Scandinavian Studies

Overview

You know about Vikings, Ikea, and Ingmar Bergman, but if you delve a bit deeper into the rich cultural history of Northern Europe as a Scandinavian Studies major, you’ll learn about the cultures of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and their neighboring countries. You’ll explore Scandinavian history, folklore, literature, theater, film, politics, economics and government from the medieval to modern eras, and take classes in Danish, Swedish or Norwegian, reading novels, plays and poetry in their original language. Some schools offer exchange programs, and spending a semester abroad is a great opportunity to experience Scandinavian people, language, and culture firsthand. By senior year, most majors undertake an independent study project; possible topics vary from Norse mythology, to the design of the “Welfare State,” to twentieth-century Finnish architecture.

A Scandinavian studies major can be applied to many fields, including arts, business, economics, filmmaking, political science, social science, tourism, and translation.