1. SURFÂ Projects in German
To collaborate more fully with our students as colleagues, the Department of German extends the departmental research initiatives beyond the constraints of the classroom and class schedule. A total summer immersion experience supplements research activities that occur during the academic year. This goal is accomplished through the college's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, a competitive, learning-community experience open to students and faculty from all departments.
The program demands that students experience a professional research environment. Students submit a research proposal for funding to the committee on faculty development (which awards institutional grants for faculty research), emulating a competitive external review process. Topics related to German culture, film, history, art and literature would be welcome.
If funded, the student receives $3,000 and on-campus accommodations during the summer for ten weeks of intense research. It is understood that the research should result in presentation of the findings at professional meetings in the appropriate discipline and submission for publication where appropriate.
SURF students are housed together at the college's expense in college apartments and they engage in a number of activities as a community. Among these is a "brown-bag" luncheon with seminar presentations by one of the students, a faculty member, or a visiting scholar. Results of the research are presented before the college faculty at the beginning of the fall term, and more recently, at the annual SURF Symposium in a celebration of the summer's activities.
The German team is happy to work with qualified students on SURF projects of their choice. If you have an idea for a summer project, please click here or contact Dr. Mine Eren or Dr. Joseph Moser for further help. (Please e-mail us at meren@rmc.edu or JosephMoser@rmc.edu)
2. Independent Studies in German
If you are a German major and interested in doing independent study –especially if you are a senior - and have the pre-requisite cumulative (of at least) 3.25 academic average, contact Dr. Moser or Dr. Eren during the semester/summer before beginning the study. Together with your supervising teacher the feasibility and advisability of such study/project will be studied. The project must then be approved by the Curriculum Committee.
Seniors participating in this program will pursue a program helped by a group of faculty tutors. By the end of the year study (no other formal courses are taken, except the remaining departmental requirements), the candidate is expected to stand for at least three comprehensive examinations in the Department of German, and must present a thesis for examination by the five-member faculty committee.