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  5. Berlin World History Global Seminar

Contemporary World History in Berlin

Faculty Leader

Frank Biess
fbiess@ucsd.edu

Frank BiessAs a native German and historian of modern German history, Professor Frank Biess is very familiar with Berlin and its historic sites and has spent extensive periods there since the 1990s. He started his academic training at the Universities of Marburg and Tübingen in Germany and came to the United States in 1991, where he earned his Ph.D. in history in 1999. His current research focuses on the history of fear and anxiety in postwar West Germany. He led global seminars in Berlin in 2011, 2013, and 2016 and served as UCEAP faculty director in Berlin between 2018 and 2020.

 

 

Courses

Why you should go

Few other cities on the globe offer such a rich and multi-layered past as Berlin. We will explore late 19th and 20th century history through extensive visits to Berlin's many museums and historical sites. We will get to experience Berlin's many diverse neighborhoods and local cultures. Berlin also has an extremely lively cultural scene with (English language) movie theaters, open-air concerts, art galleries, and theaters. This program will also consider everyday life under dictatorship. Because the city was the site of two of the most oppressive versions of authoritarianism in the Nazi years and under communist rule, there is simply no place better than Berlin for presenting this historical material. The hard and cruel experience of life in authoritarian Berlin is never too far away for anyone living in the city.

Who should go

Eleanor Roosevelt College students can fulfill their MMW 15 general education requirement, and the MMW 15GS course will also fulfill the MMW 122 GS requirement for transfer students. The courses included in this global seminar also count toward the ERC regional specialization requirement and the German studies major and minor.

Information Sessions

  • Tuesday, Oct. 15, 5:00 - 6:30 pm
  • Register here for the live Zoom link, and/or to get the post-session recording.

See the Info Session Calendar

Dates

Departure from U.S.: Sat., June 28, 2025
Arrival: Sun., June 29, 2025
Mandatory Orientation: Mon., June 30, 2025
First Day of Class: Mon., June 30, 2025
Last Day of Class: Fri., August 1, 2025
Departure for the U.S.
(or personal travel):		 Sat., August 2, 2025

Flight Information

  • You will be responsible for purchasing your own airplane tickets, and your program coordinator will provide guidelines and resources during the pre-departure process to help you find an appropriate flight.
  • Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the program has reached minimum enrollment.

Global Seminar Fees

All fees subject to change. See https://summersession.ucsd.edu/tuition/tuition.html for current tuition and campus-based fees.

  UCSD Other UC Non-UC
Program Cost:
(includes $500 administrative fee)		 $7,316.01 $7,316.01 $7,316.01
Estimated Tuition and Campus-Based Fees:
 		 $2,514.43 $2,564.43 $3,574.43
Total:
(not including airfare or personal expenses)		 $9,830.44 $9,880.44 $10,890.44

Budget Sheet

Funding Options

See the funding options page to learn how financial aid and scholarships can help you pay for this program.

Local Site Visits

Day Trips

Spreewald

  • Private bus to Spreewald
  • Guided tour of Spreewald Museum
  • Spreewald boat trip or kayak tour

Desau

  • Round-trip train tickets from Berlin to Dessau
  • Guided tour of the Bauhaus Museum

Excursions are subject to change without prior notice. No refunds are possible.

Housing

  • Studio apartment at Aparthotel Citadines Kurfürstendamm Berlin
  • Two students per room
  • Kitchen with stove, microwave, and refrigerator
  • Each apartment has a private bathroom, WiFi internet, and air conditioning
  • Weekly cleaning provided
  • Fitness room and laundry in the building

Housing arrangements are subject to change based on local circumstances without prior notice. No price adjustments are possible.

Included Meals

  • Welcome dinner upon arrival
  • Farewell dinner at end of program
  • Daily breakfast in the hotel is not included but students can pay on site or prepare breakfast in their own kitchen.

Classroom and Computer Access

  • Classroom space at a conference center a ten-minute walk from the student accommodation
  • There is no computer lab available - plan to bring a laptop.

Wireless access may be intermittent due to local conditions. No refunds or price adjustments are possible.

Transportation

  • Transportation by private bus to and from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the student housing is included in the program. Two different pick-up times will be arranged based on the most common flight arrival times.
  • A local transit pass pass for Berlin zones A and B will be provided for each student.

Phones

  • Information about how to obtain a local SIM card will be provided at the pre-departure orientation.
  • Students will be responsible to purchase their own calling time/minutes.

Insurance, Health, and Safety

  • Comprehensive insurance package with CareMed
  • An in-depth orientation will be given on the morning after arrival, including health and safety procedures.
  • Program partner staff will be available by telephone after hours.
  • All students will be registered for UC travel insurance This is free coverage, but registration is required prior to departure.