Become familiar with the cultures, history, and global influences of the Nordic languages.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Scandinavian in the College of Letters & Science offers a rare opportunity to explore the languages, literatures, cultures, and histories of Scandinavia, a region of the world often depicted as an egalitarian utopia. We study this and the rich heritage of the Nordic region from the Viking age until today, while also delving beneath the polished surfaces and encouraging critical thinking about the established narratives of the region, the disparities between ideals and reality, and the blind spots in Scandinavian self-perception.
Highlights
- Customize your studies with a concentration in Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Old Norse Studies, or Swedish.
- Connect with other students interested in Nordic culture at Nordic Kafe.
- Apply for a FLAS award to fund your language study.
- Immerse yourself in Scandinavian language and culture through study abroad.
Curriculum
The Department of Scandinavian offers an undergraduate major with concentrations in five areas: Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Old Norse Studies, and Swedish. Each of these concentrations allows students to explore the major while developing expertise within the language and literature of one of the Nordic languages.
While the electives built into each of the five concentrations allow room to explore all phases of Scandinavian literature and cultural history from the medieval to the modern, the core courses for each will emphasize the specific language of choice. 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.
Learn more at scandinavian.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/
Study Options
In addition to the major, the Department of Scandinavian offers:
- Minor program in Scandinavian
- Language classes in Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Old Norse
- Courses that fulfill Reading & Composition and L&S breadth requirements
Students can also add Scandinavian as a double major. Frequent pairings include environmental studies, history, architecture, public policy, linguistics, political science, film, and economics.
Declaring the Major
Upon acceptance to UC Berkeley, you are admitted to the College of Letters & Science as an undeclared student. To declare the Scandinavian major, contact the Undergraduate Advisor as early as possible to review the major declaration process and plan an individualized course of study.
The Scandinavian major accepts both first-year admits and transfer students. Transfer students do not have to take language prerequisites and SCANDIN 60 and 75 before applying for transfer to be considered for admission to UC Berkeley and the major in Scandinavian.
The Scandinavian major trains students in language skills, critical thinking and writing, and cultural understanding, and can serve as a first step to careers in writing, translation, editing, or business, especially those in which ties to the Nordic region are important. Program graduates have career trajectories in academic as well as a broad range of other professions that require language skills, research acumen, and persuasive argument such as business, law, medicine, public policy and government, and the arts.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Scandinavian. The College of Letters & Science spotlights career pathways for students in the Arts & Humanities, and offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Attorney
- Business Analyst
- Data Control Operator
- Environmental Educator
- Photographer
- Professor
- Teacher
- Technical Writer
- Translator
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Bioarchaeology
- Cognition and Communication
- English
- Law
- Linguistics
- Medieval Icelandic Studies
- Scandinavian Studies
- Urban and Regional Planning
Jacob, class of 2020
Jacob Casey graduated with a double major in Scandinavian and Psychology, and works as an environmental educator for a nature conservancy.
Why did you choose Scandinavian? I taught myself Norwegian as a kid and was an active member of a Scandinavian cultural club as a teen.
How did your degree shape your career? Scandinavia's commitment to environmentalism and sustainability as well as the concept of friluftsliv inspires me in my career as an environmental educator.
Any advice for future students? Be an active agent in shaping your own future—make connections, utilize available resources, and most importantly never give up on your passions.
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and first-year guides from L&S and Arts & Humanities.
- Visit L&S Advising for help with major exploration and degree requirements.
- Familiarize yourself with the Scandinavian major including major concentrations; enroll in a lower division gateway course (SCANDIN 60 / 75).
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or A&H Compass or Gateway course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Join Nordic Kafe to connect with other students interested in Nordic culture.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Attend a Scandinavian department event.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Arts & Humanities website.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Complete SCANDIN 60 and 75 (if not yet taken), as well as lower division language for your concentration.
- Look into study abroad; see resources from the department and options in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
- Enrich your studies with a course thread, certificate, or minor such as Medieval Studies.
- Meet with the Undergraduate Advisor to declare the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Check out the Nordic Center
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy
- Check out Scandinavian collections at the department and Doe Library
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS website; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Look into Scandinavian awards and scholarships
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE; look into the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Begin taking upper division requirements for your concentration, including language.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Spend a term off-campus with UCDC or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
- Consider applying to the Scandinavian Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a member of the A&H Dean’s Leadership Team.
- Check out the Public Service Internship Program, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Center for Interdisciplinary Critical Inquiry.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Share your language skills in the SLC Language Exchange Program.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Townsend Center or Student Learning Center
- Challenge yourself with a graduate seminar in the department.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship or Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator
- Start connecting with alumni groups and events.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course.
- Enroll in an intensive language program at UW-Madison or Indiana University.
- Study abroad in Denmark or Norway through UCEAP, or intern in Sweden with UC Berkeley.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Teaching English and Journalism.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal and transfer guides from L&S and Arts & Humanities.
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Enroll in SCANDIN 75; start lower division language for your concentration.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Meet with the Undergraduate Advisor to declare the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Join Nordic Kafe to connect with other students interested in Nordic culture.
- Find support at the Transfer Student Center or Re-entry Student Program
- Check out Scandinavian collections at the department and Doe Library
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Attend a Scandinavian department event.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Begin exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Arts & Humanities website.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in SCANDIN 60; continue with lower division language.
- Begin taking upper division requirements for your concentration.
- Look into study abroad; see resources from the department and options in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
- Enrich your studies with a course thread, certificate, or minor such as Medieval Studies.
- Consider applying to the Scandinavian Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Check out the Nordic Center.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS website; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Check out the Public Service Internship Program, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Center for Interdisciplinary Critical Inquiry.
- Look into Scandinavian awards and scholarships.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to develop skills and explore fields.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in upper division language for your concentration; continue with upper division requirements.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Spend a term off-campus with UCDC or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a Transfer Peer Advocate or member of the A&H Dean’s Leadership Team.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Share your language skills in the SLC Language Exchange Program.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives, including upper division language for your concentration.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Townsend Center or Student Learning Center.
- Challenge yourself with a graduate seminar in the department.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship or Stronach Prize
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Start connecting with alumni groups and events.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Get ready for Berkeley with RHETOR 100 Writing at the University.
- Thinking about a PhD? Apply to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship before your first semester.
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course.
- Enroll in an intensive language program at UW-Madison or Indiana University.
- Study abroad in Denmark or Norway through UCEAP, or intern in Sweden with UC Berkeley.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Teaching English and Journalism.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Scandinavian or choosing a major?
The Department of Scandinavian offers undergraduate advising for students interested in the Scandinavian major, minor, or Nordic language study. The Undergraduate Advisor is available for in-person and remote appointments for help with major, double major, and minor planning and declaration; study abroad course and requirements planning; and other matters. Email issaug@berkeley.edu for advising hours, contacts, and additional information.
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
Related Programs
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