Minor in Nordic Studies

Our students become well-rounded observers of Nordic culture and civilization, history, and contemporary life, and they apply this knowledge to careers in international business, journalism, politics, publishing, education, NGOs and government.

The minor in Nordic studies offers students a dynamic curriculum that examines historic and contemporary life in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Finland, Åland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Sápmi. Courses on Nordic culture and civilization are offered in English. Courses are also offered in Swedish and Danish, and may be offered in Norwegian and/or Finnish. 

  • Understand Nordic culture and civilization
  • Customize the minor to fit your interests
  • Complement your undergraduate studies with a minor

Customize your educational experience by choosing from Swedish, Danish or Finnish language instruction

Practice your language skills abroad in our summer, semester and full-year programs in Uppsala and Stockholm, Sweden, and in Copenhagen, Denmark

Get involved and grow your community with many program events and cultural enrichment opportunities, such as films, field trips and coffee klatches

Be successful.

The minor provides students with knowledge of Nordic culture and language, giving students an edge in the global job market.

 

Broaden your employment possibilities with additional knowledge and skills gained from a minor

 

Work in international business, journalism, politics, publishing or education, or for nonprofits or government

 

Jobs for translators and interpreters are expected to grow 17% between 2016 and 2026, more than double the average for all jobs (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Academic Plan & Requirements

To earn the minor, students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours in Nordic language and literature courses, including a total of 9 upper-division credit hours. The minor is open to all undergraduate students at CU Boulder, regardless of college or school.

Topics of study include:

  • Language, Culture and Society
  • Literature

Community & Involvement

We offer students many opportunities to network with peers and faculty, further their studies and get the most out of their undergraduate experience.

Be inspired.

The Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures has an extensive list of alumni working in a variety of fields across the globe.

Some alumni of the program include:

Heidi Obermeyer

(BA'12)
A German Chancellor Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations

Ellysse Dick

(BA'16)
Program assistant for the Women in Public Service Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Alex Becker

(BA'06)
Co-founder and vice president of Real Estate Consultants of Colorado

Kathryn Tisdale

(MA'03)
Served as director of advising quality at the University of Colorado Boulder and is now strategic initiative project manager at the university

Adam Littleton

(BA'07)
An instructor at the College of Business and Communication in Nagasaki, Japan. His debut novel, American Baroque, was published in 2015.

Elise Crane

(BA'06)
A diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service.

Forrest Kutscher

(BA'13)
A Russian legal assistant at Google.

News & Stories

College of Arts & Sciences magazine cover