German Literature

Introduction

Research field:
German Literature Studies offer a five-year doctoral program in the broad field of German-language literature, comprising Austrian, German, and Swiss literary works. After a period of two years a mid-term thesis has to be handed in, which will lead to a M.A. diploma. The final three years will be devoted to a doctoral thesis, that will be rewarded with the academic title of a doctor of literature.

Educational goals:

1. Independent research
In the informal, closely-knit atmosphere of a small research group we analyze literature from various social and cultural perspectives, and encourage our post-graduate students to choose diverse topics, research and theoretical methods, as well as international approaches according to individual liking. We also stress the continual improvement of excellent German language skills, which will endow our post-graduate students with the abilities needed for the teaching of German language and literature classes in and outside of university.

2. Publication of research results
Research results will not only be published in the journals affiliated to the Japanese Society of German Literature, but also in the University of Tsukuba’s own academic journal of the Society of German Literature, “Rhodus”.

3. Studies Abroad
We strongly recommend our post-graduate students to study abroad, not only in order to improve German language skills, and to deepen their insights into academic research, but also to get a better understanding of cultural diversity. For these studies abroad there are not only a number of public scholarships available, such as those of the Japanese Ministry of Education and its Austrian, German, and Swiss counterparts (namely Germany’s DAAD), the University of Tsukuba also enjoys the advantage of close academic partnerships and student exchanges with the “Free University of Berlin”, the University of Bonn, and the University of Bayreuth. Post-graduate students are strongly encouraged to make ample use of these international relationships.

4. Non-university relations
Apart from university teaching we are in the habit of organizing yearly seminars not only for members of our and other universities, but also for members of non-university cultural institutions, teachers, and others interested in German culture. The most famous of these to name here is of course the “Interuni Seminar”. These seminars provide a rich and enthusiastic exchange beyond the university curriculum. There is also the yearly “Danube-Party” of the University of Tsukuba in June which brings together in a warmhearted and friendly atmosphere all those, university members, as well as friends and international guests, who are interested in German culture and language.

Professional Perspectives:
After the promotion to doctor of literature most of our post-graduate students continue to work in education or research. They have been accepted as university teachers as well as non-permanent teachers at Yamaguchi University, Mie University, Hiroshima University, the Technical University of Nagoya, Tokushima University, the Women’s University of Showa, The Japanese Women’s University, Waseda University, Meiji University, the Aoyama Women’s College and so on.

Faculty

Heselhaus, Herrad	German Literature, Comparative Literature

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