Honors in Sweden 2022

Honors Sweden 2022

Honors in Sweden 2022

Sweden: Justice in the Nordic Region (Honors, Scandinavian Studies)

Overview

Locations: Stockholm, Sweden and surrounding areas

Sponsoring Units: Honors Program, Scandinavian Studies

Dates: Summer Term B: July 27 – August 23, 2022

Credits: 12 total

Course Credits Credit Type
HONORS 384: Sagas 5 Honors Interdisciplinary, VLPA/I&S, “W”
HONORS 213: Nordic Noir 5 Honors Humanities, VLPA, “W”
HONORS 213: Introduction to Nordic Languages 2 General Education

Information Sessions

Wednesday, January 19 @ 1 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92339776795
Meeting ID: 923 3977 6795

About the Program

About the Program

This interdisciplinary study abroad program will explore concepts of justice in medieval Scandinavia and modern Sweden; as well as an introduction to Nordic languages. We will reflect on questions around power structures, access to justice, norms, cultural identity, and intersections with gender, class, race, climate, and religion. We will use contemporary Swedish literature and film, especially those considered or inspired by “Nordic Noir”, to learn about modern Swedish culture and society. We will also examine medieval saga literature and law codes as a window into the cultural history of medieval Scandinavia from the Viking Age to the late Middle Ages. Situating our program in Sweden will provide opportunities for rich and unique experiential learning such as site visits, field trips, guest lectures. Course assignments will include reflective writing, group discussions, and co-created blogs. There are no prerequisites for this program. Although we will introduce you to the language, English is widely accepted in Sweden. 

Housing

The program will be based in Stockholm, Sweden. Some excursions will be included to nearby towns and historically- and culturally-significant locations. Stockholm has good transportation options to the surrounding areas and abundant opportunities for learning to happen outside of the classroom. Lodging will be in hostels, and breakfast is provided at the hostels.

Program Credit / Course Description

HONORS 213: Introduction to Nordic Languages, 2 credits, Honors elective

Instructor: Kim Kraft

This course will introduce students to basic pronunciation of Swedish language to help them navigate their visit, as well as Viking Age runes. Students will learn about historical and cultural significance of the Nordic linguistic community; how the ability to understand one another linguistically has helped to bind the region together culturally; how policies such as the “Declaration on Nordic language policy” as well as media have impacted the Nordic languages.

HONORS 384: Sagas, 5 credits (VLPA/I&S “W”)

Instructor: Lauren Poyer

This course gives students an understanding of medieval saga literature and law codes as genres, and as windows into the cultural history of Scandinavia from the Viking Age to the late Middle Ages. The Sagas of Icelanders narrate the legendary exploits of Iceland’s Viking Age ancestors and examine the power structures of a proto-democratic society bordering on anarchy. They contain stories kept alive by oral tradition and shaped by generations of storytellers, and are thus both reflections on the past and interrogations of their present. Themes of the sagas include the conversion to Christianity, the concentration of wealth, and the loss of sovereignty. Through their seamless integration of folklore, myth, and history, the sagas prompt us to examine our own cultural narratives. In this course, we will focus on answering the following questions: Who has access to justice? How does the execution of the law intersect with gender, class, race, and religion? 

Students will read a selection of saga literature to examine these questions, as well as visit Saga Age archaeological sites in Sweden, as well as sites that seek to study, represent, recreate, and/or emulate different aspects of the Saga Age. Through encountering medieval Scandinavian people’s literature, land, and language, students will gain a deeper understanding of the broad relationships between landscape, identity, and power.

HONORS 213: Nordic Noir, 5 credits (VLPA, “W”)

Instructor: Kim Kraft

We will use contemporary Swedish literature and film, especially those considered or inspired by “Nordic Noir” to reflect on how our interaction with a country’s literature can give us insight to the culture, politics, and society within which it was produced. We will explore diverse issues related to the topic of justice, with special attention to LGBTQ rights, feminism and advocacy, the prison and probation system, climate justice, and racism. To enhance our learning through literature and take advantage of being in-country, we will tour and hear from experts at museums, think tanks, governmental- and non-governmental organizations. Students will read at least two Swedish novels (in English translation), watch four films, and read several scholarly articles. The reading list will be given to students in advance. Readings and films will be contextualized in-country as students examine the relationship of these works to the topic of justice in Sweden. Students will also reflect on their own cultural identities as well as the power of the Humanities to contribute to social criticism.

