At a glance
Dates:
June 19–August 16, 2012
Application deadline:
The application period is now closed.
Cost:
$7,750
Accommodations:
Dorms and hostel
Multimedia:
Physical activity required
See also
Contact
Harvard Summer Program in Scandinavia
Harvard Summer Program in
Scandinavia
Viking studies in Denmark
Faculty: Stephen A. Mitchell, Pernille Hermann, and Andres S. Dobat“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 Århus and its modern university are our principal hosts. From this charming seaside location, we visit significant sites and collections throughout Scandinavia and northern Germany, and participate in an archaeological dig connected with the important Viking Age site of Füsing. 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, Norse mythology, medieval history, and archaeology
- Are eager to explore the relationship between history and national myths
- Want to engage in archaeological field work
- Want to experience cultural life in Northern Europe
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 Andres S. Dobat.
(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, visits to museum collections and archaeological sites, and participation in an archaeological dig for 4 weeks, students encounter the richness of the Viking heritage.
Prerequisites: none.
SCAN S-150 Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Viking Studies—Lore and Literature (32407)
Stephen A. Mitchell and Pernille Hermann.
(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
Andres S. Dobat, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medieval Archaeology, Aarhus University
Pernille Hermann, PhD, Associate Professor, Scandinavian Department, Aarhus University
Stephen A. Mitchell, PhD, Professor of Scandinavian and Folklore, Harvard University
For extended biographies of the faculty, see the Viking Studies in Scandinavia website.
Application
The application period is now closed.
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 3:
- A completed online application that includes:
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- A statement of interest in the program, including information on relevant coursework and travel experience abroad (previous travel is not a prerequisite)
- Transcripts (student record accepted for Harvard students)
Program directors may ask for interviews.
Students are notified of admissions decisions by mid-February.
Cost
There is a nonrefundable $50 application fee. The cost of the program is $7,750 and includes 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 ($195; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States)
- Transportation to and from Denmark
- Most meals
- The cost of passports and visas (if the latter is needed)
- Any immunizations
Suggested budget
See the sample budget with estimated expenses.
How to pay and funding options
See Funding and Payment for payment deadlines and more information, including funding options for Harvard College students.
Accommodations
Students stay in student housing in Åarhus and in youth hostels and hotels on excursions.
Physical activity
Archaeological fieldwork is physically intense and often rigorous. Students work in the field, excavating under the sun and climbing among excavation units. Since some of the most interesting, little explored, and pristine sites are remote, traveling there requires hiking. No special training is required, but a reasonable level of fitness is advisable. However, a lighter schedule can be arranged for those with physical challenges.
Additional information
Contact Stephen Mitchell, samitch@fas.harvard.edu.
Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible. See Students with Disabilities for more information.
