Students typically enroll in Notre Dame-staffed courses at the University of Innsbruck. Students with advanced language skills are encouraged to enroll in regular University courses if they meet the language level requirements set by Leopold Franzens Universität Innsbruck (LFU).  ND Business students with junior standing are also eligible and encouraged to take LFU business courses with the understanding that enrolling in these courses will likely require additional commitments (attending a mandatory orientation with LFU’s School of Management, class attendance into mid-July, etc.).  ND Business students with sophomore standing are not eligible to take LFU business courses without written permission from the Mendoza College of Business.  If you are interested in learning about the available business courses at LFU please contact the Program Manager, Mr. David Younger.    

To earn ND credit for LFU courses, students must seek approval directly from a relevant ND department on campus. All, ND departments will require syllabi, if available, and/or actual coursework from the class.

Typically, the two types of courses Notre Dame Students may enroll in at LFU are proseminars and seminars, provided that the language requirements of LFU have been met. Students interested in taking LFU courses must seek the guidance of the resident director and program manager at Notre Dame.

Proseminar (PS):
Only students in their second year of college (sophomores) may enroll in PS courses at LFU. Notre Dame will award 2 credits for PS courses and these will be registered at the level determined by the approving department on the ND student transcript.

• Seminar (SE):
  Students in their second & third year of college (sophomores & juniors) may enroll in SE courses. Notre Dame will award 3 credits and register SE courses also at a level determined by the approving ND department on the ND student transcript.

German language conditions do not apply to PS or SE courses taken in the Departments of English and American Studies.

For courses taught by Notre Dame faculty in Innsbruck, see listing below:

Click for Fall Courses ::: Click for Spring Courses

LANGUAGE COURSES

Generally, both Intensive Oral German and Grammar, Conversation I and Tutorial - Intermediate are offered during the fall semester and both Grammar, Conversation I and Tutorial - Intermediate and Practical Reading, Conversation I and Tutorial - Advanced are offered during the spring semester.  However, depending on enrollment in the program all three course levels may be offered during any given semester. 

Intensive Oral German - offered by instructors formerly affiliated with the Goethe Institute (G.I.)
GE 24210 IA (3 credits) [Deutsch als Fremdsprache I (DAF I)]

An intensive refresher language course required for all Innsbruck participants.

Grammar, Conversation I and Tutorial - Intermediate
GE 24231 IA (4 credits) [Deutsch als Fremdsprache II (DAF II)]

Fall 2009 Syllabus
The aim of the course "Deutsch als Fremdsprache II" is to extend and consolidate the students' skills in using the German language in daily life, as well as in the university and the scientific field. While the course on the one hand is conceived to improve the understanding of the language and the oral and written expression, it will on the other hand convey Austrian and German culture. Although the course is based on a textbook, classical and current texts will be read and discussed as well as articles from the media that will be chosen according to the previous knowledge of the students. As required, selected chapters of grammar will be repeated during the lessons, combined with corresponding exercises. Through short discussions and small vivid conversations about various topics, the students will learn to act and react in specific situations of daily life. Specific vocabulary will be given beforehand and thus practiced. Students will be prepared for following conversations and scientific papers in German, to describe their own point of view in a convincing manner, and to participate as best as possible in free speech. (Prerequisite: GE 101 - 102 F)

Practical Reading, Conversation I and Tutorial - Advanced
GE 24233 IA (4 credits) [Deutsch als Fremdsprache III (DAF III)]
The aim of the course "Deutsch als Fremdsprache III" is to extend and consolidate the students' skills in practicing the German language in daily life as well as in the university and the scientific field. While the course on the one hand is conceived to improve the understanding of the language and the oral and written expression, it will on the other hand convey German and Austrian culture. Since the course is not based on a textbook, classical and current texts will be read, as well as articles from the media that will be chosen according to the previous knowledge of the students. Via discussions and vivid conversations during the lessons about various topics, the students will learn how to act and react in everyday situations by using specific vocabulary, which will be given to them beforehand. One goal among others is to enable the students to follow conversations and scientific papers and discussions in German, and to describe their own point of view in a convincing manner and in free speech. Various texts and exercises will be used to train and to improve the written expression. As required, a selected chapter of grammar can be repeated. Prerequisite: GE 121 - 122F

FALL COURSES

The Roots of Reason
CSEM 24101 IA or GE 34280 IA (3 credits)
From nature to culture: this course takes the student on a voyage of discovery: to discover the roots of Western civilization and thought, the basic beliefs about human life and destiny which were embodied in myths, legends and customs and which later emerged implicitly and explicitly in literature, philosophy and science. Why think? How and why did humans evolve the capacity for rational thought? How did our Western way of thinking develop from its roots? How can we better comprehend the structure of our ways of seeing, conceiving, and judging the world from our understanding of the history of mind and its rationality? What dangers and chances do our ways of thinking, reflecting and assessing involve – and how can we find ways of enriching our understanding in the service of the highest ideals found in our tradition? These fundamental issues demand historical and systematic investigation using the resources of the natural sciences (especially biology and psychology) and the arts, and thus require an interdisciplinary approach adequate to the richness, importance and complexity of the questions involved.