Program Leadership

Program Leadership

Ph.C. Lauren Poyer received a Masters in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016 and is currently both a PhD candidate at UW-Madison and an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington. Her primary research area is medieval Icelandic language and literature, with a focus on medieval narratives of Christianization.

She has presented most recently on her work with medievalism and how modern audiences understand “Viking” culture and values and has been interviewed on a variety of news outlets for her expertise on Viking Age and medieval Scandinavian culture. She has experience in designing experiential learning programs for undergraduate students and served as an inaugural instructor in the UW Humanities First Program in 2020-21. Lauren has advanced fluency in Norwegian [mutually intelligible with Swedish], Old Norse, and Modern Icelandic, which she began studying through the Árni Magnússon Institute in 2012. She is an active member of SASS (Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study).

email: lpoyer@uw.edu

Kim Kraft received a Masters in Scandinavian Language and Literature from UW in 2013, she also has a Masters in Education from Old Dominion University. Kim has near-native fluency in Swedish, and is currently an assistant teaching professor and undergraduate adviser with the UW Scandinavian Department. Kim is an active member of ASTRA (Association of Swedish Teachers and Researchers in America) has a wide network of scholars in the field of Scandinavian Studies. Kim is passionate about international education. She has worked as an academic adviser for over ten years, including over three years leading programs with international students. She provided support to the 2016 and 2017 Bonderman Travel Fellows, and served on the 2017 UW interview panel for Fulbright Scholar applicants. Kim co-directed the Honors Sweden Study Abroad program in 2019, and is excited to return to Sweden with UW students in 2022. 

email: kimkraft@uw.edu

Program Expenses

Program Expenses

The costs listed includes tuition via concurrent enrollment fee and all housing and excursions.

Students are responsible for most meals other than breakfast, airfare to and from Sweden, study abroad fee, and insurance.

Program fee: $4,800

UW concurrent enrollment fee: $470

Average Airplane Ticket: $1,700

Daily out of pocket food costs (approx): $40

Payment Schedule:

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Payment Type Payment Amount Payment Due Date
Non-Refundable UW Study Abroad Fee $470 TBD
Program Fee Balance $4,800 TBD
TOTAL FEES CHARGED $5,270

Making the program affordable

The Honors Program is passionate about study abroad and the incredible impact it can have on a student’s life. Don’t assume you can’t afford to study outside of the U.S. Here are resources to help you get started on your global adventures!

Honors Program Scholarships

The Honors Program offers a number of scholarships for current Honors Program students. These scholarship funds may be used for UW approved study abroad programs or exchanges. Students may apply beginning in late January (deadline is late March).

Study Abroad Scholarships at UW

Every student who applies and is accepted to a study abroad program is considered for a scholarship. Scholarship awards are dependent on need and students may be awarded up to $4,000. Visit the study abroad office in 459 Schmitz Hall to learn more or click here. Students may also email goglobal@uw.edu for an advising appointment.

There are several outside resources for study abroad scholarships. Visit the UW’s Study Abroad Scholarship page for more information on scholarship support as well as information about GET funds and how you may apply the GET to your study abroad costs.

Using Financial Aid for Study Abroad

You may find more information about using your existing financial aid for study abroad on the Study Abroad Office’s Financial Aid webpage. In general, all financial aid awarded may be used to support study abroad. Exceptions to this include tuition waivers, work-study awards, or scholarships that are specific about using the award for tuition (although there may be flexibility with some scholarships, please check with the financial aid office). Tuition waivers and work-study are never allowed for study abroad.

Revision of Need

You may also turn in a “Revision of Need” form with the Financial Aid Office if you have a FAFSA on file. Once you are accepted to a study abroad program, visit the Study Abroad Office to obtain a budget for your study abroad program then complete the Revision Request and turn in both the budget and the revision request to the Office of Student Financial Aid in Schmitz Hall.

Visit the Financial Aid Study Abroad Funding Website for more information about applying for Summer quarter financial aid and for information about Exploration Seminar financial aid timeline (different than A or B term financial aid disbursement timeline).

Application Process

Application Process

Honors Program students and students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Majors and minors such as LSJ, International Studies, Political Science, CHID, English, Scandinavian Studies, Diversity, Geography, and GWSS are relevant to the topics covered in this program.

Selection to the program is competitive and acceptance is decided based on application materials, interviews, and student’s demonstrated motivation to challenge themselves intellectually across academic disciplines and cultures and to work both individually and in groups.

APPLY HERE

January 31, 2022 deadline