Currently the range of interdisciplinary virtual Canadian Studies courses includes the fields of English Studies, French Linguistics, Geography, History, and Native Studies. The dates at which these courses begin coincide with the beginning of semesters in the university system. Courses are open to students from German universities as well as other European or Non-European universities. GKS plans to expand the program to include the fields of Political Science and Gender Studies.
Courses
Please find detailed information and course descriptions for the 2021/2022 winter term in the current flyer. Please note the information on how to register.
Current courses (winter term 2021/2022)
- VCS Literature „Contemporary Transcultural Canada: Reassembling the Mosaic“, Dr. Lena Schneider, Trier.
- VCS Linguistique «Les variétés du français canadien», Dr. Edith Szlezák, Regensburg.
- VCS Linguistique «Le français parlé en Amérique du Nord», Dr. Marc Chalier, Passau.
- VCS English Literature „Gender and History in Contemporary Canadian Fiction“, Anna Linetsky, MA, Trier.
- VCS English Literature „From Frances Brooke to Alice Munro: Writing by Canadian Women“, Anna Linetsky, MA, Trier.
- VCS English Literature „Robert Kroetsch: Novels, Bio-Texts, and the Canadian West“, Dr. Markus M. Müller, Trier.
- VCS English Literature „Multicultural Ideology in Canadian Children’s Literature“, Dr. Miriam Richter, Düsseldorf.
- VCS English Literature „Introduction to English-Canadian Literature“, Dr. Lutz Schowalter, Trier.
- VCS English Literature/Popular Culture “An Introduction to Contemporary Canadian Science Fiction”, Lars Schmeink, MA, MoHE, Hamburg.
- VCS English Literature „Introducing Thomas King“, Tobias Schlosser, MA, Chemnitz.
- VCS English Literature „Contemporary Ghost Stories of First Nation Writers Tomson Highway and Eden Robinson“, Tobias Schlosser, MA, Chemnitz.
- VCS Littérature francophone «Littérature québécoise et belge. Analogies et différences», Dr. Alex Demeulenaere, Trier.
- VCS Linguistique «Les idéologies linguistiques dans la presse (Québec/Maghreb/France)», Dr. Alex Demeulenaere, Trier.
- VCS Linguistique francophone «Le français en Belgique et au Québec. Histoire, politiques et usages croisés», Dr. Alex Demeulenaere, Trier.
- VCS Linguistique «Langue et société dans le contexte francophone (Québec/Belgique/Suisse). Enjeux et débats», Dr. Alex Demeulenaere, Trier.
- VCS Linguistique «La littérature comme marché linguistique. Multilinguisme et variation linguistique dans la littérature québécoise contemporaine», Dr. Alex Demeulenaere, Trier.
- VCS Linguistique: «Les identités linguistiques en francophonie (politique/ culture/ langue», Dr. Alex Demeulenaere, Trier.
- VCS Linguistique: «Le français dans les médias québécois. Aspects pragmatiques et sociolinguistiques», Dr. Alex Demeulenaere, Trier.
- VCS Literature/Littérature „Literary Reactions to 9/11 in Francophone and Anglophone Canadian and American Literature“, Diane Bélisle-Wolf, MA, Mainz.
- VCS Literature/Littérature „Literary Reactions to 9/11 in Francophone and Anglophone Canadian and American Literature, Part II“, Diane Bélisle-Wolf, MA, Mainz.
- VCS Literature/Littérature „Canada-U.S. Border Narratives in the Post-9/11-Era“, Diane Bélisle-Wolf, MA, Mainz.
- VCS Geography „Urban Canada“, Prof. Dr. Ulrike Gerhard, Heidelberg.
- VCS Geography „Transformative Cultural Landscapes“, Mirjam Hirch, MA, Cologne
- VCS Geography „The Canadian Urban Economy: Development, Retailing and Planning“, Dr. Alexa Steinfatt, Frankfurt.
- VCS History „Introduction to Canadian History“, Dr. Petra Dolata, London.
- VCS History „Indigenous-White Relations in Canada“, Stefanie Land-Hilbert, MA, Berlin/Potsdam.
- VCS Women and Gender Studies „Gender in Canadian Literature: Female Characters in Margaret Atwood’s Short Stories“, Tobias Schlosser, MA, TU Chemnitz.
- VCS Native Studies „First Nations, Eskimo, and Inuit of North-Eastern Canada“, Renate Bartl, MA, München.
- VCS Native Studies „Inuit of Arctic Canada“, Renate Bartl, MA, München.
- VCS Native Studies „First Nations and Métis of the Canadian Plains“, Renate Bartl, MA, München.
- VCS Native Studies „First Nations and Métis of Central Subarctic Canada“, Renate Bartl, MA, München.
- VCS Native Studies „First Nations of Subarctic Canada – Cordillera Region“, Renate Bartl, MA, München.
- VCS Native Studies „First Nations of Canada – Plateau“, Renate Bartl, MA, München.
- VCS Native Studies „Northwest Coast“, Renate Bartl, MA, München.
- VCS Literature „Canada through Margaret Atwood’s Stories“, Britta Colligs, MA, Trier.
- VCS English Literature „Canadian Women on the Sea“, Dr. Lena Schneider, Saarbrücken.
What is VCS all about?
- It is an opportunity to learn more about Canada through long distance E-learning,
- it is an easy access to resources on Canada worldwide,
- it focuses on Canada and Canadian issues in the format of interdisciplinary courses,
- it provides access to courses by specialists on Canada from different German universities,
- it allows participants to earn credit points (from 3 to 7, based on chosen level) that can be used towards programs at home universities (Bachelor, Master etc.) check with your own university before enrolling,
- students will receive a special certificate by the GKS testifying to their course participation,
- it is a great experience to get acquainted with new forms of learning and digital Media.
VCS Course Format & Requirements
- Duration: 12–14 weeks (full German university term)
- Language: English or French
- Format: long-distance E-learning, courses are taught on a biweekly basis (double sessions)
- Course requirements:
- critical reading of the texts provided by the lecturers
- assignments for each session
- regular participation in online discussion forum and chats
- submission of a final term paper
- Entry Requirements:
- enrolment in a university program (second-year level or above)
- proficiency in English or French
- online access
- interest in Canada
- registration fee: 50 Euro (participants outside the Euro zone 60 Euro)
VCS Contact & Registration
- Information and registration: Please contact Annekatrin Metz (Email: metzanne[at]uni-trier.de)
- This is an official program sponsored by the Gesellschaft für Kanada-Studien (GKS) / Association of Canadian Studies in German-speaking countries / L’association d’études canadiennes dans les pays de langue allemande
Participation Fees
Please transfer course fees in the amount of EUR 50/EUR 60 to the following bank account:
Account holder: Gesellschaft für Kanada-Studien e.V.
Account number: 80 411 05
German bank code (BLZ): 680 920 00
IBAN: DE 9768 0920 0000 0804 1105