European Politics in the 20th Century
POLS 34421 or GE 34421 IA (3 credits)
The course European Politics in the 20th Century will focus on an introductory part and two main parts. The introduction will be a short outline of characteristics of contemporary Austrian politics. The first main part will be a discussion of characteristics of 20th Century European History-especially the developments after World War I, the rise of Fascism and Nazism and the theory and practice of Nazism. The second main part will focus on special aspects of political science-democracy, political parties, election systems, conflicts and political culture, media systems, European Union, Europe at the end of the century and transformation processes. Part of the course is also a visit to Tiroler Tageszeitung, the widest spread regional daily in Tyrol.

History of the European Arts
ARHI 24563 or GE 24563 IA (3 credits)
This course aims to make the development of painting in the past 2000 years comprehensively intelligible and also to impart as concrete an understanding as possible, thus enabling participants to make rough classifications and assessments in the course of future encounters with originals. Following the introductory section dealing with the nature of picture on an anthropological basis, the history of painting will be followed chronologically from late antiquity/the early Christian period up to the present. Both the change in content and the change in form will be dealt with equally. Parallel to this, the history of art theory and aestheticism will be treated as a philosophical background. The other fields of art (architecture, sculpture, decorative arts, etc.) and the historical complex (political, socioeconomic and scientific development) are introduced exemplarity within the context. In order to prevent the History of Painting being linked solely with the reproductions shown brief excursions will be held to enable contact with originals from the respective period.

SPRING COURSES

European Philosophy in the 20th Century
PHIL 34501
The course gives a survey of the most important philosophers and schools in Europe in the last century. The course concentrates on philosophers who exerted a high influence on contemporary Anglo-Saxon philosophy, either via emigration (e.g., the Vienna Circle and Popper) or strong reception (e.g., Habermas). 

Trends in Psychoanalysis
PSY 34370 or GE 34370 IA (3 credits)
Psychoanalysis has become an unavoidable part of modern knowledge, with far-reaching effects on the thinking, behavior, literature, morals and aspirations of our era. Not only in the restricted sphere of mental health, but also in medicine and education, and extending into everyday human relations, the consequences of Freud's thought have been revolutionary. This course is an introduction to the psychoanalytic way of understanding the human person and the worlds of feelings and thought.

Doing Christian Theology Today
THEO 24220 or GE 24216 IA (3 credits)
The aim of this course is to provide students with an introduction to Christian theology in the Catholic tradition for our modern day. For a religion that bases itself on a divine revelation, it is essential to clarify the central importance of revelation and inspiration on the one hand, and show adequate hermeneutics and ways of interpreting revelation on the other hand. One hermeneutical instrument is “Dramatic Theology”, which draws on literary drama as a model for the interpretation of the history of revelation and Scripture. After introducing this model we will put it to use in analyzing THE Christian event of salvation: Jesus of Nazareth’s incarnation, life, death and resurrection. This event is the center and nexus of Christian theology. From here we can reach out to other main themes of it: Christology, Trinity, creation, anthropology, Church and sacraments, eschatology, ethics. These will be considered with reference to theology’s difficult role within modernity’s understanding of academia and society. In the process students will also get a good look at schools of theology that originated in Innsbruck (esp. K. Rahner and Dramatic Theology) but found world-wide recognition. Thus to look at theology locally will make for helpful theological tools globally.

Eastern Enlargement of the European Union
ECON 34771 (3 credits)
On 1 May 2004, eight central and eastern European countries together with Cyprus and Malta joined the European Union (EU). The “Eastern Enlargement” was the EU’s biggest enlargement ever in terms of scope and diversity. This course discusses the process of integration within the European Union and analyzes the Eastern Enlargement of the EU. We will start with a look at the historical evolution and the institutions of the EU. The main part of the course offers an extensive discussion of the pros and cons of the Eastern Enlargement: a) effects on the Common Agricultural Policy b) effects on the community budget c) effects on the migration of labor, etc. At the end of the course students should be in the position to discuss the costs and benefits of the Eastern Enlargement.

European/Austrian History and Civilization
HIST 34469 or GE 34469 IA (3 credits)
Part I of this course offers a study of the Habsburg Empire and covers the period of 1500 and 1789. Symbolized by the imperial dignity, Austria's role as an epoch-making power is carefully analyzed within the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire. Special emphasis is laid on the attempt to transform the Habsburg possessions into a modern, centralized state under the auspices of enlightened absolutism. Part II (1789-1918) analyzes: a) the stagnation of reform following the French Revolution, b) the Napoleonic Wars and the revolutions of 1830/1848, c) the attempt to cope with industrialization and the rise of growing nationalism, constitutionalism, and imperialism, d) the compromise with Hungary and the failure of the multinational empire, and e) the eventual breakup under the strain of WWI. It also offers a study of the paths taken by Austria from the collapse of the Habsburg Empire to the present stability of the small Austrian Republic as part of the European Union.

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MORE COURSE INFORMATION:

• For courses at the University of Innsbruck (UIBK) refer to the Directory of Faculties/Departments:

http://orawww.uibk.ac.at/public_prod/owa/lfuonline_lv.home
info.uibk.ac.at/idx/index-en.html

• Past courses approved by Notre Dame Departments can be found by clicking here

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