About the Program

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The Department of Scandinavian offers undergraduate majors in four Scandinavian languages (Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish). Each of these allow students to explore all phases of Scandinavian literature and cultural history from the medieval to the modern. The curriculum emphasizes especially those moments when Scandinavia's "cultural borrowing" turned to "cultural lending"; the latter include the Viking Age, the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries (an era of military and scientific preeminence), the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (a period of literary preeminence, especially in theater), and the mid-twentieth century (social ideology, in particular the design of the "Welfare State" and in the case of Sweden, the pursuit of political neutrality). Specific courses take up the history, literature, folklore, and film of these periods of Scandinavian prominence in Western Europe's cultural production.

In addition to this broader curricular approach to Scandinavian culture, students receive further training in their major language skills by pursuing reading in original Scandinavian languages when coursework allows and through special add-on major units (Scandinavian 149). This allows students the opportunity to work closely with a professor in their major language area. The Department is also particularly interested in helping students pursue interdisciplinary interests through its own core courses and through double majors with other fields. Several of the areas in which Scandinavia is of comparative interest or has made a major contribution are as follows: environmental studies, history, drama, medieval literature, folklore, architecture, public policy, linguistics, international studies, peace studies, political science, film, and economics.

Declaring the Major

The Department encourages all students interested in the undergraduate major in Scandinavian to declare the major as early as possible in their academic careers (even as early as the freshman and sophomore years)  in order to have sufficient time to take required language courses and to complete major requirements. Students interested in exploring the major should consult the undergraduate student services adviser as early as possible to plan an individualized course of study at the Italian Studies office in 6303 Dwinelle Hall. Appointments should be made in advance by email at issaug@berkeley.edu .

Students who already have a primary major but would like to make good use of those credits earned on the EAP program or of upper division work done in Scandinavian here at Berkeley should explore the possibility of a double major or minor in Scandinavian. 

Honors Program

To enter the honors program, students must have a 3.3 minimum major and overall grade point average (GPA). Majors enroll in two consecutive semesters of SCANDIN 145 in their senior year during which they will carry out research and write an honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty member. Students who meet the GPA requirements must first consult with the undergraduate faculty adviser in order to pursue an honors thesis.

Minor Program

A minor in Scandinavian adds depth to many other major courses of study, especially those with special stakes in Scandinavian material such as Architecture, City Planning, Environmental Studies, Economics, History, Political Science, Comparative Literature, Film, and English. It is not necessary to study a Scandinavian language to minor in Scandinavian; all upper-division courses are taught in English with texts in translation and are easily accessible to students with general interests in Scandinavian culture.

Students interested in exploring the minor should consult the undergraduate student services adviser at the Italian Studies office in 6303 Dwinelle Hall. Appointments should be made in advance by email at issaug@berkeley.edu .

Other Majors and Minors offered by the Department of Scandinavian

Celtic Studies

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

1. All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit, other than courses listed which are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
2. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters and Science.
3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper- and lower-division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Lower-division Requirements

Upper-division Requirements 

Minor Requirements

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements and are noted officially on the transcript in the memoranda section, but they are not noted on diplomas.

General Guidelines

1. All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements below must be taken for graded credit.
2. A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.
4. Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth Requirement, for Letters and Science students.
5. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.
6. All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. Students who cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time should see a College of Letters and Science adviser.
7. All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)

Requirements

Students with Education Abroad courses should consult with the undergraduate faculty adviser for help in determining requirement equivalences.

College Requirements

Undergraduate students in the College of Letters and Science must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For detailed lists of courses that fulfill college requirements, please see the College of Letters and Sciences  page in this bulletin. 

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing Requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a U.S. resident graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

American Cultures

American Cultures is the one requirement that all undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work.

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing and critical thinking the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition. Students must complete a first-level reading and composition course by the end of their second semester and a second-level course by the end of their fourth semester.

Breadth Requirements

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship.  Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

• 120 total units, including at least 60 L&S units

• Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

• Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department

Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters and Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through University Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to see an adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley summer session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence Requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the College.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) or the UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence Requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding EAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Student Learning Goals

Learning Goals for the Major

1. Communicative competence in one of four modern Nordic languages (Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish) in both the spoken and written language within a cultural context
2. Understanding of the linguistic, historical, and cultural relationships that join and divide the nations and peoples of the Nordic region
3. Understanding the broad trajectory of Nordic literary culture from the Middle Ages to contemporary times including both canonical works and works from the margins
4. Mastery of research and analytical skills sufficient to enable the student to understand received wisdom and new scholarship and to draw insightful and original conclusions about literature, film, folklore, art history, and other aspects of literary culture
5. Writing and reasoning skills (mounting a persuasive argument, marshaling and synthesizing appropriate evidence, crafting syntactically correct, carefully documented essays and oral presentations)

Advising

The Department provides programmatic and individual advising services to prospective and current students who are pursuing major and minor tracks. Advisors assist with a range of issues including course selection, academic decision-making, achieving personal and academic goals, and maximizing the Berkeley experience.

Students who are looking to explore their options or are ready to declare a major, double major, or minor should contact the Undergraduate Student Services Adviser.

Advising Staff and Hours

Kathi Brosnan
issaug@berkeley.edu
6303 Dwinelle Hall
510-642-4661
Contact Kathi Brosnan via email to request an appointment
Advising hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-11:00am and 1:30pm-3:30pm

Courses

Faculty

Professors

Linda H Rugg, PhD, Professor. Scandinavian, Swedish literature and culture 1870 to the present, August Strindberg, Ingmar Bergman, visual autobiography, literature and the visual arts, ecology and culture, film, whiteness studies.
Research Profile

Mark B. Sandberg, PhD, Professor. Silent film, late nineteenth-century visual culture, comedy, Scandinavian design, serial television, film historiography, Scandinavian film history, Henrik Ibsen, Norwegian literature, Nordic literary history.
Research Profile

Karin L. Sanders, Professor. Danish literature, 19th and 20th Century Scandinavian literature, literary history, gender and literature, word and image, archaeology in literature and visual art, death and the arts.
Research Profile

Assistant Professors

Jonas Wellendorf, Assistant Professor. Old Norse language and literature, Scandinavian cultural history (Viking Age and Middle ages).
Research Profile

Lecturers

Karen Moller, Lecturer.

Annalee Rejhon, Lecturer.

Sirpa Tuomainen, Lecturer.