UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA—COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
HUM 4970 CRN TBA
Germany: Kaisers, Crackpots, and
Captains of Industry
Course Travel Dates:
May 17-June 1, 2014
INSTRUCTORS:
HUM 4970
GERM 4970
HIST 4970/5970
Dr. Mary Brodnax
Dr. H.R. Nollert
Dr. Michael S. Springer
Humanities & Philosophy
LAR 203D
Modern Language & Cultures
THH 202
History & Geography
LAR 202C
405-974-5630
mbrodnax@uco.edu
405-974-5845
hnollert@uco.edu
405-974-5453
mspringer@uco.edu
Office Hours TBA
Office Hours TBA
Office Hours TB
Course description: HUM 4970 –Study Tour in Humanities. Credit varies. Subject
matter varies within the department’s field of study.
This course provides students with direct experience of major artistic, architectural, and
historical markers of the western cultural tradition and ideas. The Humanities section
trains students to assess artifacts produced over 2000 years to assess their cultural
significance for the present day. Students are taught to distinguish between intellectual
insight, artistic expression and factual information on the one hand, and propaganda,
kitsch, and misinformation on the other. Students will learn about:
 Basic skills of international travel: to plan a trip, carry through on the travel in a
safe and educational manner, record experiences that contribute to global
learning, and finally evaluate experiences to become a well-rounded global
citizen.
 Crucial aspects of European intellectual and cultural history, covering historical,
social, political, artistic, economic, and technological topics. This learning is
enhanced by on-site experiences.
Student travelers will return to UCO prepared to re-contextualize their experiences with
several additional semesters of learning. This study tour can become a central component
of a lifetime of travel, reflection, and evaluation for UCO students.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission required. Students cannot enroll for this class
online—enrollment is handled by the instructor due to the study abroad aspect of the
class.
Required readings, viewings, and other materials:
Guidebooks
1. DK Eyewitness Travel (Munich and the Bavarian Alps, 2012), ISBN-13: 9780756684181 (pack for trip)
2. DK Eyewitness Travel (Berlin, 2013), ISBN-13: 978-1465400475 (pack for trip)
Munich
3. Reader: “Hans Jacob Fugger and the Origins of the Wunderkammer” (Mark A.
Meadow)
4. Reader: Beer in the Middle Ages and Renaissance (Richard W. Unger) excerpt
5. Reader: “Modern Art and Politics in Prewar Germany” (Stephanie Barron)
6. Reader: “Three Days in Munich, July 1937” (Peter Guenther)
Wittenberg and Potsdam
7. Reader: “Instructions for daily prayer” by Martin Luther
8. The Great King (film, 1942)
Berlin
9. Reader: “The Turning Point” from Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl by
Stephen Bach (2007)
10. The Comedian Harmonists (film)
11. Clips from Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will (film, 1935)
12. Reader: “Locomotive over the Friedrichstraße” and “Berlin Figures” from Streets in
Berlin and Elsewhere by Siegfried Kracauer (1987, written between 1925-1933)
13. Reader: “The Bread” by Wolfgang Borchert (1949)
14. Our Daily Bread (film, 1949)
Students view assigned films before departure for Europe, either in class screenings or by
loaning DVDs from the instructor’s department. The instructor will provide a reading
packet. Students will purchase the two guide books and pack them for use in Europe.
Supplies:
Messenger Bag
Digital Camera
Notebook (supplied by instructor), pens
Appropriate clothing for site visits (discussed in class sessions at UCO)
Computer optional
City maps optional, but recommended
Course objectives: At the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
1. An increased understanding of the contribution of western culture, from
ancient to modern and particularly as derived from Germanic cultures, to the
ideas, values, and images of contemporary global culture.
2. An ability to analyze and discuss changing views about the literal and
symbolic significance of artworks and material culture in European daily
life from Classical to Medieval to Renaissance to Modern to Contemporary
times.
3. An ability to recognize and evaluate distinct literary and artistic forms used to
express ideas such as those in item 2 above.
4. Expanded cultural observation and global competency skills related to the
practical aspects of international travel and life in a world metropolis.
5. Improved skills for analyzing and presenting information related to specific
texts, sites, and artifacts in written and oral form.
