University of Greifswald Faculty of Arts
Encyclopedia
The Faculty of Philosophy of Greifswald University (Philosophische Fakultät der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald) is one of five faculties anf the founding faculty of the university which is located in Greifswald, Germany.
The faculty's research and teaching focuses on languages and cultures of Northern and Eastern Europe. Subjects, such as Latvian and Lithuanian Studies, Slavic Studies, Finnish Studies (including Estonian Studies) and Scandinavian Studies are offered by only a few other universities in Germany.
Other classic disciplines, such as German Studies, English Studies and studies of History, Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Church Music and Music are offered as well. The Caspar-David-Friedrich-Institut, which was named after th 19th century German Romantic landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich, who was born in Greifswald and received his first artistic lessons here, offers degrees in Fine Arts and Art History.
Like many other universities in Germany, the Faculty of Philosophy (Philosophische Fakultät) of Greifswald University is now offering bachelor's and master's degree courses to cater to the wider interests of students. The undergraduate programmes have course duration of three years; the postgraduate programmes have course duration of two years.
In addation to the usual course programmes, the Faculty of Philosophy founded the Centre of the Middle Ages (Mittelalterzentrum) in 1995. The Mittelalterzentrum is an association of 20 academics of all faculties doing interdisciplinary research and providing students and scholars with lectures concerning life and culture in the Middle Ages. It is further a programme which is not only open for graduates and professors, but fpr anyone who is interested in the study of different points of view on the Middle Ages, such as literary, historical, medical or any other point of view. Each year, associates of the Mittelalterzentrum organize a series of lectures, held by scholars from Greifswald University and other renowned universities.
Apart from wide range of course offers provided by the Faculty of Philosophy, the faculty is greatly interested in organizing cultural events, such as Nordischer Klang, PolenmARkT and the Bachwoche.
The international festival Nordischer Klang, which presents a programme filled with different events ranging from Jazz and Classic concerts to art exhibitions, is associated with the Department of Nordic and Finnish Studies.
The PolenmARkT, on the other hand, focuses on the culture of Poland and is co-organized by the Department of Modern Languages, and in particular by the division of Slavic Studies. Each year for two weeks people are invited to attend Polish lectures and readings about Poland and its people, as well as several movies and documentaries and of course, as the name suggests, a market with typical Polish goods.
The Bachwoche, associated with the Department of Music and Church Music, is anotherfestival and dedicated to the German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist and violinist Johann Sebastian Bach, whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period. During that week people are able to enjoy concerts and church services where some of Bach's more or less famous works are being played by the university's music ensembles, as well as lectures about Bach, his music and choir practices to sing along.
, and the fourth in the whole of Germany
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Research and studies at he Department of History in Prussia was founded in 1863, there existed only three other departments of that kind in Germany. Areas of expertise at the Department of History are:
The latter area of expertise represents a special interest Greifswald University has due to its close relations to the Eastern countries.
In 1777, the Greifswald University was the first German university which ran a course of studies in the English tongue. In 1853, then, a Department of Modern Languages in Greifswald was founded.
The division of English provides courses for studies in the languages, literatures and cultures of the English-speaking countries. In addition, the Greifswald Canadian Fellow in Residence programme, funded by Greifswald University and the Canadian government, provides support for a Canadian author in order to live and write in Greifswald for one academic year. The fellows usually contribute to authentic, up-to-date teaching in the English Department and they often take part in events that are open to the general public. Two of the former fellows were Warren Cariou (2005), and Janice Kulyk Keefer (2006).
The Division of Baltic Studies is the only institution in Germany whose research and teaching interests rest upon the languages, literatures and cultures of Latvia and Lithuania, and, in fact, one of the few in the world.
The division of Nordic and Finnish Studies is one of the most traditional and largest institutions of its kind outside northern Europe. It altogether consists of four areas of expertise (Fennistic, Scandinavian Modern Literature, Scandinavian Linguistics, Medieval and Diachronic Linguistics) as well as five lectorships (Danish, FInnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish) which offer oral language lessons in Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Faeroese, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish.
