Academic Program
one- or two-month intensive language options before Vienna
- Introductory program at Vienna International University
Introductory Program - For Beginners:
Students with three semesters or less of college-level German enroll in the intensive German program at Vienna International University. There are seven levels of German instruction and students are placed in the corect level based on the results of their language placement test. The courses meet daily for three hours. Students complete three course levels within a semester. Starting at the fourth level, an additional selection of courses in German is available at Vienna International University. All of these courses are credit-bearing courses. These courses include: Austrian Culture and Civilization, Business German, a communication workshop, Composition of Texts, Medical German, and a phonetics course. To learn more about Vienna International University please visit their website at http://www.univie.ac.at/WIHOK.
In addition to their coursework at Vienna International University, interested students may enroll in the Vienna Seminar course offered by Central College and participate in special internships and service learning placements.
Full year students who begin in the introductory program at the Vienna International University may change their enrollment at the University of Vienna in their second semester, provided they have reached the appropriate proficiency level and pending approval by the director.
University Program - For Intermediate and Advanced Speakers:
Students who have typically completed at least a fourth semester of college-level German prior to attending the Goethe Institut, may enroll in the University of Vienna and Central College Abroad courses. Students enrolled in this program level are encouraged to take courses from a variety of institutions in Vienna: two Central College courses in addition to Vienna Seminar, four to six semester hours of German language at the Dometschinstitut, one or two regular University of Vienna courses and/or one to two courses at the Wirtschaftsuniversitat.
Institutions Abroad:
1. The Goethe Institut
The Goethe Institut offers courses in intensive German. Classes meet daily for five hours. Instruction covers vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening comprehension, textual analysis, and oral and written communication. Students are placed in one of seven levels based on an entrance exam administered by the Goethe Institut. Both one-month and two-month programs are available (6 credits for each month).
2. Introductory Program (Vienna International University)
Students with little or no previous knowledge of German enroll in the intensive language course at Vienna International University.
3. University Level Program:
Central College Lectures
These courses are offered exclusively to Central College Abroad students and are taught in German by Austrian professors. There are 10-15 students in each class. Instruction is in a lecture/discussion format which affords a positive balance of American and Austrian teaching methods. These courses are usually held once a week. Students typically select at least two in addition to the Vienna Seminar.
Dolmetschinstitut
At the Translation Institute of the University of Vienna, courses are designed to refine German-language skills after the intensive Goethe Institut program. The student body is international and class sizes are larger than in Central College courses. Students usually take four to six semester hours from the Dolmetschinstitut offerings. Consult the Dolmetschinstitut website for further course offerings: www.univie.ac.at/transvienna
University of Vienna/Main University Lectures
Students are encouraged to take at least one regular university course per semester. Lectures typically meet once a week for two hours and range in class size from 20 to 500 students. The university offers an extraordinarily rich variety of courses. Courses change every semester, so while it is very likely that the courses listed here are offered in any given semester, it cannot be guaranteed. Often times variations on a certain subject will be offered. The most current Vienna University catalogue is available only four weeks before the beginning of each semester. Consult www.univie.ac.at for updates. Please contact Central College Abroad if you have other course interests.
Wirtschaftsuniversität: School of Economics and Business Administration
This business school has an outstanding selection of courses in international marketing, economics, international development and world monetary systems. University Program students can take up to two classes for credit at this institution. Consult Wirtschaftsuniversität's web site for further course offerings: www.wu-wien.ac.at.
4. Other Options:
- Studio work in Art
- Music instruction at the Prayner Conservatory for Music and Dramatic Arts
Course Load
Students are enrolled in six to twelve semester hours at the Goethe Institut and twelve to seventeen semester hours in Vienna. Full-time student status is maintained by a minimum enrollment of 12 semester hours. The credit hours earned at the Goethe Institut do not count toward the fall or spring semester's course loads.
