Munich Handbook - Your Year in Munich

Academic Program
All students participate in the Vorsemester, or Presemester, which lasts four weeks through the month of September. During this time you will be placed in an intensive language class which will prepare you for university level work, and for which you will be granted 8 semester hours of credit. In addition to language classes, this time will be devoted to general orientation to Munich and its cultural and historical background.

The school year in Germany is divided into two semesters. The Winter Semester begins mid-October and runs until mid-February. The Summer Semester starts the third week in April and goes until the end of July. Spring vacation between semesters lasts from mid-February through the third week in April. Christmas break generally lasts from the last Friday before December 24 until January 6.

Courses
You will be able to take courses both through the Year of Study staff as well as at the University of Munich.

Courses offered by the Year of Study in Munich
The Year of Study in Munich staff offers at least four courses that complement offerings at the University of Munich and the language department of your home campus. Although courses vary depending on what is being taught at the university, the following courses are offered regularly:

Winter Semester
Advanced German Review I (Sprachkurs)
Culture and Civilization (Landeskunde)
Art through the Ages I (Kunstgeschichte I)
German Literature of the 90's
German Poetry
Lithography and Drawing

Summer Semester
Advanced German Review II (Sprachkurs)
German Literature in Film und Theater
Art through the Ages II (Kunstgeschichte II)
Lithography and Drawing

Note that there are less courses offered by Lewis & Clark during the summer semester. This is to encourage students to take advantage of the wide selection of classes at the University of Munich.

Although the Lewis & Clark literature offerings vary somewhat from year to year, certain courses recur. You can expect to see one or more of the following titles during your year in Munich:

• Literatur der BRD und DDR
• Literarischer Spaziergang durch Muenchen
• Deutsche Dichtung im Vortrag
• Deutschland, aber wo liegt es
• Flucht in die Freiheit: Deutsche Schriftsteller in den USA

The format of these classes is very much like the format of classes at your home institution: lecture/discussion, readings, quizzes, papers, oral reports and a final exam. There are also excursions outside the classroom which accompany the coursework, such as visiting museums, theaters, and other cultural events. All courses are graded and conducted in German.

Year of Study classes are held in a classroom located near the university. The classroom is easily accessible from the Studentenstadt by U-Bahn or bike.

Courses offered by the University of Munich
These courses fall into two main categories:

a) Vorlesungen, large lecture classes where the professor reads his or her notes and students listen. There is little discussion in these classes. In order to receive a grade, you must take lecture notes and make arrangements with the program director to have them evaluated and you must write a paper.

b) Seminare and Proseminare are smaller classes, where students take a greater responsibility for what happens in class. In a Seminar you will write a "Referat" (a paper) and/or take an exam. Participation in class discussion is expected. In contrast to a Vorlesung, at the end of a Seminar you will receive a Schein, or a certificate stating that you have completed the requirements for the course, along with a grade.

When a number of students take the same university course, tutorials are arranged for with a professor from the university who reviews the material with the students to insure complete understanding. These sessions are very helpful, especially during the first semester when you may not understand everything completely.

Field Trips
During the orientation period, excursions to Neuschwanstein, Augsburg, and Regensburg are offered to acquaint students with the history and culture of the state of Bavaria. A one week long trip takes students to Berlin. Here students learn the differences between the historical developments in Prussia and Bavaria, and compare political and social developments in the DDR and BRD. They also observe first hand the issues surrounding German unification. In the past we have also taken field trips to Weimar, Dresden, Prague and Vienna during the summer semester.

ZIS-Reisen
Students may also be selected to participate in a ZIS-Reise, a UNESCO-sponsored study-travel program during which students are paid a small stipend to travel to the country of their choice and pursue a topic of interest to them. Students keep a detailed journal and write a substantial paper, both of which are submitted to the ZIS committee for evaluation. For years, the ZIS program has provided students with a stimulating experience during the semester break.

Credits
Students normally enroll for between 12 and 16 hours per semester. Year of Study courses are 4 semester hours. Exams and/or term papers are required in all courses taken for credit. Letter grades are given at the end of each semester.

At the end of the program, the director evaluates all course work and forwards this information to the Registrar at Lewis and Clark College. This information is then forwarded to your home institution. You should receive an official transcript directly from your registrar.

Honors
Students with outstanding German language skills and strong writing ability are invited by the German faculty to participate in the departmental honors program. In order to qualify, students must have an overall GPA of 3.5 and a GPA of 3.5 in German courses. They should also have demonstrated their exceptional interest in German literature and culture and their ability to work independently through their involvement in the Munich program in one or more of the following areas:

• success in courses taken at the University of Munich
• participation in a ZIS-Reise
• involvement in extracurricular activities

Transportation in Munich
Some students travel around Munich by bicycle, and others prefer the U-Bahn which is fast, clean and safe. The ride from the Studentenstadt into town or to the L&C-Institute takes about 10 minutes. If you prefer to see where you're going, make use of the excellent Strassenbahn system. You can purchase a Monatskarte at a substantially reduced rate as a student. You will be informed about transportation in detail when you arrive.