English Language Programme
Courses SS 2023
Registration for the courses via WueStudy: : https://go.uniwue.de/welpwuestudy
The protection of the most important human cultural achievements and natural phenomena is a responsibility for the international community as their disappearance would be an irreplaceable loss for humanity as a whole. Thus, the protection of unique objects like the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, the Taj Mahal, the archaeological site of Olympia in Greece, Ayers Rock or the Grand Canyon is the aim of the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) of 1972. UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which has been growing steadily over the last fourty years, is considered by many to be the first example of a modern international cultural policy. Here, as a basic principle, cultures have equal rights. Meanwhile 1.121 cultural and natural sites from 167 states are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
To date, 46 German sites have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Buildings, urban areas and archaeological sites, monuments to industrial history and cultural landscapes in Germany have become part of the world cultural heritage. World natural heritage covers important ecosystems, testaments to evolutionary history, natural paradises and protected reserves for animals and plants. As UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of cultural encounter and understanding between peoples they provide the opportunity to enhance the knowledge about oneself by exploring one’s own and other cultures.
Therefore the lecture wants to inform the students about the different German sites and their outstanding importance. In particular we shall have to deal with the following objects: Aachen Cathedral (World Heritage site since 1978), Speyer Cathedral (1981), Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square (1981), Pilgrimage Church of Wies (1983), Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl (1984), St Mary’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Church at Hildesheim (1985), Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier (1986), Hanseatic City of Lübeck (1987), Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (1990), Abbey of Lorsch (1991), Mines of Rammelsberg and Historic Town of Goslar (1992), Town of Bamberg (1993), Maulbronn Monastery Complex (1993), Collegiate Church, Castle, and Old Town of Quedlinburg (1994), Völklingen Ironworks (1994), Messel Pit Fossil Site (1995), Cologne Cathedral (1996), Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar and Dessau (1996), Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg (1996), Classical Weimar (1998), Wartburg Castle (1999), Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (1999), Garden Realm of Dessau-Wörlitz (2000), Monastic Island of Reichenau (2000), Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen (2001), Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar (2002), Upper Middle Rhine Valley (2002), Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen (2004), Muskauer Park / Park Muzakowski (2004), Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Upper German-Raetian Limes (2005), Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof (2006), Housing Estates in the Berlin Modern Style (2008), The Wadden Sea (2009), Ancient Beech Forests of Germany (2011), Fagus Factory in Alfeld (2011), Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps (2011), etc.
Lecturer: Dr. Peter A. Süß
This lecture will take the students on an interesting and informative trip through the German parliamentary history and the structure and functions of the German parliament, the “Bundestag”. It will furthermore show you round its most symbolic edifice, the “Reichstag” building. So the intention is to give the students the opportunity to learn about the development of parliamentarism in Germany through the last two hundred years as well as about the procedures and tasks of the German “Bundestag” today. We will also take a tour of its buildings, and undoubtedly discover a few surprises about Parliament of which most people were previously unaware, such as its remarkable art collection. The students will gain insights into the parliamentarians’ working week and how they negotiate the various, and occasionally arduous, stages in the passage of legislation.
The glass dome of the “Reichstag” Building, designed by British architect Norman Foster at the “Bundestag’s” specific request, has not only rapidly become the new emblem of Berlin. It is also a tangible symbol of parliamentary reform, of greater transparency and openness. Norman Foster’s renovation now shows, in terms of both outer appearance and interior design, the extent of the transformation in Parliament’s self-image. When the “Reichstag” was built, at the time of the German Empire, the seat of Parliament had to be as imposing as possible to allow the young Parliament to demonstrate its self-confidence with regard to the Imperial Palace, the seat of the monarchy. Today, the renovated “Reichstag” exudes confidence with a note of self-irony; it is a building fittingly characterised by dramatic openings, clear perspectives and transparent structures – which phenomena are the signature features of contemporary parliamentary life in a modern democracy of the 21st century, too.
Lecturer: Dr. Peter A. Süß
In the last decades and in the course of worldwide cultural but also economic linking-up, events like Halloween or Valentine’s Day arrived in Germany and Europe. Formally, those originally American festivities were not known in Germany and the rest of Europe. However, this does not mean that these countries did not have their own customs and traditions. Actually, each of them looks back on a huge amount of different local, regional and even nationwide customs for any kind of event: practices for annually repeating feasts like Christmas and Easter or saints’ days, e.g. processions or parish fairs, as well as modes for special and individual festivities as weddings, baptisms and funerals. Many of them have medieval or even pre-Christian, viz. pagan, origins, as e.g. midsummer, the so called ‘Johannisfeuer’ in Germany. The course will give an overview over different German regions and their churchly and worldly customs as well as a pass through the ecclesiastical year with its most important rites and traditions. It can help students from abroad, but also students from different German regions to understand the different practices they might see during their stay in Germany and maybe even participate in them to experience centuries-old traditions in different locations.
