Scandinavian Studies Courses – Summer 2026

(4 credits)

• Online Lecture 001: MTWRF 8:50 – 10:45 am / MTWRF 12:05 – 2:10 pm

Course Description: This course introduces students to the Norwegian language through the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The course covers fundamental grammar concepts and topics including language and identity, education, food, and daily life. Instruction will emphasize communication and understanding as well as the intersections between language and culture.

Prerequisites: None.

This is a modular section that meets June 15, 2026 thru July 12, 2026

(4 credits)

• Online Lecture 001: MTWRF 8:50 – 10:45 am / MTWRF 12:05 – 2:10 pm

Course Description: This course continues to build basic skills in Norwegian language through speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Instruction will emphasize communication and understanding as well as cultural knowledge and awareness. Homework centers on reinforcing vocabulary, reading, grammar exercises, and writing. Thematic units covered in Norwegian 102 include climate and weather, family and celebrations, and hometowns and housing. We end the semester with a project on travel in Norway.

Prerequisites: First semester Norwegian or placement test with instructor

This is a modular section that meets July 13, 2026 thru August 9, 2026

(4 credits)

• Online

Course Description: The Vikings begins with modern portrayals—from popular media to nationalist appropriations in the 19^th and 20^thcentury—and examines how these images have shaped and sometimes distorted our understanding of early medieval Scandinavia. From there, the course turns to historical sources and archaeological evidence to explore the legendary origins of the Scandinavian peoples, the consolidation of their kingdoms, and the far-reaching impact of Viking expansion. Students will study the conversion to Christianity, which marked the end of the Viking Age, alongside the rich cultural legacy of Norse mythology, runic writing, skaldic poetry, and Icelandic sagas. Viking art, warfare, and environmental interactions are also considered. Weekly reaction papers and group projects encourage critical thinking and collaborative inquiry, while two comprehensive essays assess students’ engagement with both historical and modern narratives. By tracing the evolution of Viking identity, students gain insight into the medieval world and the forces that continue to shape cultural memory today.

This is a modular section that meets June 15, 2026 thru July 12, 2026