6. Application of the above objectives in the form of assignments including
quizzes, a brochure, a short film paper, a written journal, a photographic
essay, oral presentations, and an exam.
Transformative Learning Objectives:
The tour addresses Global Competency by having students travel to another country and
navigate both physically and culturally onsite.
The students who undertake the ‘directed learning day” will develop and display
Leadership skills through their collaborative planning of such an enterprise.
Health and Wellness are not directly addressed, although the significant walking and use
of public transportation should have positive side effects besides simple transportation.
The preparatory readings and map work will impart Discipline Knowledge to the
students.
Each student will Research the topic of his or her presentation subject.
There is no formal Service component.
COURSE ASSESSMENT:
Course grades will be calculated based on the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pre-trip Test
On-Site Report
o Oral Report
o Site Brochure
Daily Journal
Cultural Scavenger Hunt
Oral discussion
Map Quiz
Final Written Report
10%
20%
10%
20%
5%
5%
10%
20%
Grading scale:
90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = B; 60-69% = D; <60% = F
GUIDELINES FOR ORAL REPORTS:
Each student is required to give one oral report lasting 5-10 minutes. Report topics will
be selected during the Spring Semester and all research and preparation should be
completed before departing. Presentations will be made during on-site visits in Germany.
The following rules should be observed regarding the reports.
•
•
Each student is to sign up for one report during Spring Semester.
The reports should be at least five minutes in length, but not more than ten
minutes.
• Students should complete the research and writing of their reports before leaving
for Europe. Once we depart Oklahoma, you will not have much time to work on
the presentation. Finding copy shops can also be difficult on site. You should be
ready to give the report when you arrive in Germany.
• The report should contain the following five elements.
1. An overview: Provide a description of the person or place. For people, this
should include a discussion of when he/she lived, what he/she did, and
why this person is important. For buildings, parks, and objects, the
presentation should discuss what it is, who built/created it, when, why,
what purpose it served, and what purpose it serves today.
2. Significance: Presenters must discuss why they think this person, place or
object is significant.
3. Theme: Structure the report to have thesis.
4. Course Theme: Relate this person or place to the course theme (talk with
your instructor for general context). Name the era of the person or place.
5. Handout: You must prepare a handout to pass out to the class at the time
of your presentation. Your brochures will serve as a study guide for the
other students, so you should keep this in mind when preparing your
handout. The brochures must be a one-page, double-sided brochure. Paper
size should be A4 or Letter (8.5x11 in.). The handout must include the
following elements:
 your name, course number, and date of presentation;
 a clear and coherent synopsis of the information in your
presentation;
 visual aids (drawings, pictures, or graphs to support your
presentation);
 a works cited list.
GUIDELINES FOR JOURNALS:
The following guidelines should be followed when writing your daily journals.
• Journal entries must be hand-written in the book provided. (Please make sure your
writing is legible).
• If a worksheet has been provided for a site, use it to guide your commentary.
• You should make at least one journal entry for each day. Be sure to include the
date with each entry.
• Open (no worksheet) entries should include the following:
o an account of the sites visited and your reaction to them;
o a description of side trips that you made during your free time;
o a discussion of how these trips relate to the class theme
o an explicit connection to an earlier insight, lesson or site visit;
o your specific reaction to what you experienced that day.
 What new things did you see or experience?
 What new foods did you try?
 Was there anything unexpected?

•
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What sights, sounds, smells, etc. left an impression on you? What
did you like/not like?
 For Art museums—name a picture, provide a postcard of it and
write about what motivated your choice.
 For historical museums—select an exhibit or artifact, provide a
picture, postcard or description of it and describe the historical or
cultural insight provided through this item.
Journals must also include a typed copy of your oral presentation and the
brochures from all on-site reports.
Completed journals are to be turned in to your instructor at the end of each week.
(See schedule below.)
ORAL EXAMS:
The group will gather for a summative discussion at the end of each week in Europe.
These will account for your oral grade.
GUIDELINES FOR FINAL REPORT:
All students are required to submit a final report by Friday, June 28, 2014. The final
report should discuss the following topic: Evaluate the significance of two works of art in
terms of the factual information, intellectual insight and/or quality of artistic expression
that they provide. Compare their significance to at least one example of misinformation,
propaganda and/or kitsch. Discuss how the study tour changed your ability to assess
artworks in this way.