Lecturer: Luise Stark, M.A.
For understanding Germany in its contemporary state, the topic of Christian religion must not be skipped. As one of the key places of doctrinal and institutional debates within Christianity, Germany plays a prominent role in Church history; in consequence, this role did not only change the Church but Germany as well.
We look at key topics of Christianity that have a lasting influence on Germany as a European state, such as the Church as a social body, the sacramental matter of public Church service, the doctrine of original sin, the value of good deeds, and the relation of the Church to Judaism.
In our course, we will not only look into central passages of Christian doctrine; further, we will visit specific places in Würzburg that share a close connection to Church history.
Lecturer: Dr. Florian Klug
What food is typically German? Everybody could name some traditional dishes like Sauerkraut, sausages, pretzels or Schweinebraten. But why are these dishes the traditional dishes of Germany? How and when were they created? And does really every German eat them? In this course, we will follow the history of German food. Our journey will start with the first inhabitants of the country we call Germany today and will follow the food through the markets of the Middle Ages to our supermarkets today. The German cuisine is rich in regional variations, which are not only due to geographical and climatic reasons but also influenced by the special German history. Besides the history of some German dishes and typical ingredients, you will also learn a good bit about German’s history and its (food-)culture. This course will also take a look at the ways food is prepared and how and when food is eaten in Germany.
Lecturer: Dr. Christina Schäfer
The stylistic period between Renaissance and Neoclassicism is called Baroque and lasted from 1575 to 1770. In art history this era is divided in Early Baroque (ca. 1600-1650), High Baroque (ca. 1650-1720) and Late Baroque or Rococo (ca. 1720-1770). Baroque art can be defined as the typical kind of artistic development in the period of Absolutism and Catholic (Counter-)Reform which started its existence in Italy and, then, spread first over the catholic countries of Europe before finally establishing itself in a modified way in protestant regions, too. Thus, still today we find many examples of baroque art in Würzburg, its vicinity and all of southern Germany – a situation, which provides the best opportunities to become acquainted with this style during one’s studies at Würzburg University. The most important tasks architects, painters and sculptors had to fulfil in that epoch were to explain the christian belief to the faithful and allow them, with their artistic means, a first “glimpse into heaven” or, on the other side, to express and emphasise the power and importancce of the absolute princes. In consequence the artists had to build and decorate a plethora of beautiful churches and sumptuous palaces, they also had to project huge symmetrical gardens and to design new geometrical plannings for cities recently founded to glorify the princes. As the greatest achievement of this period might be mentionned its trial to unify the three main branches of fine art – architecture, painting and scultpure – in order to create a unity of the genres. This very impressive fact – called “Gesamtkunstwerk” – evoques a complexity in art that has never been achieved before or after that era. In many cases a kind of melting procedure happens between the artistic branches bringing illusion, imagination and reality to a close contextual situation which is often breathtaking. The projected lecture will exemplify baroque art in all its periodical subdivisions as well as in architecture, painting and sculpture using the vast repertory provided in southern Germany. Thus architects like Balthasar Neumann (1687-1753), Johann Dientzenhofer (1665-1726) and Dominikus Zimmermann (1685-1766), painters like Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770), Cosmas Damian Asam (1686-1739) and Johannes Zick (1702-1762) or sculptors like Balthasar Permoser (1651-1732), Ignaz Günther (1725-1775) and Egid Quirin Asam (1692-1750) with all their masterpieces will be in the focus of our interest.
Lecturer: Dr. Peter A. Süß
"True Crime" is becoming increasingly popular. The genre owes its rise in particular to the media coverage, but in doing so, the latter has perhaps also struck a nerve with recipients. On the one hand, the seminar will thus focus on the legal historical development in Germany, but on the other hand, it will also discuss spectacular legal cases. In this way, participants will gain an insight into the German legal and media system. On this journey through such cultures of memory in Germany, the participants will encounter, for example, the "Vampire of Düsseldorf" and assess for themselves whether they would have convicted someone or not. To successfully complete the course, participants will present and write up a well-known case from their home country (optionally a different country).
Lecturer: Dr. Christina Schäfer/Lisa Stolz M.A.
