Harvard Summer Program in Scandinavia
At a Glance
Dates:
June 17–July 23, 2010
Application deadline:
February 5
Cost:
$7,350
Accommodations:
Dorms and hotel
Slideshow
Related Links
Contact
- Stephen A. Mitchell, e-mail
Harvard College students can attend the study abroad fair to learn more about this program.
Viking studies in Denmark and Sweden
Faculty: Pernille Hermann, Stephen A. Mitchell, and Neil Price
“The Vikings conquer all in their path and nothing resists them.” So wrote a Frankish chronicler about the northern pirates whose collective name has come to represent the European ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries. This Viking studies program in Scandinavia explores the rich archaeological, cultural, and literary heritage of northern Europe in the early Middle Ages.
Itself founded during the Viking Age, the lovely Danish city of Åarhus and its modern university are our principal hosts. From this charming seaside location, we visit important sites and collections in Denmark and Germany before relocating to Sweden for the final weeks. Specialists in many different aspects of viking culture lecture and guide classes.
The viking studies program is ideal for those who:
- Are interested in heroic literature, medieval history, and archaeology
- Are eager to explore the relationship between history and national myths
- Want to experience Scandinavian cultural life
Course of study
Students take both of the following courses.
ANTH S-1095 Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Viking Studies—History and Archaeology (31953)
Stephen A. Mitchell and Neil Price.
(4 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
This course introduces the material legacy of the Vikings, whose dramatic expansion circa 750–1100 transformed not only their own society but also much of the entire northern world. Through lectures and visits to museum collections and archaeological sites, students encounter the richness of the viking heritage. In addition to examining the preserved landscapes of Viking Age Denmark, we explore the all-important Baltic island of Gotland, with its many Viking Age monuments and treasures.
Prerequisites: none.
SCAN S-150 Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Viking Studies—Lore and Literature (32407)
Pernille Hermann and Stephen A. Mitchell.
(4 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
This course considers the narrative legacy of the viking era. Through close readings and discussions of eddic poems and other materials, we examine religious life and the medieval view of the Viking Age, especially as reflected in the Icelandic sagas, which present their heroes as warriors, kings, poets, outlaws, and adventurers. In addition to considering the construction of a heroic ideal, we explore how the descendants of the vikings used the past.
Prerequisites: none.
Course credit
See Study Abroad Credit Information.
Faculty
Pernille Hermann, PhD, Assistant Professor, Scandinavian Institute, University of Aarhus
Stephen A. Mitchell, PhD, Professor of Scandinavian and Folklore, Harvard University
Neil Price, PhD, Professor and Sixth Century Chair of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen
For extended biographies of the faculty, see the Viking Studies in Scandinavia website.
Application
Students must be at least 18 years old, have completed at least 1 year of college or be a first-year student, and be in good academic standing to apply.
The application materials, outlined below, are due February 5:
- A completed online application (available in early December) that includes:
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- A supplementary statement describing interest in the program, relevant coursework, and travel experience abroad (previous travel is not a prerequisite)
- Official transcripts (sent directly to the address below; unofficial transcripts are accepted for Harvard College students only)
Transcripts should be addressed as follows:
Matilda West
Study Abroad Coordinator
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Students are notified of admissions decisions by late February or early March.
Cost
The cost of the program is $7,350 and a nonrefundable $50 application fee. This covers the following:
- Tuition
- Room
- Opening banquet and final banquet
- Excursions (including meals when appropriate)
In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for:
- A health insurance fee ($175; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States)
- Transportation to and from Denmark
- The cost of passports and visas (if the latter is needed)
- Any immunizations
Program directors will advise students of likely additional expenses. A sample budget for estimating expenses will be available soon.
How to pay and funding options
See How to Pay for payment deadlines, deposit amounts, and more information including funding options for Harvard College students.
Accommodations
Students stay in student housing in Åarhus and in a residential hotel in Visby.
Additional information
Contact Stephen Mitchell, samitch@fas.harvard.edu; (617) 495-3513; fax (617) 495-9507.
Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible. See Students with Disabilities for more information.