Written papers should be double-spaced, paginated, and 8-10 pages in length (without a
cover page). Outside research is not required, but appreciated and any resources must be
cited. Times New Roman (12-point) or similar font should be used, and page margins are
not to exceed 1 inch. You must include photos taken on the trip to illustrate your
arguments in the paper. These photos should either be in a PowerPoint slideshow or
accompany the report as an appendix. Pictures are not counted in the page length.
Guidelines for Cultural Scavenger Hunt
Note the date, time and identify the item for each instance. A digital photograph could be
added to the file, as well. The scavenger hunt should prompt observations in your
journal, so it is expected that items would appear in both documents.
Financial information
Course Cost: The study tour course costs $3150 per student, which covers airfare, lodging,
breakfasts, ground transportation, site admissions, and materials.
Costs not covered include UCO tuition, lunches and dinners, optional travel on directed learning
days, luggage, cameras, passport fee, souvenirs, and the International Student Identity Card which
includes travel insurance (available from the UCO Centre for Global Competency), or a
comparable travel insurance designated by the tour leaders. Payments towards the tour are made
at the UCO Bursar’s window. Students must be careful to have payments credited to the correct
Austria-Germany Study tour org number (provided by the instructor) and must bring a receipt to
the instructor.
Deposit: Students wishing to enroll in this course must fill out the study tour application and pay
a $200.00 deposit by Friday, 1 March 2014 to reserve their spot in the class. The instructor will
have to make non-refundable purchases for students, specifically air tickets and hotel bookings,
in order to obtain the most affordable prices. Once made, the non-refundable purchases cannot be
refunded if a student drops the class. The instructor will alert students to these purchases before
making them and require the students to sign a statement of understanding. The only possibility
for a refund under these circumstances is if the student dropping is replaced by another student
signing up.
Financial Aid: Students paying for the course with financial aid must pay $1500.00 of the trip
costs by 1 April 2014. The tour must have cash on hand by that date to book airline tickets and to
reserve hotels. Financial aid money will not be disbursed until May/June. Please consult with
your financial aid counselor if you wish to use financial aid to pay for this class.
Expectations of Students:
1. Regular attendance at scheduled pre- and post-trip class meetings at UCO and all
required class meetings, research sessions, and site visits in Vienna, Prague, and Berlin.
Absence penalty: 3% per class meeting.
2. Timely completion of readings and assignments. Students will need internet access in
the United States, Internet access is readily available in Europe.
3. Active participation in discussions and class work, with regular records in class
journals.
4. Active participation in site visits through discussion, photography, and note-taking.
5. Proper attention to health issues. Students must be prepared to spend long days doing
research and, on some days, must also visit museums or attend performances. Due to the
time change, the class schedule, and the walking we will do in Vienna, Prague, and
Berlin, students must eat, drink, and rest in a manner that supports sustained exertion.
Students with medical issues must discuss these with the instructor prior to departure and
be prepared to maintain a proper regimen while abroad.
6. Proper attention to clothing: Students must have closed shoes, rain gear, a warm jacket,
and clothing to layer in case the weather is rainy or cool. Clothing should be suitable for
scholarly activities (jeans, shirts, sweaters are fine) and for attendance at public
performances or selected site visits (a “nice” outfit is optional). Additional details will be
discussed in pre-departure classes.
7. Proper attention to deportment both during in-class time and during out-of-class time:
A student may not withdraw from the course once travel has begun and will be held
accountable for financial obligations and student conduct as a representative of UCO and
the study abroad class. A student may be dismissed from the class and be required to
return to Oklahoma. In such cases, students are responsible for any additional airfare
required and will receive an F in the course.
Late or missed work policy: Assignment due dates appear in the class schedule. Late
work is penalized 10% per calendar da. Missed work cannot be made up unless a student
provides a properly documented excuse for a serious situation (a death in a student's
immediate family, a student's serious illness or accident).
Contacting the instructor: UCO e-mail is the best way to contact your instructor during
the semester. Send e-mails from a UCO e-mail account and include a subject line such as
HUM 4970. Students will be given a phone number to use when abroad to contact the
instructor in case of emergency.