What do coffee filters, hole punches, cars, and pretzels have in common? All of these things are German inventions. Germany is famous for its inventiveness, but where does this show up in everyday life? What famous inventions are around us? Who was involved and what does „invention“ actually mean?
In this course, we follow inventions big and small in different categories, discovering the stories and people behind them. For many inventions, there is more than one ingenious inventor behind them. Our focus is on Germany, but we will also look beyond national borders to follow the path of inventions. We also talk about the problems that exist, the stealing of ideas, and the protection against this by patents.
Lecturer: Dr. Christina Schäfer
Germany was not only the country of many poets but also the homeland of world famous composers and musicians. Until today music in all his aspects – theory and practice – plays an important role in German cultural life. Dealing with German Music History and its content can be a life-long scholarly work and experience. So the lecture will focus in the way of spotlights on 1000 years of German Music Tradition dealing with sacred and secular music and its composers and intellectual background. In a chronological way it will illustrate step by step the periods from “Minnesang” to twelve-tone composition (“dodecaphonism”). The course wants to give to the student an overview and a basic knowledge in German Music History and at the end maybe the ability to attend concerts more open minded.
Lecturer: Alexander Hofmann M.A.
Germany is dotted with historical monuments of all decades – and so is Würzburg. The big mystic fortresses built during the Middle Ages that survived the centuries still haven’t ceased to fascinate contemporary visitors. Their stones may impress, but can they talk? Can they tell us how their inhabitants lived, what they thought and cared about? Places and buildings may take our bodies and eyes on an imaginary time travel, but only scripts and books of those times can take our minds back into the past and bring them close to the minds of former authors and poets.
We are going to set out on that journey, will dive into medieval literature and discover the oldest written testimonies about knights and heroes, courtly love and wild adventures. On our way we are going to get to know the historical background, the social structures and some of the stages of development of the German language used back then – Old and Middle High German.
After the Renaissance and Reformation the next important step of the Early Modern Period is the Baroque era. The traumatic experience of the Thirty Years’ War is reflected in very profound and lively prose and in poetry full of symbols worth explanation and interpretation.
The Latin language plays an important role in didactic poetry. The modern period starts with the great authors of the Enlightenment, among them Immanuel Kant, the philosopher, or Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, the founder of humanitarianism.
The second half of the 18th century is coined by the Sensibility, – its ultimate bestseller Goethe’s ‘Die Leiden des jungen Werthers’ – and by the movement of the highly emotional ‘Sturm and Drang’ as an opposition to the rationalism imposed by the Enlightenment. The protagonists – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich von Schiller both moved on to the Weimar Classicism, one of the most fertile and famous epochs in German literature.
In the late 18th and early 19th century, the pendulum swung back towards the idea of an idealized world of the Middle Ages and towards the rather irrational and supernatural facets of the human mind during the Age of Romanticism.
Biedermeier and Vormärz, Poetic Realism and Naturalism close the 19th century. The 20th opens with fresh ideas in Symbolism, Expressionism or Dada. During the National Socialist regime there were several movements in literature: the official propaganda, the literature of the ‘internal emigration’ and the works of authors who went into exile to write against the war and the Nazi regime, men like Bertold Brecht or Thomas Mann.
Post-war literature dominates the decades after the end of 2nd World War. The situation in East Germany is an important factor in both history and literature. Postmodern and contemporary literature finally bring us back to the days of our lifetime.
Lecturer: Dr. Christina Schäfer
Currently consisting of twenty-seven member states with supranational and intergovernmental features, the European Union has not only created a political and economic community, but also a single market by a system of laws which apply in all member states, guaranteeing the freedom of movement of people, goods, services, and capital.
In this course, we will look at the development of the European Union from the European Economic Community (EEC), established in 1957 as a customs union, to the introduction of the Euro as a common currency adopted by fifteen member states in 1999, to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 and beyond. Topics presented include (but may not limited to) decision-making in the EU, the various EU institutions such as the Commission, the Council of the EU, the EU Parliament, the EU Central Bank etc.; immigration and asylum; foreign and security policy; Brexit and Euroscepticism, the European Green Deal. Additionally, we will study and discuss national particularities such as the German social security system, the German labor market etc.
Lecturer: Sabrina Hüttner M.A.
What do Germans think about Americans? What do Americans think about Germans? German-American relations have been in flux, especially in the past decades. Has it always been like this? This class looks at German-American relations in literature and culture.
We will read texts ranging from the 19th into the 21st century, covering different literary genres (novels, short stories, poetry, political theory). The readings allow for a discussion of a wide range of topics, including political and historical issues (such as migration, war experiences, racism) but also cultural phenomena such as stereotypes or practices of assimilation.
