Modern Germany 1900 · History
Fairly light. One 7-8 page essay on Schindler's Ark [Schindler's List] and a 15-16 page final essay, with suggested prompts or design-your-own. I've heard Prof. Berghahn himself grades more easily than the TAs, and there may be a hint of truth to that (quote: "If it were up to me, I'd just give everybody As and A+s because I'm sure you all are very bright"). Straightforward final, I think, but haven't taken it yet. As others have mentioned, reading is basically optional.
I disagree with his having a silver star. I know I'm in the minority with that belief. But let me justify my claim: Prof. Berghahn is an exceptional lecturer, and well regarded by most taking his class. He's a great man and really cares about teaching and about students. That said, although his lectures are generally engaging and for the most part well organized, I felt like I didn't get that much out of them. He always had important points to make but I felt like the critical analysis just wasn't there, or when it was, it had no edge to it. In other words, critical engagement was often sacrificed for narrative, statistics, or anecdote. Sometimes, he will make banal platitudes about the importance of perspective in doing history, but never really said anything that made you think really hard after the lecture. It was easy to just go, type a few notes on the lecture, leave, and not think about it again until the final; similarly, discussion section was typically dry--"so, what do we notice about this document?" type of stuff. This class really didn't achieve what I think Humanities pedagogy is supposed to achieve. While I certainly do not regret taking the class, I definitely won't look back on this class as having shaped my intellectual development in any significant way. I'm sure the auditors--who took up literally the first 5-6 rows of seats--got more out of this class than…
Very reasonable. Reading every week but a lot of people don't read and still do well. One short paper (7-8 pages) which is quite manageable on All Quiet on the Western Front, one longer paper (15-16 pages, choose your own topic with Berghahn), and an easy final as long as you were in class.
This was one of the best classes I have ever taken. Professor Berghahn is an incredibly engaging lecturer and anyone who likes history will absolutely love this course. He is a very fair grader- probably a bit generous at times - and he is always happy to meet with students. Berghahn is one of the best professors I have ever had. Also he does a good job of choosing TA's all of them were really nice.
Light reading (a few chapters and primary source docs every week), but heavy writing. 7-8 page paper on All Quiet on the Western Front which is fairly easy. 15-16 page paper on either an assigned topic (which your TA will grade) or you can chose your own topic in consultation with Berghahn, in which case he grades it. Unless you really have a topic you are interested in, I'd advise writing one of the assigned topics since he recommends sources to use. Very fair in-class final exam in which you pick 3/12 essay options. The review session is pretty helpful and I'd recommend preparing vague outlines for the major periods of each to study (Weimar, 1930 Nazis, post-WW2 reconstruction, East-West divide, etc).
A fantastic course overall. Professor Berghahn is brilliant and his lectures are lucid. Unlike many professors in the history dept., you can sense his genuine interest in making students understand the material. Anyone interested in taking this course to learn about the Holocaust should look elsewhere, as the factors leading up to it and its ramifications are the true focus of mid-century lectures. Berghahn tries (and mostly succeeds) on showing different aspects of Germany society, politics, and culture. I'd advise actually going to lectures and taking good notes, since the exam questions are essentially lecture topics. A great course overall made possible by a wonderful professor.
Very fair: a short paper, a longer paper and an in-class final. Readings are manageable.
Prof. Berghahn is without question one of the shining stars of Columbia -- not just within the History Department, but of the University as a whole. This class was an absolute pleasure: interesting, provocative, engaging and empowering. Prof. Berghahn's kind nature and brilliant mind come through in his teaching style -- his lectures are perfectly organized (and he even provides a brief recap of the previous class meeting which is very helpful), he had a soft-spoken and kind demeanor, and he truly welcomes questions. When I visited him during Office Hours, he seemed undistracted and genuinely interested in my questions and my well-being in general. His review of my classwork was at once thorough, rigorous and encouraging. He comes with an understated brilliance that is inspiring. On the basis of this classroom experience, I would take virtually any course that Prof. Berghahn offers.
Weekly readings (fair amount), weekly discussion session (necessary and helpful), short book report, long paper worth almost half your grade, and final.
The finest gentleman around, professor Berghahn is polite, respectful, pleasant, organized, and caring. He is exactly what I had always dreamed an Ivy League professor should be. He will guide you through the material, he will answer your questions, he will respond to your e-mails within an hour or so, and be there to help you. I can't tell you how much I've learned in this course - granted the subject is fascinating to most people, he sure makes it even more so. Take his class, history major or not - the professor alone is worth your while.