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty includes, but is not confined to: plagiarizing;
cheating on tests; stealing tests or other academic material; knowingly falsifying
academic records or documents of the institution; accessing a student's confidential
academic records without authorization; disclosing confidential academic information
without authorization; and, turning in the same work to more than one class without
informing the instructors involved. Each student is expected to engage in all academic
pursuits in a manner above reproach. Any students found guilty of academic dishonesty
will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include a zero on an assignment or an F
in the course. To help ensure academic integrity, instructors may employ a variety of
tools.
Turnitin.com Plagiarism Statement: UCO subscribes to the Turnitin.com plagiarism
prevention service. Students agree that by taking this course, all required assignments
may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the
detection of plagiarism. All submitted assignments will be included as source documents
in the Turnitin.com restricted access reference database for the purpose of
detecting plagiarism of such assignments. Use of Turnitin.com is subject to the Terms
and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com website. Turnitin.com is just one of
various plagiarism prevention tools and methods which may be utilized by your faculty
instructor during the terms of the semesters. In the UCO Student Handbook, there is a
process for contesting any plagiarism allegations against you.
ADA Statement: UCO complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special
accommodations must contact the assistant director of Disability Support Services, Ms.
Kimberly Fields, in NUC 309, (405) 974-2516. It is the student's responsibility to contact
the instructor as soon as possible after the DSS has verified the need for accommodations
to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion
Academic Affairs Student information Sheet: Students are responsible for
familiarizing themselves with the following Student Info Sheet (the link will be updated
for spring 2014): http://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/files/aaforms/faculty/StudentInfoSheetFal13.pdf.
SCHEDULE:
The class will meet six times on UCO’s Edmond campus during Spring Semester. All
meetings will take place in LA 223 (TBA) on Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m. unless
otherwise indicated. Please note that attendance at meetings is compulsory.
Pre-departure Class Meetings:
Thursday, March 13
Orientation Meeting
Thursday, March 27
Maps, Foot and Air Travel
Thursday, April 10
Munich Ancient and Modern. Report Selection
Thursday, April 24
Student Conduct Meeting
Thursday, May 15
Modern Berlin/Map Quiz
Summer Semester
Students will receive a reading packet containing articles related to class site visits. The
instructors recommend that students complete the readings before the class departs for
Germany. These assigned articles include important information to prepare students for
class site visits and will be discussed during group meetings. The itinerary is subject to
change in the best interests of the academic purposes of the tour and the safety of the
travelers (examples that might led to such changes include disrupted transportation,
currency fluctuations, or matters of public safety).
17 May
18 May
19 May
27 May
28 May
29 May
30 May
31 May
1 June
Depart OKC to Dublin
Arrive Dublin. Transfer to hotel. Guinness Museum?
Depart Dublin to Munich. Transfer to hotel. Return to city center.
Ratshaus. Glockenspiel at 5 p.m. Dinner at Hofbräuhaus.
BMW automobile plant tour a.m. Alte Pinakothek p.m. Optional with
faculty Neue Pinakothek.
Germany under the Nazis—excursion to Dachau concentration camp
Excursion to Neuschwanstein
Directed learning day Munich—Student free choice (examples: art
museum, technical museum, brewery tour, city history, church
architecture, Olympic park, concert or performance)
Medieval Germany—from Roman Empire to Holy Roman Empire
Train to Berlin. Transfer to Hotel Konstanz. Return to Zentrum:
Brandenburg Gate. Jewish Museum. Reichstag—climb dome.
Excursion to Wittenberg. Schloßkirche. Lutherhaus. Cranachhaus.
Cranachhöfe
Excursion to Potsdam. Sanssouci Palace
Countday Day—10 things that make Berlin the coolest city in Europe
KaDeWe. Berlin Wall
Directed learning day Berlin (see above)
Depart Berlin to Dublin. Transfer to hotel. Group dinner
Flight Dublin to OKC
July
Final class meeting. LAR 223 (TBA) 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
20 May
21 May
22 May
23 May
24 May
25 May
26 May
1
Final reports due no later than June 28, 2014. E-mail to your instructor
mbrodnax@uco.edu
The instructor reserves the right to make necessary changes in the schedule and syllabus.