Programs

Northern Ireland

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Talk with your campus representative or contact
HECUA (see info and application form below)

College-Specific Information:
Who to contact and how credits can be used

Member Colleges:

Augsburg College
Augustana College
Carleton College
College of St. Benedict
College of St. Catherine
Concordia University
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamline Unversity
Macalester College
St. John's University
Saint Mary's University
St. Olaf College
University of Minnesota
University of St. Thomas
Viterbo University

Telephone:
651/646-8831
Toll-free:
800/554-1089
Fax: 651/659-9421

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"I really liked the interdisciplinary approach. I have become much
more aware of the issues surrounding Europe and the rest of the world."

Window Onto the New Europe

Scandinavian Urban Studies Term (SUST)
Fall Semester (September -December)

In Scandinavia, students gain a deep understanding of contemporary Norway, using the welfare state and the notion of citizenship as the focus for investigation. Curriculum includes understanding how the welfare state has evolved and how it is practiced in the context of social democracy.

Students explore the relationship between Scandinavian countries, the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe, the European Union and broader global politics. Through well-established networks, students meet politicians, artists, working people, students and neighborhood residents throughout the region.

Students take three inter-related seminars, all taught in English: Urbanization and Sustainable Development; Scandinavia in the World, a focus on social, political and economical issues inherent in a welfare state/social democratic environment; and Scandinavian Art and Literature: Perspectives on Social Change.

In addition, students choose either Norwegian Language or an Independent Study Project

Independent Study Opportunities

Students explore in-depth a topic of their own choosing that is related to course themes and takes advantage of being "on site" in Norway. Past topics have included:

• the debate over land use
  
• the State Church of Norway
  
• immigration and discrimination in Norway
  
• the decline of the Norwegian Atlantic Salmon
  
• government and cultural support for Norwegian music
  
• innovative housing projects

SUST attracts students from across the social science disciplines, interdisciplinary majors and the humanities.

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Destination

Scandinavia: Perspectives from Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea

Scandinavia
Scandinavia offers the opportunity to examine issues facing industrialized welfare states and social democracies in Europe. Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland share a solid tradition of grassroots citizen participation, as well as state support of health care, economic security and education.
The region is connected both to mainstream European political developments and to the Baltic States of the former Soviet Union.

Norway
Norway, the “Land of the Midnight Sun,” is steeped in tradition, yet is also very modern and considered an innovator in its approach to issues such as social welfare, the environment, women’s rights, education and international relations.

Based in Oslo, Norway, a compact and diverse city nestled between the Oslo Fjord and mountains, the program is associated with the University of Oslo, a center of international learning, which also provides good student housing and access to a wide variety of services and student activities.
Norway is at once a part of Europe and yet separate from it, having opted not to join the European Union.

Sweden
By contrast, Sweden, a leading industrial nation in the north, voted recently to join the European Union, adopting some of the economic reforms imposed by it. Its capital, Stockholm, illustrates planning in a social welfare state that was a pioneer in the field of social housing, land policy and unique state housing loans.

Estonia
Estonia is one of the three Baltic States that recently gained independence from the Soviet Union and is working to establish its democracy . Estonia, with its population of 1.5 million, is rapidly westernizing its economy in order to find trading partners in Europe and to open possibilities of NATO membership. As the northernmost Baltic country, Estonia represents a unique meeting point between east and west. Students spend time in Tallin, Estonia’s capital of about 500,000, which is noted for its well-preserved medieval architecture.

Additional Travel
Students have opportunities for personal travel to other parts of Scandinavia and Europe during weekends, breaks and upon completion of the program.

 

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Program Faculty

Jeanne Sanderson
Program Director Jeanne Sanderson holds a B.A. degree in modern and economic history and education from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, and an advanced history degree from the University of Oslo with specialization in Norwegian economic history and the emergence of an industrial society in Great Britain. She is a British citizen and has been living and working in Norway for the past 21 years. She brings a passion for creating learning environments for students where they can make significant personal and academic connections with current social issues.

Primary faculty and guest lecturers for the program include a variety of university faculty members, as well as government and community leaders and activists.

Program Logistics

Program Dates (2001-2002)
Arrival: September 1 - 3, 2001
First Day of Class: September 4, 2001
Last Day of Class: December 14, 2001
Departure: December 15, 2001
Program dates are subject to change and will vary slightly each year.

Housing and meals
HECUA students live in a student village near the campus of the University of Oslo and share living space with other Norwegian and foreign students. Two or more homestays are arranged during the term. Students receive a monthly food stipend to buy and cook their own food.

Class locations
The primary location for classes is the University of Oslo Blindern campus, with field study in selected regions of Norway, as well as Sweden and Estonia.

Transportation
Transportation to and from class sessions and field excursions in the city is via Oslo’s excellent mass transit system. The group flies to Sweden and Estonia and uses various modes of transportation for field study in those two sites.

Cost

$10,250 comprehensive fee (Fall 2001), with $500 additional charge for students from non-member schools. Covers tuition, lodging, food stipend and field travel ground expenses. Excludes international and field trip airfare, books, passport and personal expenses. Financial aid may be used for the program, to be arranged with your financial aid or study abroad office. (Contact HECUA in November for Fall 2002 fees.).

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How to Enroll

Prerequisites
Completion of first year college
Minimum GPA of 2.0
Open to all majors

Credits

The program provides 4 course credits (equivalent to 16 semester hours or 27 trimester credits). All students take all three seminars and either language or the independent project. For the purpose of credit distribution, the courses are as follows:

Urbanization and Sustainable Development
Scandinavia in the World
Scandinavian Art & Literature: Perspectives on Social Change
Norwegian Language (beginning, intermediate or advanced)
or Independent Study Project

More information on SUST

HECUA reserves the right to make
any necessary program or location changes.

 

Copyright (c) 2001. Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rev. 03/22/01