In 1984 the University of Konstanz designated a number of prized places for Wellesley College juniors to spend two semesters studying in West Germany. Since then groups of students have been spending exciting and unforgettable years at this university on Lake Constance. The German Department administers the program through the resident director, Mrs. Ursula Dreher, who provides an orientation to students upon their arrival in October. She provides an introduction to the city and region, German life and culture, and to the university. Frau Dreher oversees the group in Konstanz, acting as liaison and helping with the countless details that one encounters in a foreign country. During the course of the year the program sponsors trips within German-speaking countries.
The group, which is composed of a maximum of six full-time Wellesley students only, is integrated into the academic and social life of the university. Students have single rooms in the modern dormitories and share kitchen privileges with German students. They do not all live near each other, or enroll in the same courses. As a result, students have always returned from Germany not only with a remarkable fluency in German, but a heightened personal sense of identity, independence and self-assurance.
The College does offer the option of studying on this program for one semester only.
The University of Konstanz was founded in 1966 and has the reputation of being a progressive institution that combines German university tradition with educational structures resembling the American model. The size of the student body is in 1992 was just over 12,000 students--many more than the facility was planned for, but comparatively small by the standards of Germany's large old, urban universities.
Experience has shown that Wellesley students, who expect a good faculty-student ratio, often make better use of this asset than the more reserved natives. The facilities are less crowded and classes are considerably smaller at Konstanz than at the older universities where a pro-seminar in a field like German or English can often have over forty people in it. While the intellectual climate of the institution is cosmopolitan and the quality of research produced at Konstanz world-renowned, the university is not teeming with foreigners or American junior-year-abroad programs. Nonetheless, because many faculty members have international reputations and have taught abroad, Americans have few difficulties working with German professors.
Konstanz is a city of about 75,000 inhabitants located on Lake Constance (the Bodensee) where Germany, Austria and Switzerland converge. In fact, the Swiss-German border divides the city into two separate entities that are visually almost indistinguishable, yet speak two distinguishable varieties of German. The river Rhine flows from the west end of the 40-mile long lake through the medieval town. The old city center, with its narrow alleys, gothic architecture, Münster church, museums, wine taverns, book and antique shops, is a picturesque spot that draws tourists and offers haunts where students congregate.
The city has traditionally been a bridge to the south, a fact reflected in the mild climate and warm winters of its subalpine region. The nearest major city is Zürich--a metropolis with theater, opera, shopping and museums--which is about an hour away by train or forty minutes by car. The alps loom majestically nearby offering wonderful hiking and skiing.
Courses: Students may choose courses from any part of the curriculum. Even departments that traditionally limit enrollments (chemistry, psychology) will make an exception for our students if we request it early enough. In addition to the regular courses, our juniors enroll in German language and culture courses (maximum of 3 per year) offered for foreign students at the SLI (Sprachlehrinstitut). Wellesley students must get credit for seven courses during the two semesters, for which they receive eight units of Wellesley credit. In the fall semester the program runs a small language tutorial focussing on grammar and writing skills. Wellesley students take advantage of the many trips through the region organized by the office of foreign students (Auslandsreferat) at the university.
One need not be majoring in the German Department to benefit from a junior year in Konstanz. English, Economics and Political Science majors have spent fruitful years here and returned with credits to complete programs of double majors. Laboratory science courses (group C) can present complications, but have been completed successfully. One can also complete distribution requirements in Konstanz, provided one gets permission from the Wellesley academic department in question during the semester enrolled. Wellesley's program converts grades and credits for the student's transcript.
Each year two exchange students from Konstanz come to the Wellesley campus where they are important resources for information about course offerings and programs in Konstanz. During their year at Wellesley, they live as native-speakers on the German Corridor, and are readily available at German table and German Club functions.
Because language facility is crucial, students must be enrolled in German courses for the two semesters before going to Konstanz. Ideally one should have completed a course sequence including German 231 and German 260 by the end of the sophomore year. Preference is given to applicants who fulfill these requirements. Sometimes the department admits students with the stipulation that they must complete a preparatory summer course before enrolling in the university in the fall.
The cost of this program varies somewhat from year to year depending on the size of the participating group and international currency fluctuations. In general, the costs are significantly lower than the price of a year on campus. The amount charged covers the following: administrative costs of the program; all fees at the university; compulsory German health insurance for full medical coverage during the two semesters; Wellesley student health insurance covering balance of year; orientation activities organized by the resident director; a week-long trip to Berlin. Students pay for their own travel to and from Europe and for room and board while in Konstanz. Students on financial aid can take their scholarship funds overseas with this program.
The schedule of fees and payments is available in the German Department in the spring semester.
Applications are available in the German Department early in the fall semester. They must be submitted before departing for the Christmas break. Students are notified of selection in January or February (sometimes sooner) and must include a $100.00 deposit when confirming their decision to participate.
Please direct any questions about the program to the Professor T. Nolden, Wellesley-in-Konstanz, Program Director, German Department, Founders Hall 408, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02181 Telephone: (617) 283-2580.
E-mail: "tnolden@wellesley.edu"