboldt Universität or Eberhard-Karls Universität, including one German language course in either the Sprachenzentrum at Humboldt or the Lektorat für Deutsche Sprache at Eberhard-Karls. The remaining three classes may be Proseminare, Seminare (junior/senior level courses) or Übungen (lab courses with field trips). Students are also encouraged to attend Vorlesungen (lecture courses in which there is no assessed work), but if taken for credit, students must arrange with the professor to be given work on which a grade can be assessed. Students may take a maximum of two Vorlesungen.
Past program participants have studied History, Art History, International Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies, German Studies, Medical Studies, and the natural sciences. Students may enroll in all departments of the universities for which they have appropriate academic preparation.
New Academic Program Option
For students with no prior knowledge of German, Brown University is pleased to announce the opportunity to take advanced-level courses in English at both Humboldt University and Eberhard-Karls University. Under this new option and as part of their course of study, all students will also enroll in a German Language course.
Tübingen/Berlin to Brown Exchange
Graduate students from Humboldt and Tübingen come to Brown to study and complete research. Funding for these visiting scholars comes from the undergraduate exchange program between Brown and our German partner institutions.
Academic Calendar
Participants may enroll for either the spring semester or the full year.
- Orientation: September or March
- Full Year: October through July
- Spring Semester Only: April through July
Credit
Students are graded according to the German system in all courses, but final grades are listed S (satisfactory) on the official Brown transcript for all courses successfully completed with an equivalent grade of C- or better. The normal course load of four courses per semester will receive four Brown credits (the equivalent of 16 semester credit hours).
Updated: October 1, 2008