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 Thank you for visiting the internet homepages of the Department of
Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington. The Department
of Scandinavian Studies was founded in 1909 by a special act of the
Washington State Legislature. In the 99 years of its
existence, the
Department has grown from a one-person program to a comprehensive
Scandinavian Studies department with a faculty fully engaged
in leading-edge scholarship, award-winning teaching and
dedicated university and community service.
Undergraduates receive a comprehensive liberal arts education within
the context of learning one or more of the Nordic languages and gaining
a deeper understanding of the cultural diversity of the modern world.
Graduates from the Department have gone on to successful careers
in a wide range of occupations, including teaching, government service,
business and industry. Most recently, graduates have found extensive
opportunities in the field of information technology with the numerous
software and internet companies in the Puget Sound region. We invite
you to explore the various pages to learn more about the Department
and the University of Washington.
Department Mission Statement
The Department of Scandinavian Studies seeks to discover,
preserve, and transmit fundamental knowledge about the languages,
literature, history, politics, and cultures of the Scandinavian/Nordic
countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) and the Baltic
countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). Focusing on interdisciplinary
study in comparative and cross-cultural contexts, language study is the
vital core of the Department. Additionally, the Department seeks to
provide background training and knowledge of the entire Nordic region to
students, scholars, and the broader community.
The Department of Scandinavian Studies seeks to prepare
students for productive careers in an increasingly diverse, multi-cultural
and global society through a firm dedication to providing excellent
undergraduate and graduate education, while facilitating contacts and
understanding between Americans and the peoples of the Scandinavian and
Baltic countries. As a Department with several disciplines represented,
the Department of Scandinavian Studies is a kind of "mini-liberal arts
college" that seeks to train future scholars, citizens, and policy makers
while also contributing to the establishment of an overall sense of
community. In this way, students will be encouraged to learn to think
creatively, rationally, and critically, while communicating cogently,
correctly, and persuasively.
Statement on Diversity
The Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of
Washington has been premised on diversity since its inception in 1909 when
American citizens of Danish, Norwegian and Swedish backgrounds persuaded
the Washington State Legislature to establish a Scandinavian department.
The Department builds cultural awareness and understanding through
research, teaching, service and community outreach. As an integral part
of a large university, the Department seeks broad representation of the
community in its students, faculty and staff. Our faculty provide
scholarly learning opportunities about multiculturalism and diversity.
Our students engage curricula and field experiences structured to foster
knowledge of others and their cultures. Language is the gateway
to interpreting other cultures, histories, politics and
literature. Awareness of and respect for difference is essential to
preparing students for citizenship. The Department of Scandinavian
Studies views each student as an individual and supports the equal
treatment of all those who enroll in our courses and study with us.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
Graduates of the Department of Scandinavian Studies have an
advanced level of proficiency in at least one Scandinavian, Finno-Ugric,
or Baltic language; they can speak about a wide range of concrete topics
in a sustained conversation and they have the ability to interpret and
write about literary texts, non-fiction, and other media. Graduates also
demonstrate knowledge of major figures, ideas, and institutions in the
Baltic and Nordic cultures, history, literature, and politics in a manner
that informs a global perspective. They have the ability to research and
synthesize source material in the target language and they can produce a
scholarly essay in English on a topic within their area of
concentration.
An annual exit survey of graduating seniors
measures the validity and effectiveness of these student learning
outcomes.
Opportunities
Graduates of the Department of
Scandinavian
Studies have the qualifications to embark on careers that require skills
in the interpretation of information from various media, offer critical
analysis, engage in effective communication, and to continue in Graduate
Programs and Professional Schools that value international,
multi-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Students....
Students at the University of Washington can earn a Bachelors degree
(BA) with a major in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish (emphasis in languages
and literature) and Scandinavian Area Studies (emphasis in folklore,
history, politics, and/or Baltic Studies). (A major in Finnish
is currently being developed.) Graduate
students can pursue studies for Master’s degrees (MA) in Scandinavian
Languages and Literature or Scandinavian Area Studies, as well as
a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Scandinavian Languages and Literature.