Lecturer: Marie-Claire Franca Leitner
Dieser Kurs bietet eine Übersicht zu makroökonomischen Grundlagen und angewandten Problemstellungen mit einem Fokus auf den Euroraums. Er stützt sich auf einen theoretischen Teil, der eine kritische Darstellung der beiden zentralen makroökonomischen Paradigmen bietet: den (neo)klassischen Ansatz und den keynesianischen Ansatz. Dies ermöglicht eine vergleichende Analyse der politischen Implikationen für wichtige makroökonomische Themen (Arbeitslosigkeit, Inflation, Staatsverschuldung, Finanzsystem). Im politikorientierten Teil werden die Geldpolitik der EZB und die Herausforderungen für die Finanzpolitik im Euroraum erörtert, die sich aus der fehlenden Integration der Finanzpolitik ergeben. Der Kurs wird auch andere Euroraum-spezifische Themen behandeln (z.B. Optimaler Währungsraum, Euro-Krisen, Next Generation EU).
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Peter Bofinger
Lecturer: Rachel Zöpfl
Lecturer: Dr. Matthias Erhardt
Key Facts and Objectives
- The programme is designed for students from all countries and disciplines who wish to improve their intercultural skills and gain a better understanding of their host country, Germany.
- The courses are open to international and German students of the University of Würzburg.
- The teaching language is English.
- The programme runs over a period of ten weeks. Winter term: mid-October to mid-December, Summer term: mid-May to mid-July.
- Students are free to choose and attend one or more classes according to their preferences and interests.
- Interdisciplinary and internationally oriented courses designed to promote intercultural competence and deepen insights into key aspects of German civilisation: History, politics, law, economics, the arts, etc.
Requirements and Admission
The programme is open to all students planning or enrolled at the University of Würzburg for a semester/year of study abroad and also for regular studentes of the University of Würzburg, regardless of their chosen degree programme. All courses will be taught in English.
Students are expected to have a keen interest in the field of intercultural studies and in relevant areas of German culture.
Examination requirements:
- Regular attendance, session minutes and two written papers, or
- Regular attendance, three written assignments, or
- Regular attendance, session minutes and written examination, or
- Regular attendance, a term paper and an oral presentation in class.
You will receive 3 ECTS for each course.
Programme Directors
Dr. Christina Schäfer

Philosophiegebäude
Übungsraum 24
Am Hubland
97074 Würzburg
Tel.: +49 931 31-85383
Fax: +49 931 31-84601
E-Mail Habilitationen: habilitationen.phil@uni-wuerzburg.de
E-Mail Promotionen: promotionen.phil@uni-wuerzburg.de
E-Mail EvaExam: evaexam.phil@uni-wuerzburg.de
E-Mail Evaluationen: evaluation.phil@uni-wuerzburg.de
E-Mail WELP: welp.phil@uni-wuerzburg.de
Bürozeiten:
Mo-Do: Vormittags oder nach Vereinbarung
Bitte vereinbaren Sie immer einen Termin, wenn Sie persönlich Unterlagen abgeben möchten.
Hinweis:
Aufgrund der übergangsweisen Unterbringung des Dekanats in Großraumbüros ist Publikumsverkehr nur eingeschränkt und nur mit vorher vereinbartem Termin möglich. Bitte prüfen Sie, ob Ihre Angelegenheit auch auf elektronischem oder fernmündlichem Weg erledigt werden kann.
Urlaub:
14.08.2023
08.09.2023-08.10.2023
Dr. Peter A. Süß

Dean's Office Faculty of Philosophy
University of Würzburg
Am Hubland 97074 Würzburg
Room 24
Phone: ++49 (0) 931 - 31-80781
Fax: ++49 (0) 931 - 31-84601
peter.suesz@uni-wuerzburg.de
News:
Dr. Süß is out of office:
03.04.2023 - 14.04.2023
Aktuelles:
Das Büro ist zu nachfolgenden Zeiten nicht besetzt:
03.04.2023 - 14.04.2023
Contact
E-Mail: welp.phil@uni-wuerzburg.de
Office of the Dean
Faculty of Arts, Historical, Philological, Cultural and Geographical Studies
University of Würzburg
Am Hubland
97074 Würzburg
Lecturers
The programme is taught by specialists in their respective fields. The lecturers have a wide range of specialisations and cultural interests and encourage a trans- and interdisciplinary approach to course work. All lecturers are listed here.