The 2019 #FemGeniusesinBerlin at the Urban Nation Museum
Why did Dr. Lewis choose to teach in Berlin?
How much experience does Dr. Lewis have teaching abroad?
What is the course description?
What are the course objectives?
Where can I find the syllabus?
Do I need to buy any books? How much reading is there?
What are the assignments?
Would you recommend I review past assignments?
How long is the course?
What is the course like in terms of activities?
Is there class on weekends?
How much is the program fee and what does it cover?
Can I apply for financial aid for tuition and|or the program fee?
Does the course fulfill General Education requirements?
How do I apply?
When is the application due?
What are the most important aspects of the application?
Do I need recommendations?
Are there interviews?
What do students say about the course?
What do people in Berlin say about the course?
Do I need a passport or visa?
Do I need vaccinations?
Are there any major health and|or safety concerns beyond what can usually be expected anywhere else, including the U.S.?
Is there a U.S. Embassy in Berlin?
What should I pack?
Is there a curfew?
What is the legal drinking age?
What is there to do in Berlin?
Can I travel outside Berlin or Germany?
When should I book my flight?
How will I get from the airport and back?
Where do we live during the course? Could I live somewhere else?
Where do Dr. Lewis and the second responsible adult live?
Is there public transportation in Berlin? If so, is it efficient?
Do I need a German phone? If so, will one be provided?
Do I need to bring extra money?
Course Information | Webinar | Schedule Your Interview | What the #FemGeniusesinBerlin Said! | What the Berliners Said! | Things to Pack | Things to Do in Berlin
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Why did Dr. Lewis choose to teach in Berlin?
I chose to teach in Berlin due the long-standing tradition of transnational collaboration between Black radical intellectuals in the U.S. (namely Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Angela Y. Davis, and Audre Lorde) and intellectuals in Berlin. View the course webinar for more information.
How much experience does Dr. Lewis have teaching abroad?
I’ve taught the course each summer since 2014 (excepting 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19) and during the Fall 2017 Lüneburg Semester Program offered by the German Department.
What is the course description?
In “boundless and outrageous,” the late May Ayim writes, “i will be african / even if you want me to be german / and i will be german / even if my blackness does not suit you.” This passage communicates both the distinctions between and complexities of identity and subjectivity, especially regarding subjugated people in Germany. Through myriad multidisciplinary critical frameworks—such as Black Feminism, Transnational Feminism, and Critical Race Theory—this course examines the perspectives of Black Germans, Jewish Germans, Turkish Germans, migrants, refugees, victims of Neo-Nazi terrorism, victims of police brutality, Queer Germans, and other subjugated people, particularly their experiences with racism, heterosexism, colonialism, imperialism, and other forms of oppression.
What are the course objectives?
By the end of this course, students will learn the importance of the following objectives, as well as the skills required to perform them at an intermediate level:
- examining the ways subjugated people in Germany resist myriad forms of oppression,
- examining the ways subjugated people in Germany are complicit with myriad forms of oppression,
- and understanding multidisciplinary frameworks relevant to the experiences of subjugated people in Germany and engaging with them in all coursework.
Where can I find the syllabus?
I don’t distribute the syllabus until the pre-trip session in Block 6 or 7.
Do I need to buy any books? How much reading is there?
Most texts are available and organized weekly on Canvas. You do not need to print them, if you bring an electronic device allowing you to access them whenever necessary. No more than 1-2 books are typically assigned, if any. Students read an average of 100 pages of reading material each week.
What are the assignments?
Students submit photo journals, podcasts, or blogs. More information will provided during the pre-trip session in Block 6 or 7.
Would you recommend I review past assignments?
Absolutely. However, you shouldn’t merely mimic what you see or hear. Still, I’m open to talking about the strengths and weaknesses of past assignments (without revealing grades). Click here to review.
How long is the course?
Three weeks, Monday through Friday.
What is the course like in terms of activities?
It varies from year-to-year. However, the class typically meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to discuss reading materials, preview upcoming activities, and reflect on previous sessions. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we take walking tours in the morning then visit a related museum or archive in the afternoon. Students may also meet with artists, activists, scholars, and|or non-profit professionals on other days.
Is there class on weekends?
No.
How much is the program fee and what does it cover?
It varies, but is usually not much more than $3,500. It includes lodging, meals and incidentals, local (public) transportation, mandatory activities, carbon offset, an emergency fund, and sometimes airport transportation. This fee, like for all off-campus courses, also includes professor and second responsible adult (SRA) expenses. Expenses not included are tuition (usually covered by the Wild Card), passport and visa fees, airfare, and sometimes airport transportation. Prior to departure, you will receive your meal and incidentals stipend through direct deposit or a check that will be mailed to your campus mailbox.