Minors are available in Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Scandinavian
Area Studies, and Baltic Studies. The Department's Baltic
Studies Program offers courses in the languages and cultures of the Baltic
countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. For additional information
please visit our Undergraduate and Graduate pages.
- Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students majoring in the Department of Scandinavian
Studies have the rare opportunity of studying at a CLASS ONE RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY while enjoying a small-college-like atmosphere of departmental
instruction and easy access to the faculty. Undergraduate students
also have a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful research
working one-on-one with faculty through the Undergraduate Research
Program.
- Graduate Students
We strongly encourage students interested in graduate study in
Scandinavian Studies to contact the Department. There are several
opportunities
for graduate student support, such as teaching/research assistantships
for qualified students accepted into the program. In addition,
graduate students frequently attend professional conferences
and supported
by the faculty to present scholarly papers of their research.
The Department's curriculum and course
offerings can be viewe by following the links to Undergraduate
and Graduate courses from this websites frontpage.
(Recent graduates from the Department are listed under the
year of their graduation on the
Alumni page.)
Study Abroad
Although a full program of study is available at the University
of Washington, students in the Department of Scandinavian Studies
are encouraged to expand their knowledge of the Scandinavian
and Baltic countries through study abroad, in addition to
their on-campus studies in Seattle.
The University of Washington currently has formal exchange agreements
with several Scandinavian and Baltic universities where
students may earn study abroad transfer credit
applicable to their UW degree. Credit may also be earned
in approved summer programs, such as those in Uppsala, Oslo,
Bergen, Helsinki, or the departmental program in Copenhagen.
The Copenhagen Classroom summer program and a semester-long Study in Denmark
program supported by the Scan|Design by Inger and Jens Bruun
Foundation are open to all UW students.
Summer Programs:
- National Institute of Summer Scandinavian
Studies (NISSS)
During the summers of 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2007, the
Department hosted the National Institute
of Summer Scandinavian Studies. The Institute, co-sponsored by
a consortium of universities
consisting of the Universities of Washington -Seattle,
Minnesota-Twin Cities,
Wisconsin-Madison, and Indiana University-Bloomington, offers
intensive language
instruction with additional courses in Scandinavian culture
and literature.
The National Institute of Summer Scandinavian Studies (NISSS) is
a cooperative venture initiated by the Department of Scandinavian
Studies and the Center for West European Studies at the University
of Washington. The UW Center for West European Studies , and the
West European Studies Centers at Indiana University, the
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and the University
of Wisconsin, Madison, also provide financial support for the
Institute.
Further funding for NISSS is provided through Title VI by
the US Department of Education AND the University of Washington Summer
Quarter/Extension Office.
- The Baltic Studies Summer Institute (BALSSI)
The Baltic Studies Summer Institute (BALSSI) offers intensive
Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian language courses. BALSSI
also offers English-language courses about Baltic history
and culture, as well as rich cultural enhancement programs.
BALSSI is sponsored by a consortium of ten American
universities: University of California-Los Angeles;
Harvard University; Univeristy of Illinois (Urbana and
Chicago campuses); Indiana University; University of
Iowa; University of Michigan; University of Texas; University
of Washington-Seattle; and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In 2003 and 2004, the UW hosted the tenth and eleventh
BALSSI programs as well
as the first two summer programs when the consortium
was established. BALSSI is funded with support from
the consortium universities as well as grants from
the Social Science Research Council, the Estonian-
American National Council, and the American Latvian
Association. (The 2005 BALSSI program will be held at Indiana
University.)
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments, or simply want to tell us of your
visit to our web site, please send an email to
uwscand@u.washington.edu or
you can write, phone or fax us. Our address and phone numbers are:
Department of Scandinavian Studies
University of Washington
Box 353420
Seattle, WA 98195-3420
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Telephone: (206) 543-0645
Fax: (206) 685-9173
e-mail: uwscand@u.washington.edu
The Contact page lists the
administrative
personnel in the department
while the Faculty page lists the teaching
faculty
along with links to
their individual home pages.
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