Academics

Philipps University

Founded in 1527, Philipps University is the world's first Protestant university still in existence. The oldest portion of the campus, the Alte Universität, is built on the site of a 13th century Dominican cloister.

Over its nearly 500-year history, the university has educated and employed a large number of distinguished scholars and thinkers, including nine Nobel prize winners.

Today, nearly 20,000 students study in the university's modern facilities. Philipps is a large university with a wide range of academic disciplines, including business, law, psychology, media, mathematics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, education, medicine, pharmacology, and physical education. Philipps University has hosted BCA participants since 1962, when 25 American students boarded a ship bound for Germany.

IKI Wien

Located in the culturally rich city of Vienna, Austria, The Internationales Kulturinstitut Wien (IKI Wien) adheres to the Common European Framework of Reference and is a certified examination center for the ÖSD (Austria’s German Language Diploma), an internationally recognized examination system for proof of German language proficiency. IKI Wien teaches all levels of German to students from around the world.

Course Information by Language Preparation*

Students with four semesters (or more) of college-level German are automatically enrolled in the 4 week pre-semester language course in Vienna and are eligible to take any combination of courses during their regular semester in Marburg. (4 week program included in program fee)
Students with less than four semesters of college-level German but have completed at least beginner-level German are automatically enrolled in the 8 week pre-semester language course in Vienna and are eligible to take any combination of courses during their regular semester in Marburg.(please note that course carries additional fee)
Students accepted into the program with no prior German language experience are automatically enrolled in the 12 week pre-semester language course in Vienna. (please note that course carries additional fee)

*All BCA Marburg students are encouraged to enroll in as much pre-semester language training as possible. Language training is essential for success in the classroom.

Types of Courses

BCA students can also take courses in peace and justice, which is an important focus for BCA programs.

The courses available to BCA Marburg students fall into three general categories:

I. BCA courses. For American students only. The BCA courses are taught in German by instructors hired by BCA. These courses have a minimum enrollment number and will be cancelled if the minimum enrollment is not met.

II. German as a Foreign Language courses available through the University of Marburg Language Center (Sprachenzentrum der Uni Marburg) or the German Department of the Uni Marburg (09. Fachbereich). Intended for foreign students, taught by German instructors.

III. Regular university courses. Taught primarily for German students by regular university faculty. Most courses are taught in German.

BCA Courses - These courses are for U.S. students only and are taught in German by instructors hired by BCA. These courses require a minimum enrollment number.

GER 301 Deutsche Sprache: schriftlich, grammatisch, und mündlich
LIT 332 Deutsche Kurzprosa des 20. Jahrhunderts
LIT 335 Deutsche Romane und Novellen
GER 312 Deutsche Sprache und Grammatik I
GER 315 Deutsche Sprache und Grammatik II
GER 310 Übersetzen aus dem Deutschen ins Englische I (taught primarily in English)

German as a Foreign Language Courses
Regular University Courses
Volkshochschule

Sample Schedule

A typical student’s first-semester schedule might consist of the following:

Two 3-credit BCA courses
Four credits in university classes for foreign students or German as a foreign language at the Sprachenzentrum (required)
One or two seminars in your field of study
Possible audits. You should challenge yourself to take as many full university courses as possible. If you decide at mid-term that the course will be too difficult, you can switch from for-credit to audit status.

Libraries and Computer Labs

During orientation you will take a tour of the university library - the UB - which has a variety of books and other reading material in addition to computers for student use. In addition to the UB, the academic departments have mini-libraries and study rooms.

International Student Conference

During the spring semester, BCA students in Marburg may have the opportunity to attend BCA's U.S.- European Student Conference on European - U.S. Relations in Strasbourg, France. BCA students from all over Europe come together with other American and European students for several days. Meet journalists, professors and activists from Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Hungary and Sweden and join discussions about the changing role of the American Dream in a global society.

E-mail us with your questions

inquiry@bcaabroad.org

Study Abroad FAQ’s

Questions? Please call:

1-866-222-6188