Twin Cities campus

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Twin Cities Campus

Norwegian Minor

German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch
College of Liberal Arts
  • Program Type: Undergraduate minor related to major
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2022
  • Required credits in this minor: 16 to 36
The study of Norwegian introduces students to the vibrant culture and society of contemporary Norway. This country is distinguished for its writers, artists, and composers and for its social welfare system, natural resources, and leadership in forestry, fisheries, petroleum engineering and Arctic studies. Students of Norwegian have several opportunities to study in Norway. Through the acquisition of advanced proficiency in Norwegian, students will gain a unique perspective on such pressing issues as the environment, immigration, gender relations, international security, and nationhood. Learning Norwegian allows you to understand and communicate in Swedish and Danish as well.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the Office of Admissions website.
Required prerequisites
Beginning and Intermediate Norwegian
These courses, or equivalent, must be taken in sequential order. In select cases, students with advanced proficiency may be exempt from taking some or all of these courses. See the departmental advisor for more information.
Take 0 - 4 course(s) totaling 0 - 20 credit(s) from the following:
· NOR 1001 - Beginning Norwegian (5.0 cr)
· NOR 1002 - Beginning Norwegian (5.0 cr)
· NOR 1003 - Intermediate Norwegian (5.0 cr)
· NOR 1004 - Intermediate Norwegian (5.0 cr)
Minor Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of Norwegian. with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department or college.
At least 3 upper-division credits in the minor must be taken at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Students with a German, Scandinavian, Dutch major may elect a minor in Norwegian, but no courses may count for both the major and the minor.
Readings in Scandinavian Languages
Take exactly 1 course(s) totaling exactly 4 credit(s) from the following:
· SCAN 3011W - Readings in Scandinavian Languages [WI] (4.0 cr)
Electives
Take 4 or more course(s) totaling 12 or more credit(s) from the following:
· SCAN 3501W - Scandinavian Culture Past and Present [GP, WI] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3502 - Scandinavian Myths [LITR, GP] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3503 - Scandinavian Folklore [LITR, GP] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3504 - Emigration, Immigration, Integration: The Nordic Experience [HIS, GP] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3505 - Scandinavian Fiction From 1890 to Present [LITR] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3601 {Inactive} [LITR] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3602 - The Literary Fairy Tale in Scandinavia [LITR] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3604W - Living Pictures: An Introduction to Nordic Cinema [AH, WI] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3613 - Children's Literature in Scandinavia [LITR] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3670 - Topics in Scandinavian Studies (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 5502 - The Icelandic Saga (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 5670 - Topics in Scandinavian Studies (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 5701 - Old Norse Language and Literature (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 5703 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3605 - The Scandinavian Short Story [LITR] (3.0 cr)
or SCAN 5605 - The Scandinavian Short Story [LITR] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3614 - Blood on Snow: Scandinavian Thrillers in Fiction and Film [LITR, GP] (3.0 cr)
or SCAN 5614 - Blood on Snow: Scandinavian Thrillers in Fiction and Film (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3617 - Scandinavian Gothic: Horror and the Uncanny in Nordic Literature and Media [AH, GP] (3.0 cr)
or SCAN 5617 - Scandinavian Gothic: Horror and the Uncanny in Nordic Literature and Media [AH, GP] (3.0 cr)
· SCAN 3634 - Scandinavian Women Writers [LITR, GP] (3.0 cr)
or SCAN 5634 - Scandinavian Women Writers [GP, LITR] (3.0 cr)
· Directed Study
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
· SCAN 3993 - Directed Studies (1.0-4.0 cr)
· SCAN 5993 - Directed Studies (1.0-4.0 cr)
 
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· Norwegian Minor
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NOR 1001 - Beginning Norwegian
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Nor 1001/4001
Typically offered: Every Fall
Emphasis on working toward novice-intermediate low proficiency in all four language modalities (listening, reading, speaking, writing). Topics include everyday subjects (shopping, directions, family, food, housing, etc.).
