2007-08 Academic Catalog	home FAQs request

Scandinavian Studies/Norwegian
An Interdisciplinary Program

— also see Education
— also see Global Studies
— also see International Business

Programs offered:

•  Major in Scandinavian Studies (8.0 course credits)
•  Minor in Scandinavian Studies (5.0 course credits)
•  Minor in Norwegian (5.0 course credits)
•  Major in Scandinavian Studies with a minor in international business (also see international business)  (8.0 course credits in Scandinavian studies)
•  Major in International Business in Scandinavian Studies (also see international business) (10.0 course credits in international business plus 4.0 supporting course credits plus 5.0 Scandinavian studies course credits)
•  Scandinavian Studies major with a teaching license in Norwegian, grades K-12 (8.0 NORW or SCAN course credits plus 8.5 course credits in education)
•  World Languages Area of Specialization for Elementary Education majors, grades K-8 (see education)  (6.0 course credits)

Scandinavian Studies/Norwegian Course Descriptions

Faculty
Lisa M. Sethre-Hofstad, chair
George B. Connell
Joy K. Lintelman
Milda Ostrauskaite

Scandinavian studies at Concordia College encompasses the language and culture not just of Denmark, Norway and Sweden — the countries typically identified as “Scandinavia” — but also the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, the Færoe Islands and Greenland. The program offers several options for majors and minors in Scandinavian studies and/or Norwegian (see list above). Students may also choose a Scandinavian studies concentration in the “Cultural and Regional Studies” track of the global studies major. Credit may be transferred from other universities and colleges in the Scandinavian countries. Courses in Danish and Swedish are offered upon sufficient demand. In addition to a language sequence, students of Scandinavian studies take courses taught in English. Topics include literature, folklore, mythology, history, philosophy, religion, drama, business and current affairs. Students have many opportunities to speak a Scandinavian language and expand their cultural knowledge of the Nordic countries outside of the classroom. Every year, international students come to Concordia from the Scandinavian countries. Many of them interact with Americans in community language learning, formally and informally. Visiting Scandinavian scholars, speakers, authors and teachers come to the Concordia campus regularly to lecture, teach or serve as resource persons for students and faculty. On several occasions, Norwegian royalty and members of the Norwegian parliament and government have visited Concordia.
International off-campus study options are available through Hedmark University College, Concordia’s sister school with campuses in Hamar, Elverum, Rena, Blæstad and Evenstad, Norway; the University of Oslo, Norway; the Scandinavia and the Baltic program in Lillehammer, Norway; and SCAN 300 — May Seminars. In the summer, qualified students have the opportunity to use their Norwegian, Danish or Swedish as staff at the Concordia Language Villages, located on Turtle River Lake near Bemidji, Minn.

Liberal Arts Core Distribution World Languages Requirement

Students may satisfy this requirement by either option A or B:

A.  Successful completion of NORW 112 — Beginning Norwegian II or a higher- numbered course. All students who have studied Norwegian or another Scandinavian language before coming to Concordia are expected to take a placement test to determine which course level is the most appropriate for each individual’s ability. If the student has not previously studied a Scandinavian language, the student is not required to take the placement test and qualifies to enroll in NORW 111 — Beginning Norwegian I, or an equivalent course in Danish or Swedish if offered.

B.  Achieving successful scores on the oral proficiency interview and a timed essay that demonstrate the student has mastered the content and scope of the NORW 111-112 — Beginning Norwegian sequence. Prior to taking the oral interview and writing the essay, students must first place beyond NORW 112 on the placement exam in Norwegian.

Major in Scandinavian Studies

The requirements for a major in Scandinavian studies are 8.0 course credits above NORW 112 — Beginning Norwegian II, selected from several academic departments. Language courses may be waived if students can demonstrate the equivalent proficiency level; similarly, demonstrating proficiency in Danish or Swedish will allow students to waive the comparable language courses. Required courses include:

• NORW 211 — Intermediate Norwegian I, 1.0 credit
• NORW 212 — Intermediate Norwegian II, 1.0 credit
• NORW 311 — Norwegian Conversation and Composition, 1.0 credit
• 1.0 credit from the following foundation courses:
– SCAN 201 — Scandinavia in the Modern World, 1.0 credit
– SCAN 215 — Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature, 1.0 credit
• 2.0 credits from the following literature courses:
– SCAN 272 — Scandinavia Through Folklore, 1.0 credit
– SCAN 318 — Kierkegaard and Scandinavian Literature, 1.0 credit
– SCAN 410 — Ibsen and His Age, 1.0 credit
• 2.0 credits from the following cultural studies (one of which must be at or above the 300-level):
– SCAN 271 — Nordic Mythology and the Viking Age, 1.0 credit
– SCAN 317, HIST 317 — Scandinavian Immigration and Settlement in America, 1.0 credit
– SCAN 337, HIST 337 — History of Scandinavia, 1.0 credit
– SCAN 338, PHIL 338 — Søren Kierkegaard, 1.0 credit
• Other courses, including SCAN 380 — Special Topics, SCAN 390 — Cooperative Education and SCAN 480 — Independent Study, by approval of the program director Some of these courses are offered on a rotating basis from the departments
of English, history and philosophy. The student should consult the chair of Scandinavian studies for information on current course offerings and opportunities for individualized programs.