The division of Slavic studies focuses on the research of the languages and literatures of the Slavic countries, such as Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovac Republic and the Ukraine. It is further in charge of the PolenmARkT.
and Communication Science
is methodological based on social science
and is divided into the following areas of expertise:
The professor for Political Philosophy, Prof. Dr. Hubertus Buchstein, is currently chairman of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Politikwissenschaft (German Association of Political Science).
The painter Caspar David Friedrich is a former student of Greifswald University, who received his first art lessons by one of the university's professors.
The faculty's research and teaching focuses on languages and cultures of Northern and Eastern Europe. Subjects, such as Latvian and Lithuanian Studies, Slavic Studies, Finnish Studies (including Estonian Studies) and Scandinavian Studies are offered by only a few other universities in Germany.
Other classic disciplines, such as German Studies, English Studies and studies of History, Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Church Music and Music are offered as well. The Caspar-David-Friedrich-Institut, which was named after th 19th century German Romantic landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich, who was born in Greifswald and received his first artistic lessons here, offers degrees in Fine Arts and Art History.
Like many other universities in Germany, the Faculty of Philosophy (Philosophische Fakultät) of Greifswald University is now offering bachelor's and master's degree courses to cater to the wider interests of students. The undergraduate programmes have course duration of three years; the postgraduate programmes have course duration of two years.
In addation to the usual course programmes, the Faculty of Philosophy founded the Centre of the Middle Ages (Mittelalterzentrum) in 1995. The Mittelalterzentrum is an association of 20 academics of all faculties doing interdisciplinary research and providing students and scholars with lectures concerning life and culture in the Middle Ages. It is further a programme which is not only open for graduates and professors, but fpr anyone who is interested in the study of different points of view on the Middle Ages, such as literary, historical, medical or any other point of view. Each year, associates of the Mittelalterzentrum organize a series of lectures, held by scholars from Greifswald University and other renowned universities.
Apart from wide range of course offers provided by the Faculty of Philosophy, the faculty is greatly interested in organizing cultural events, such as Nordischer Klang, PolenmARkT and the Bachwoche.
The international festival Nordischer Klang, which presents a programme filled with different events ranging from Jazz and Classic concerts to art exhibitions, is associated with the Department of Nordic and Finnish Studies.
The PolenmARkT, on the other hand, focuses on the culture of Poland and is co-organized by the Department of Modern Languages, and in particular by the division of Slavic Studies. Each year for two weeks people are invited to attend Polish lectures and readings about Poland and its people, as well as several movies and documentaries and of course, as the name suggests, a market with typical Polish goods.
The Bachwoche, associated with the Department of Music and Church Music, is anotherfestival and dedicated to the German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist and violinist Johann Sebastian Bach, whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period. During that week people are able to enjoy concerts and church services where some of Bach's more or less famous works are being played by the university's music ensembles, as well as lectures about Bach, his music and choir practices to sing along.
Church Music and Music
The Department of Church Music and Music is a small institution which enhances the music culture of Greifswald with public concerts, lectures and yearly events, such as the Greifswalder Bachwoche. It is further in charge of several ensembles, such as the chamber choir, cathedral choir, university choir and university symphony orchestra.Fine Art
The Department of Fine Art (Caspar-David-Friedrich-Institut) is named after the Romantic landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich, who received his first art instructions in Greifswald. The department is a uniquely combined department of applied arts and art history, which are usually separated in Germany.German
The Department of German was founded in 1876 and is divided into the following areas of expertise:- Medieval German language and literature
- German Linguistics
- Modern German Literature
- German as a Foreign Language
- Wolfgang Koeppen Archive
- Pomeranian Dictionary
History
When the very first Department of History was founded in 1863 as the first one in PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, and the fourth in the whole of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Research and studies at he Department of History in Prussia was founded in 1863, there existed only three other departments of that kind in Germany. Areas of expertise at the Department of History are:
- German History
- General European History, and particularly Eastern European
- Nordic history
The latter area of expertise represents a special interest Greifswald University has due to its close relations to the Eastern countries.
Modern Languages
The division of English provides courses for studies in the languages, literatures and cultures of the English-speaking countries. In addition, the Greifswald Canadian Fellow in Residence programme, funded by Greifswald University and the Canadian government, provides support for a Canadian author in order to live and write in Greifswald for one academic year. The fellows usually contribute to authentic, up-to-date teaching in the English Department and they often take part in events that are open to the general public. Two of the former fellows were Warren Cariou (2005), and Janice Kulyk Keefer (2006).
