Taught on-site in historic Copenhagen, this interdisciplinary UW program explores Danish approaches to sustainable designs in various disciplines which are rooted in artful traditions of the 19th- and early 20th Centuries.
The 12-credit, intensive course focuses on four academic disciplines: Environmental Policy, Cinema Studies, Literature and Architecture.
The month-long program (August 1 – 31) will be divided into four week-long mini-courses, taught in English by dynamic UW faculty and Scandinavian specialists.
Simultaneously with this interdisciplinary program, students participate in a 3-week intensive Danish language course (August 4 – 22) at beginning, intermediate or advanced levels taught by Danish faculty at the University of Copenhagen.
Supported by: 
Download the Brochure in Acrobat PDF format [200k].
Week 1
Sustainable Transportation Systems
— Annica Kronsell
The opening week is an exploration of sustainable designs in transportation systems, central to the development of the Øresund region connecting Copenhagen to southern Sweden. Students experience various Danish and Swedish transportation systems and engage policy-makers in discussions regarding transportation planning in Copenhagen and Lund.
Week 2
Sustainable Cinema – From Silent Film to Dogme
— Mette Hjort
A small nation with a population under 6 million, Denmark has enjoyed periods of international prominence in film. The week encompasses a study of the Golden Age of silent film production (1909-14), when Nordisk Films Kompagni created a viable film industry in Denmark, and also a study of the late 90s when Danish film once again achieved international acclaim. Students visit the Film Town, the National Film School of Denmark and the Film House, meet with film practitioners and policy makers, and discover how the challenges of viability and sustainability are met in the context of Denmark. .
Week 3
Eco-criticism and Danish Literature
— Jan Krogh Nielsen & Marianne Stecher-Hansen
How is the relationship between the natural environment and human environments depicted historically and today in Danish letters? This week explores Danish literature in the context of eco-criticism, with literary selections ranging from Romanticism to contemporary postmodern literature. Students read texts in translation by Hans Christian Andersen, Jens Peter Jacobsen, Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) and others, and visit a number of significant cultural sites, museums, and literary venues.
Week 4
Sustainable Design and Architecture
— Peter Cohan
We will explore the process of making buildings in Copenhagen and how sustainable design ideas are translated into reality. A brief introduction to the history of the Copenhagen’s urban design and architecture puts contemporary projects into context. We will study new sustainable developments in Copenhagen and meet with Danish architects and other local professionals involved in designing and building them.
UW Credit:
SCAND 399: 7 credits (interdisciplinary course)
SCAND 495: variable credits (optional special project)
DANISH 199/299/399: 5 credits (intensive language course)
Eligibility: Advanced undergraduates and graduate students in any field. Students who have completed Danish 101-102-103 are given priority admission, but language study is not a program pre-requisite. Enrollment is limited to 12 students.
Application Deadline: April 15 2008
Program Application:To be considered for the program, please complete and submit the following to Department of Scandinavian Studies in 318 Raitt Hall in one complete packet:
- Application Form
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation: Letters from two UW faculty or instructors who are familiar with your academic work.
- Official Transcripts: Official and current UW transcript and official transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended.
- Statement of Purpose: In two pages, typed and double-spaced, a statement indicating your background and qualifications for study and living abroad, your reasons for choosing this program. Include any other information that you feel is relevant to your application.
- Financial Statement: A brief statement (in your own words) that explains your plan for financing your foreign study experience.
Cost: $1,400 program fee plus $200 IPE fee. Program fee includes: instructional costs, excursions and meals during excursions. Please note that the program fee is greatly reduced by a generous grant from the Scan|Design Foundation.
Payment Schedule: $350 non-refundable deposit due at the receipt of contract. Balance of $1,050 plus $200 IPE fee due July 11, 2008.
Housing: Arranged in dorms or private rented rooms close to Copenhagen University campus, where Danish language classes meet. This campus is connected to greater Copenhagen by the new Metro system. Rent ranges between $600 - $700 a month for a single room with access to shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Other Costs: Program fees do not include airfare, housing and food, and personal spending money. Students are responsible for these expenses. Program fees are paid in dollars; most program expenses are paid in Kroner. The program reserves the right to modify the program fee based upon dollar devaluation or severe inflation. If such a change occurs, students will be notified of the increase and an adjustment will be made to the final program payment.
Financial Aid: Most forms of financial aid can be utilized during participation in the program. Students interested in applying for increased financial aid during their quarter of study abroad should obtain a revision request from the Financial Aid office, and a budget of student expenses from the IPE office, and submit both to the Financial Aid office in Schmitz Hall. Please visit IPE for further information.
Concurrent Enrollment & Pre-Departure Orientation: Students participating in the program must submit forms to concurrently enroll in the UW during summer quarter 2008. Concurrent enrollment forms will be provided via a mandatory on-line orientation and will be due to IPE by June 2, 2008. For complete information regarding concurrent enrollment and the Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation, please visit IPE.
Insurance: The University of Washington strongly recommends that students participating in this program maintain major medical insurance coverage (that covers them internationally) while abroad. More information about insurance can be found at http://ipe.washington.edu.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available through the Northwest Danish Foundation. UW students are encouraged to apply for these scholarships to support their participation in the Copenhagen Classroom.
Withdrawal Policy: A student withdrawing from the program by May 15, 2008 will be refunded all but the non-refundable $350 program deposit. Any student withdrawing from the program after this deadline will be liable for any non-recoverable payments already made or committed on behalf of the participant, which could range up to the entire program fee. No refunds will be given once the program begins. Notice of withdrawal from the program must be made in writing to both the International Programs and Exchanges Office and the Scandinavian Studies Department.
Further Details: This is a partial list of program information. For comprehensive details, download the Brochure [PDF 200k]. For questions, contact Professor Marianne Stecher-Hansen, Program Director, Department of Scandinavian Studies (206-543-6084, 305U Raitt Hall.)