Minor in Scandinavian Studies

The requirements for a minor in Scandinavian studies are 5.0 course credits above NORW 112 — Beginning Norwegian II, selected from several academic departments. Language courses may be waived if students can demonstrate the equivalent proficiency level; similarly, demonstrating proficiency in Danish or Swedish will allow students to waive the comparable language courses. Required courses include:

•  NORW 211 — Intermediate Norwegian I, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 212 — Intermediate Norwegian II, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit from the following foundation courses:
–  SCAN 201 — Scandinavia in the Modern World, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 215 — Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit from the following literature courses:
–  SCAN 272 — Scandinavia Through Folklore, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 318 — Kierkegaard and Scandinavian Literature, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 410 — Ibsen and His Age, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit from the following cultural studies courses:
–  SCAN 271 — Nordic Mythology and the Viking Age, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 317, HIST 317 — Scandinavian Immigration and Settlement in America, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 337, HIST 337 — History of Scandinavia, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 338, PHIL 338 — Søren Kierkegaard, 1.0 credit
•  Other courses, including SCAN 380 — Special Topics, SCAN 390 — Cooperative Education and SCAN 480 — Independent Study, by approval of the program director

Some of these courses are offered on a rotating basis from the departments of English, history and philosophy. The student should consult the chair of Scandinavian studies for information on current course offerings and opportunities for individualized programs.

Minor in Norwegian

The requirements for a minor in Norwegian are 5.0 course credits above NORW 112 — Beginning Norwegian II:

•  NORW 211 — Intermediate Norwegian I, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 212 — Intermediate Norwegian II, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 311 — Norwegian Conversation and Composition, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 312 — Readings in Norwegian Literature with a Grammar Review, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 380 — Special Topics, 1.0 credit OR  NORW 480 — Independent Study, 1.0 credit
•  other courses by approval of program director

Courses taken with Concordia’s overseas programs are transferable.

Major in Scandinavian Studies with a minor in International Business

The business requirements for a minor in international business with a major in Scandinavian studies are listed in the international business pages of the catalog.

Major in International Business in Scandinavian Studies

The business requirements for a major in international business in Scandinavian studies are listed in the international business pages of the catalog. International business majors who are proficient in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language spend a semester or year at the University of Oslo or another university or college in Scandinavia, taking courses in management, marketing, finance or economics, language and culture. Students gain international business experience through a Cooperative Education internship in a Scandinavian firm. Students live in one of the student residence halls on or near campus. In addition to completing required courses in business and economics, students must also complete at least a minor in Scandinavian studies.

Licensure for Teaching Norwegian

Under the new Minnesota Board of Teaching rules, two licenses in world languages are available, either a K-8 or a K-12 license. In order to receive departmental approval for student teaching, all candidates for K-8 or K-12 certification must pass a screening at the intermediate-high level of oral language proficiency as described by the Board of Teaching Standards. The department strongly recommends that all students have a language- immersion experience in Norway in order to increase their level of proficiency.

Scandinavian Studies major with a teaching license in Norwegian, grades K-12

The requirements for a major in Scandinavian studies with a teaching license in Norwegian, grades K-12, are 8.0 course credits above NORW 112 — Beginning Norwegian II plus 9.0 course credits in education:

•  NORW 211 — Intermediate Norwegian I, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 212 — Intermediate Norwegian II, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 311 — Norwegian Conversation and Composition, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 312 — Readings in Norwegian Literature with a Grammar Review, 1.0 credit
•  NORW 380 — Special Topics, 1.0 credit OR  NORW 480 — Independent Study 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit from the following foundations courses:
–  SCAN 201 — Scandinavia in the Modern World, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 215 — Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit from the following literature courses:
–  SCAN 272 — Scandinavia Through Folklore, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 318 — Kierkegaard and Scandinavian Literature, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 410 — Ibsen and His Age, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit from the following cultural studies courses:
–  SCAN 271 — Nordic Mythology and the Viking Age, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 317, HIST 317 — Scandinavian Immigration and Settlement in America, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 337, HIST 337 — History of Scandinavia, 1.0 credit
–  SCAN 338, PHIL 338 — Søren Kierkegaard, 1.0 credit
•  Successful completion of the secondary/K-12 curriculum requirements.

The required methods of teaching courses are:
–  EDUC 362 — Secondary Methods of Teaching in World Languages, 1.0 credit
–  EDUC 363 — FLES Methods of Teaching, 1.0 credit