As Gettysburg College expands its global offerings, programs like Gettysburg in Bonn demonstrate the institution’s mission to support faculty-student collaboration across borders—and to prepare students for lives of global citizenship and critical engagement.
In spring 2026, Gettysburg College will launch a new faculty-led semester program in Bonn, Germany at the Academy for International Education (AiB)—an initiative that reflects the College’s commitment to global learning and cross-cultural academic exploration. At the center of the first semester of the program is German Studies Prof. Henning Wrage, who will serve as the program’s inaugural residential director and teach an innovative course titled Machines, Monsters, and Moonscapes: Nature and Culture from Germany and the United States.
“I’m really excited to help launch the Bonn program in its first semester,” said Wrage who received his Ph.D. in German literature from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. “I can’t wait to serve there, not just as an educator, but as a cultural bridge for our students, to help them get the most out of their experience in the country.”
The program is hosted in partnership with AiB, a well-established educational institute in Bonn that collaborates with American universities including Penn State, Texas A&M, and Loyola Marymount. AiB provides logistical and academic support on the ground, while Gettysburg faculty bring a rigorous liberal arts framework to the experience.
Wrage’s featured course will explore how literature, film, and other media reflect and shape our understanding of the environment. The course is taught in English and fulfills multiple Gettysburg curriculum requirements.
"My course welcomes students to the fascinating world of environmental humanities and ecocriticism," Wrage shared. "We'll explore how cultural expressions shape our environmental thinking, and how environmental arguments become cornerstones of cultural production.”
Through a combination of German and American texts, students will examine shifting ideas about nature, technology, and society—ranging from industrial utopias and dystopias to post-apocalyptic landscapes. Readings and viewings include Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis,” Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times,” Christa Wolf’s “Accident: A Day’s News,” and Alan Moore’s “Watchmen,” as well as environmental documentaries and Japanese kaiju films like “Godzilla.”
Field trips will deepen this experiential learning. Students will visit key spots in Germany and the Netherlands where modern environmental challenges become real and tangible, e.g. the Hambacher Forest to explore Germany’s ongoing climate movement. They will examine the industrial history of the Ruhr Valley, and meet with local energy experts, filmmakers and activists.
The course includes guest lectures by Gettysburg faculty—such as Environmental Studies Prof. Salma Monani, Environmental Studies Prof. Monica Ogra, and Economics Prof. Rimvydas Baltaduonis—joining remotely to provide broader interdisciplinary insight.
The city of Bonn provides a compelling backdrop for these studies. As the former capital of West Germany and current seat of more than 20 United Nations institutions—including those focused on climate policy and sustainability—Bonn is often referred to as a global capital of climate protection. Its compact, walkable design, cultural richness, and student-friendly infrastructure make it an ideal location for immersive study.
Students enrolled in the program will take four courses: a German language class, Wrage’s seminar, and two additional electives selected from a broad range of offerings at AiB. Courses span fields such as music, architecture, international business, and STEM. The residential director also plays a key advising role, assisting students with course selection, cultural adaptation, and local engagement.
Beyond academics, Gettysburg provides financial support to enhance access to global learning. The Susan Gibble Wolf Fellowship offers up to $1,000 for German majors and minors and up to $500 for travel or cultural projects connected to the Bonn semester.
For Wrage, the opportunity to teach abroad aligns closely with his academic values and personal background.
“This is a truly exciting opportunity for me,” he said. “It is a great extension of what I do at Gettysburg already: fostering meaningful intercultural dialogue between my home country and the country I have come to call home.”
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By Corey Jewart
Photos provided by Henning Wrage and Getty Images/iStockphoto
Posted: 04/21/25