Proposed Classes
Two of the sociology class will be offered and this will be finalized soon.
SOC&101/SOC&201 – Intro to Sociology: Berlin – Memory, Art & Entertainment
Students may take this class as either 101 OR 201.
Berlin’s past is written in its streets, art, culture, and institutions—making it an ideal setting to explore sociology in action. We’ll confront big questions: How does a democracy crumble from within? What forces led to fascism and genocide? At the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, we’ll trace the rise, fall, and rebirth of German democracy, examine the Berlin Wall’s legacy—still shaping EastWest relations and immigration debates—and uncover the real story behind the tense Cold War standoff at Checkpoint Charlie. During visits to Sachsenhausen and the Holocaust Memorial, we’ll wrestle with the mechanisms of terror and collective remembrance. At the Stasi Museum, we’ll compare East Germany’s surveillance state to today’s AI-driven monitoring—exploring freedom, privacy, and the enduring influence of memory on social control.
Berlin’s vibrant cultural scene—from sports to food to nightlife—tells a powerful story of resistance and transformation. We’ll decode the politics of football rivalries between Hertha BSC and Union Berlin, visit a Street Food Thursday at Markthalle Neun to see how food reclaims heritage in a globalized city, and dive into the underground club scene where techno’s Cold War origins still echo in today’s world-famous nightlife and open attitudes toward sexuality. Through site visits, scavenger hunts, and reflective discussions, we’ll explore how memory, art, and collective action shape identity and social change—inviting students to see how they, too, can help write history.
Sociology 250: Belonging in Berlin – Family & Identity Across Cultures
What does it mean to belong—to a family, a culture, or a place? In this immersive course, we’ll explore how families in Berlin have been shaped by history, migration, and resilience. Through site visits to museums, neighborhoods, and street art installations, we’ll uncover how Berliners tell their stories across generations. From Käthe Kollwitz’s powerful portraits of working-class families to modern expressions of identity in Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg, we’ll experience firsthand how personal and collective memory shape family life in one of Europe’s most dynamic cities.
The course takes students on a three-part journey—exploring family through interpersonal, intercultural, and international perspectives—using Berlin as a dynamic, real-world classroom. We’ll reflect on our own family experiences while engaging with parenting norms, youth culture, and social expectations in Germany. We’ll meet with local families, attend cultural events like Walpurgis Night in Mauerpark, and even explore Berlin’s legendary techno scene to examine how freedom and identity intersect. By the end of the course, we’ll not only see family through a cross-cultural lens—we’ll better understand our own stories within a global context.
Sociology 161: Sacred Crossroads - Exploring World Religions in Berlin
Discover the Sacred Crossroads of Berlin—where cathedrals, synagogues, mosques, and meditation halls share the same skyline. In this immersive study abroad course, we’ll explore the rich traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Atheism—not just through textbooks, but through real-world encounters that bring belief systems to life. Through guided visits, guest speakers, and reflective discussions, we’ll examine how rituals, symbols, and spiritual practices shape individuals, families, and societies—and how people across cultures find meaning, purpose, and belonging.
From Berlin’s newest mosque to the haunting brass plaques of the Stolpersteine, from the Bonhoeffer-Haus to a Buddhist meditation center, this course explores the ways religion—and non-religion—both reflect and challenge power, culture, and identity. Whether you’re curious about faith, fascinated by philosophy, or passionate about social justice, this journey invites you to experience Berlin as a living classroom of sacred crossroads. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
The third class will be a German culture class taught by a local faculty.