Can I apply for financial aid for tuition and|or the program fee?
Yes. Click here for more information.
Does the course fulfill General Education requirements?
Yes, Equity & Power (Global Contexts). The course is also tagged as a Community-Based Learning (CBL) course.
How do I apply?
You must complete an online application via SUMMIT. Beforehand, you must view the webinar and review the FAQs by clicking here.
When is the application due?
It varies from year to year, but typically early in Block 5. Click here for more information.
What are the most important aspects of the application?
The two brief 100 to 150-word essays. The first asks you to explain your reasons for wanting to take the course. The second asks you to explain any academic experiences you think have prepared you for the course.
Do I need recommendations?
Maybe. Two Colorado College professors must be willing to submit an online recommendation for you. However, if you have taken at least one course with me (including the Bridge Scholars Program, Pre-College, and half-block), you only need to secure one recommendation. If you have taken two courses with me, you do not need to secure any. On the application, you only need to list the names of the professors willing to submit a recommendation. I will then send them a link to the online recommendation form, which only takes 5-10 minutes to complete.
Are there interviews?
Yes. Each applicant must attend a 10-minute interview with me during which I’ll ask three questions, allowing you up to 2 minutes to answer each. Subsequently, you’ll have a few minutes to level any questions and|or concerns you have. After completing the application, click here to schedule your interview. There, you can also review the questions.
What do students say about the course?
Click here to read students comments.
What do people in Berlin say about the course?
Click here to read comments from our comrades and friends in Berlin.
Do I need a passport or visa?
Yes, you need a valid passport. You may need a visa. Click here for more information. You should also consult with the Center for Global Education & Field Study.
Do I need vaccinations?
Click here for vaccine information. You should also consult with the Center for Global Education & Field Study.
Are there any major health and|or safety concerns beyond what can usually be expected anywhere else, including the U.S.?
Click here for more information. Regarding your Colorado College provided health insurance for off-campus study, consult with the Center for Global Education & Field Study.
Is there a U.S. Embassy in Berlin?
Yes. Click here for more information.
What should I pack?
Click here for a list of suggestions.
Is there a curfew?
No.
What is the legal drinking age?
18 for most alcoholic beverages. However, please note the Colorado College Code of Conduct applies to you whether you are on or off-campus and whether you’re enrolled in a course or not, from the time you are admitted until you graduate.
What is there to do in Berlin?
Click here for a list of things to do.
Can I travel outside Berlin or Germany?
Yes. However, if you travel outside Berlin, you must complete a “Non-Program Travel Waiver” form by clicking here.
When should I book my flight?
As soon as possible after you are accepted for enrollment. Students must be in Berlin no later than the Sunday prior to the first day of class and may depart as early as the Saturday after the last day. Lodging is paid for up to the Sunday after the last day of class, so you can stay as long as checkout time on that day. As soon as you book your flights, email complete confirmations to Dr. Lewis.
How will I get from the airport and back?
You will have access to taxis, Uber, and Lyft, which are not typically covered by the program fee. Public transportation is available, but you will not have your ticket (covered by the program fee) when you first arrive. You can, however, use public transportation to return to the airport after the course concludes at no additional cost.
Where do students live during the course? Could I live somewhere else?
Lodging varies from year to year based on cost and availability, but students typically live in the Okay24 apartments in Schöneberg. You are required to live in assigned lodging for the duration of the course excepting extenuating circumstances.
Where do Dr. Lewis and the second responsible adult live?
Our lodging varies year to year based on cost and availability. However, we usually live in Kreuzberg and no further than 25 to 35 minutes from the students.
Is there public transportation in Berlin? If so, is it efficient?
Yes, and your program fee covers the ticket you will need to ride all forms of public transportation (bus, train, and tram) for the duration of the course. This ticket is valid throughout the A and B districts of Berlin, the only districts you’re required to be in for the course. If you travel in the C district or beyond, you will need to secure an additional ticket at your expense. Public transportation in Berlin is efficient, and enrolled students will receive more information during the pre-trip session in Block 6 or 7.
Do I need a German phone? If so, will one be provided?
You will not be provided with a German phone or SIM card. So, it would be wise to consult with your cell phone carrier about an international phone plan. Students are expected to participate in a WhatsApp group. So, you should also inquire about international data. Free WiFi is available in your apartment and in many public places and spaces in Berlin.
Do I need to bring extra money?
Probably not. The program fee includes $1,050 for meals and incidentals ($50 per day including weekends). Prior to departure, you will receive these funds through direct deposit or a check sent to your campus mailbox. All other expenses (such as lodging and activities) will be paid for by me using the program fee budget.
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