NOR 1002 - Beginning Norwegian
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Nor 1002/4002
Typically offered: Every Spring
Continues the presentation of all four language modalities (listening, reading, speaking, writing) with a proficiency emphasis. Topics include free-time activities, careers, and Norwegian culture. prereq: 1001
NOR 1003 - Intermediate Norwegian
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Nor 1003/4003
Typically offered: Every Fall
Emphasis on intermediate proficiency in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Contextualized work on grammar and vocabulary is combined with authentic readings and essay assignments. prereq: 1002
NOR 1004 - Intermediate Norwegian
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Nor 1004/4004
Typically offered: Every Spring
Emphasis on developing intermediate mid-high proficiency in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Contextualized work on grammar and vocabulary is supported by work with authentic readings and essay assignments. prereq: 1103
SCAN 3011W - Readings in Scandinavian Languages (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3011W/Scan 4011
Typically offered: Every Fall
Reading/composition in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish for advanced proficiency. Introduction to differences between the three languages. prereq: [Dan or Nor or Swed][1004 or 4004] or instr consent
SCAN 3501W - Scandinavian Culture Past and Present (GP, WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Even, Spring Odd Year
Cultural, social, and political developments; principal views and core values; major cultural figures; Scandinavian mentality. Readings in translation for nonmajors. Invited lectures on central topics within selected areas of study.
SCAN 3502 - Scandinavian Myths (LITR, GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: MEST 3502/Scan 3502
Typically offered: Fall Odd, Spring Even Year
Literary and cultural investigation of the popular beliefs, myths, and religion of the medieval Scandinavians; the interaction of paganism and Christianity; the reflection of myths in Old Scandinavian literature and art. All readings in English.
SCAN 3503 - Scandinavian Folklore (LITR, GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Odd, Spring Even Year
Literary and folkloristic investigation of Scandinavian folktales and legends. Readings in translation for nonmajors.
SCAN 3504 - Emigration, Immigration, Integration: The Nordic Experience (HIS, GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Issues of origin/language, immigration/settlement, traditions/values, culture/politics, and transgressions of boundaries from the old to the new studied through photos, diaries, letters, stories, and novels by Moberg, Rolvaag, Ager, and other pioneers. All readings in translation.
SCAN 3505 - Scandinavian Fiction From 1890 to Present (LITR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Odd, Spring Even Year
Modernity's search for new forms to represent changing historical situations. Ibsen, Strindberg, Hamsun, Selma Lagerlof, Hjalmar Bergman, Paar Lagerkvist, Karen Blixen, Moa Martinson, Tarjei Vesaas, Edith Sodergran, Ingmar Bergman, Lars Gustafsson. All readings in translation.
SCAN 3602 - The Literary Fairy Tale in Scandinavia (LITR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Even, Spr & Summer Odd Yr
Literary fairy tales from Scandinavia, especially Hans Christian Andersen. Readings in translation for non-majors.
SCAN 3604W - Living Pictures: An Introduction to Nordic Cinema (AH, WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3604W/Scan 5604W
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
Since the early days of the twentieth century, debates have proliferated in the Nordic countries about film's nature and function, whether as popular entertainment, high art, or a dynamic cultural artifact important in defining national and regional identities. In this course, History of Nordic Cinema, we will survey discrete moments in Nordic film history (viewing films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) and contextualize them within broader developments in global cinema. Particularly important in this regard will be Nordic Cinema's love-hate relationship with Hollywood and its complicated status as European Cinema. We will begin in the beginning, with examples of Scandinavia's often-underestimated role as an international, artistic, and popular culture powerhouse in the silent era up through WWI. We'll go on to explore Nordic film productions intended mainly for domestic audiences and juxtapose these with the emergence of a compelling modernist, art-house cinema tradition revolving around the international figure of the auteur director, including Ingmar Bergman and later, Aki Kaurismäki. We'll consider examples of 60s and 70s political, avant-garde cinema (reverberations of the French Nouvelle Vague); talk about the unique development of state-funded structures for film production in these small countries; and end with a survey of recent Nordic films and movements such as Dogme 95 that illustrates ways in which small national cinemas continue to grapple with new iterations of globalization. In this course, students will be exposed to visual cultures from all five Nordic countries and consider the implications of reading film at regional, national and global levels. In short, Nordic Cinema provides a vital and vibrant case study with which to consider a broad range of issues involving the aesthetics and politics of cinema in the world.
SCAN 3613 - Children's Literature in Scandinavia (LITR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
Analysis and discussion of representative works in Scandinavian children.s literature from picture books to young adult books using a variety of critical methods of interpretation. Taught in English.
SCAN 3670 - Topics in Scandinavian Studies
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3670/Scan 5670
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Topic may focus on a specific author, group of authors, genre, period, or subject matter. Topics specified in Class Schedule. Readings in English for nonmajors. May meet with 5670.
