Undergraduate Program

Every year the Finnish undergraduate program offers Finnish language courses and courses about Finnish culture taught in English. Students can also study Finnish on three levels. Twenty five to thirty five students enroll in courses each quarter. Cultural courses include a course on the history of Finnish literature and culture, the Kalevala, Finnish cinema, the Nordic welfare state, masterpieces of Finnish literature, Finland during WWII, and other topics. Through an arrangement with the Finnish Ministry of Education, a lecturer and visiting interns have provided instruction in the program.

Students may only minor in Finnish presently. Undergraduate students of Finnish have worked for Google and Microsoft, attended law school and graduate school, and pursed careers in fields such as music, teaching, business and the arts.

Graduate Program

Students interested in doing original research on Finnish topics may complete Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Finnish studies within the Department of Scandinavian Studies. Students who are interested in Finland within a comparative context may also participate in the Finnish Studies program. The focus of the program is cultural studies. Our graduate students have become professional translators, and have also gone on to teach at Brigham Young University, the University of Tartu, and the University of Washington.