Location

Augsburg, Munich, Dresden, Nuremberg, Dachau, Regensburg, Salzburg , Germany, Austria

Program Description

This three week, three credit course will give students the opportunity to examine principles of active civic participation and contemporary challenges to democracy against the backdrop of significant places and events in the history of modern democracy. More than any other country over the last two centuries, Germany has served as the primary site where contests defining democracy, civic life, and definitions of citizenship and civic participation have taken place. Students will learn about and visit relevant locations related to: Augsburg as the City of Peace during the Reformation, juxtaposed with the rise of the Nazi party (Munich) and its purposeful efforts to undermine democracy through propaganda (Nuremberg) and genocide (Dachau), to the rapid changes to civic life and democracy brought by the Berlin Wall’s construction and destruction. The program will also focus on modern examples of pluralism in civic life, such as Germany’s leading role in accepting refugees during the Syrian war crisis (2015) and the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022). Students will have unique opportunities to engage in cross-cultural dialogue about democracy and civic-political life with Ukrainian refugees and German civic leaders as part of program provided by Deutsch-Ukrainischer Dialog e.V. and the Institute for Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy in Augsburg. Cultural activities include hiking in Bavarian Alps and Saxon Switzerland National Park, cross-country train tours (Augsburg to Berlin), visit and tour the Reichstag (Berlin), art museum tours (Berlin, Munich), food and drink tours, and cultural exchanges with local residents and civic leaders. No class meetings are required prior to or after the course. Conversational knowledge of the German language is helpful, but not required.

Through seminar-style discussions, classroom activities, guest lectures, dialogues with civic leaders, and through a course project, students will gain knowledge about changing definitions of democracy, the role of civic leaders in supporting democratic actions, and social change. Museum and historical site visits will supplement lectures and readings. Topics for this course include an introduction to the study of civic life and democracy, the need for pluralism in civic life, deliberation and dialogue as transformational democratic practices, the necessity of social capital, the impact of social movements, propaganda and dis/misinformation, the geography of democracy and civic life, and theories of civic leadership.

Location Description

Homebase of this course will be in Augsburg, a beautiful university town about 30 miles north of Munich. From Augsburg, students will explore key cultural locations in Bavaria, including Munich, the Bavarian Alps in Salzburg, Austria and the Baden-Baden Mountains around Stuttgart, and sites important to democracy, including the Dachau concentration camp and Nuremberg. Students will also travel to Berlin, exploring the country's capital city, and Dresden. In addition to museums and important sites, students will have hiking opportunities in the Saxon-Switzerland National Park and the Black Forest Mountains. Overnight trips: Munich, Berlin, Dresden Day trips: Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Salzburg (Austria), Dachau, Regensburg.

Director

Kara Dillard| dillarkn@jmu.edu | Madison Center for Civic Engagement

Accommodations

While in Augsburg, students will sleep 2-4 in a room in a local hostel. Hostel has wifi, kitchen, shared bathrooms, and laundry. Overnight trips: Students will be in shared double rooms in a hotel.

Most meals are covered as part of the program. On select travel days and on Sundays, students will receive a stipend for the cost of meals.

Additional Items to Consider

Students do not need to speak German, although some basic conversational skills are helpful.

Must have a valid passport. If students do not have a passport at the time of application, they are strongly encouraged to apply for expedited processing. US citizens don't need a visa to visit Germany for up to 90 days, but they may need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). Starting in 2025, US citizens will need to register with the ETIAS to visit Germany. ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization that's valid for three years or until your passport expires. To qualify, you must have a passport valid for your stay in the Schengen Area, and your visit must be for business, tourism, or transit.

Roundtrip airfare is NOT included in the program fee. Students will travel independently to Germany where they will meet the program directors. Students admitted to the program are given the opportunity to coordinate with one another during required program pre-departure meetings to book the same flights if they are concerned about flying alone.

Students will need to purchase or allow international calling and data for their current cellphones to work.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0.

Open to all class levels and majors, including graduate students.