The Division of Baltic Studies is the only institution in Germany whose research and teaching interests rest upon the languages, literatures and cultures of Latvia and Lithuania, and, in fact, one of the few in the world.
The division of Nordic and Finnish Studies is one of the most traditional and largest institutions of its kind outside northern Europe. It altogether consists of four areas of expertise (Fennistic, Scandinavian Modern Literature, Scandinavian Linguistics, Medieval and Diachronic Linguistics) as well as five lectorships (Danish, FInnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish) which offer oral language lessons in Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Faeroese, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish.
The division of Slavic studies focuses on the research of the languages and literatures of the Slavic countries, such as Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovac Republic and the Ukraine. It is further in charge of the PolenmARkT.
Philosophy
The Department of Philosophy is divided into the following areas of expertise:- Practical Philosophy
- Theoretical Philosophy
- Aesthetics and Cultureal Philosophy
Studies in Political and Communication Science
The Department of PoliticalPolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and Communication Science
Communication Sciences
Communication sciences refers to the schools of scientific research of human communication. This perspective follows the logical positivist tradition of inquiry; most modern communication science falls into a tradition of post-positivism. Thus, communication scientists believe that there is an...
is methodological based on social science
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
and is divided into the following areas of expertise:
- Political PhilosophyPolitical philosophyPolitical philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
- International RelationsInternational relationsInternational relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
and Area StudiesArea studiesArea studies are interdisciplinary fields of research and scholarship pertaining to particular geographical, national/federal, or cultural regions. The term exists primarily as a general description for what are, in the practice of scholarship, many heterogeneous fields of research, encompassing... - Methods of Political ScienceModels of scientific inquiryIn the philosophy of science, models of scientific inquiry have two functions: first, to provide a descriptive account of how scientific inquiry is carried out in practice, and second, to provide an explanatory account of why scientific inquiry succeeds as well as it appears to do in arriving at...
and Political System of GermanyPolitics of GermanyThe Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic, based on representative democracy. The Chancellor is the head of government, while the President of Germany is the head of state, which is a ceremonial role but with substantial reserve powers.Executive power is vested in the... - Comparative PoliticsComparative politicsComparative politics is a subfield of political science, characterized by an empirical approach based on the comparative method. Arend Lijphart argues that comparative politics does not have a substantive focus in itself, but rather a methodological one: it focuses on "the how but does not specify...
- Communication StudiesMedia studiesMedia studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
- Organizational CommunicationOrganizational communicationOrganizational communication is a subfield of the larger discipline of communication studies. Organizational communication, as a field, is the consideration, analysis, and criticism of the role of communication in organizational contexts....
The professor for Political Philosophy, Prof. Dr. Hubertus Buchstein, is currently chairman of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Politikwissenschaft (German Association of Political Science).
Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts programmes at Greifswald University are two-subject programmes, meaning that students study any combination of two of the following disciplines:- Art History
- Communication Science
- English Language and Literature
- Fine Art
- Finnish Languages and Literatures
- German Language and Literature
- German as a Foreign Language
- History
- Latvian and Lithuanian Language and Literature
- Music
- Musical Science
- Philosophy
- Law (in cooperation with the Faculty of Law and Economics)
- Business (in cooperation with the Faculty of Law and Economics)
- Scandinavian Languages and Literatures
- Slavic Languages and Literatures
Master of Arts
The Master of Arts programmes are in only one of the following subjects:- Art History
- British and North American Studies
- German as a Foreign Language
- Finnish Languages and Literatures
- Fine Arts
- German literature
- History
- Intercultural Linguistics
- Language and Communication
- Organizational communication
- Philosophy
- Political Science: Democracy and Globalisation
- Scandinavian languages and literatures
- Slavic languages and literatures
Associated People
Former staff members include Ernst Moritz Arndt, Alfred Gomolka, Otto Jahn, Johannes Voigt, Georg Friedrich Schömann, and Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff.The painter Caspar David Friedrich is a former student of Greifswald University, who received his first art lessons by one of the university's professors.