Germanic Studies: Scandinavian Studies, BALAS

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Germanic Studies, Scandinavian Studies Concentration


Designed for students with a broad interest in Scandinavian Studies, including acquiring proficiency in a modern Scandinavian language. Fulfilling the requirements for the major usually involves one semester of study abroad at a Scandinavian university.

Undergraduate degree programs in Germanic Languages & Literatures:

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Germanic Studies, Scandinavian Studies Concentration


Designed for students with a broad interest in Scandinavian Studies, including acquiring proficiency in a modern Scandinavian language. Fulfilling the requirements for the major usually involves one semester of study abroad at a Scandinavian university.

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor.

Departmental distinction: Students majoring in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures are urged to consult the departmental honors adviser by the second semester of the junior year for information pertaining to senior honors work and honors awards in the department.


Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: normally equates to 30 hours in Scandinavian courses beyond SCAN 101-102. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

University Requirements

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required)0-20

Major Requirements

Language Courses beyond SCAN 101-SCAN 102:12
Intermediate Scandinavian I
Intermediate Scandinavian II
Topics in Scan Languages
At least 6 hours from the following 200-level course offerings:6
Madness, Myth, and Murder
Vikings to Volvos: Scandinavia
Viking Mythology
Viking Sagas in Translation
Select at least 12 hours from the following 300- and 400-level courses:12
Old Norse - Icelandic I
Old Norse - Icelandic II
Children and Youth Literature
Modern Scandinavian Drama
Scandinavian Politics and Society
Kierkegaard and the Self
Green Screen: Film and Nature
Scandinavian Cinema
Special Topics in Scan Studies
Total Hours30

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Germanic Studies, Scandinavian Studies Concentration


Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
Free Elective course1
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Composition I or General Education course4
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
First Year
Second SemesterHours
Language Other Than English (4th level)4
Free Elective course3
General Education course or Composition I3
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
First SemesterHours
SCAN 1034
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
SCAN 1044
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course2
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
First SemesterHours
SCAN 4944
SCAN 200-level course from list3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
SCAN 200-level course from list3
SCAN 300-400 level course from list3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
SCAN 300-400 level course from list3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course2
 14
Total Hours 14
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
SCAN 300-400 level course from list3
SCAN 300-400 level course from list3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Germanic Studies, Scandinavian Studies Concentration


  1. Language ability: Students develop and improve their foreign language abilities, i.e. their ability to read, speak, write, and listen in a modern Scandinavian language in order to work with texts and communicate with others in the language.
  2. Cultural-historical literacy and knowledge: Students develop and improve their ability to function in non-native cultural-historical and linguistic contexts and communities in order to respect and navigate cultural differences and build upon similarities. Furthermore, students will synthesize knowledge relevant to broad cultural and linguistic areas within Scandinavian studies in order to apply that knowledge toward the other learning outcomes outlined here.
  3. Analytical and argumentative skills: Students develop and improve their abilities to analyze diverse cultural artifacts in order to apply analytical thinking and discursive skills to the construction of sound, supported, factual argumentation rather than merely expression of opinion, completely or in part.
  4. Writing development: Students will demonstrate and produce well-written, communicative, argumentative, and interpretive texts in Swedish and/or English in order to competently meet diverse writing tasks. Furthermore, students will be able to carry out various forms of research in support of their writing in order to create more substantive texts, which are also genre appropriate and written for a particular audience.