SCAN 5502 - The Icelandic Saga
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Study of the sagas written in 13th-century Iceland. Discussion includes cultural and historical information about medieval Iceland and analysis of a selection of saga texts using contemporary critical approaches. All readings in translation.
SCAN 5670 - Topics in Scandinavian Studies
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3670/Scan 5670
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Topic may focus on a specific author, group of authors, genre, period, or subject matter. Topics specified in Class Schedule. Readings in English for nonmajors. May meet with 3670.
SCAN 5701 - Old Norse Language and Literature
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: MEST 5701/SCAN 5701
Typically offered: Every Fall
Acquisition of a reading knowledge of Old Norse; linguistic, philological and literary study of Old Norse language and literature.
SCAN 3605 - The Scandinavian Short Story (LITR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3605/Scan 5605
Typically offered: Fall Even, Spring Odd Year
Short stories by important 19th/20th-century authors from five Scandinavian countries. Genre theory/practical criticism. Readings in English for non-majors.
SCAN 5605 - The Scandinavian Short Story (LITR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3605/Scan 5605
Typically offered: Fall Even, Spring Odd Year
Short stories by 19th-20th century authors from all five Scandinavian countries. Genre theory/practical criticism. Readings in English for non-majors.
SCAN 3614 - Blood on Snow: Scandinavian Thrillers in Fiction and Film (LITR, GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3614/Scan 5614
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Scandinavian crime novels/films against background of peaceful welfare states. Readings in translation for non-majors. Scandinavian majors/minors read excerpts in specific languages.
SCAN 5614 - Blood on Snow: Scandinavian Thrillers in Fiction and Film
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3614/Scan 5614
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Scandinavian crime novels/films against background of peaceful welfare states. Readings in translation for non-majors. Scandinavian majors/minors read excerpts in specific languages.
SCAN 3617 - Scandinavian Gothic: Horror and the Uncanny in Nordic Literature and Media (AH, GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
Scandinavia is popularly thought of as a bastion of social democracy, gender equality, and sleek modern design. Despite this well-earned reputation for political and aesthetic progressivism, there has also been a significant undercurrent of anti-rationalism and supernatural horror in Nordic culture. In Gothic fiction, the unwelcome appearance of primitive, irrational, and malevolent forces often takes the form of supernatural or monstrous figures?ghosts, vampires, witches, and trolls. As conventions established abroad mingled with a home-grown tradition of social realism, the Scandinavian Gothic became a vehicle for representing marginalized voices and revealing the shortcomings of Nordic societies. We will examine Gothic works of literature, film, television, popular music, and visual art. Through this examination, we will build an analytical vocabulary to formally analyze works of Gothic art in all of these media, and will practice that through in-class discussions as well as formal and informal writing.
SCAN 5617 - Scandinavian Gothic: Horror and the Uncanny in Nordic Literature and Media (AH, GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3617/Scan 5617
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
Scandinavia is popularly thought of as a bastion of social democracy, gender equality, and sleek modern design. Despite this well-earned reputation for political and aesthetic progressivism, there has also been a significant undercurrent of anti-rationalism and supernatural horror in Nordic culture. In Gothic fiction, the unwelcome appearance of primitive, irrational, and malevolent forces often takes the form of supernatural or monstrous figures?ghosts, vampires, witches, and trolls. As conventions established abroad mingled with a home-grown tradition of social realism, the Scandinavian Gothic became a vehicle for representing marginalized voices and revealing the shortcomings of Nordic societies. We will examine Gothic works of literature, film, television, popular music, and visual art. Through this examination, we will build an analytical vocabulary to formally analyze works of Gothic art in all of these media, and will practice that through in-class discussions as well as formal and informal writing.
SCAN 3634 - Scandinavian Women Writers (LITR, GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3634/Scan 5634
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
Investigation of issues important to women as articulated by Scandinavian women writers. Historical overview of women's writing in Scandinavia and in-depth investigation of texts by contemporary women writers. All readings in translation.
SCAN 5634 - Scandinavian Women Writers (GP, LITR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Scan 3634/Scan 5634
Typically offered: Fall Even, Spring Odd Year
Issues important to women as articulated by Scandinavian women writers. Historical overview of women's writing in Scandinavia. In-depth investigation of texts by contemporary women writers. All readings in translation.
SCAN 3993 - Directed Studies
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Guided individual reading and study. Prereq instr consent, dept consent, college consent.
SCAN 5993 - Directed Studies
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Guided individual reading and study. Prereq instr consent, dept consent, college consent.