About the Program
The graduate program in Scandinavian is designed for future scholars and teachers in the fields of Scandinavian language, literature, and cultural history. The department's strengths lie in the areas of the modern literatures and film (Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish), in Old Norse and medieval studies, and in intellectual and cultural history. The department is willing to consider applications from students with special interests in areas such as Scandinavian film, art, and history, as long as literary studies remains a major point of comparison. Prospective applicants interested in such areas may consult the graduate adviser or other faculty members and should detail their interests when applying for admission in their statement of purpose.
Admissions
Admission to the University
Applying for Graduate Admission
Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. The Graduate Division hosts a complete list of graduate academic programs, departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application and steps to take to apply can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Admission Requirements
The minimum graduate admission requirements are:
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A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
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A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and
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Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.
For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page. It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here.
Where to apply?
Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page.
Admission to the Program
The department offers an integrated MA/PhD program, in which the MA constitutes the first phase in a trajectory leading to the PhD. Applications are not accepted for the MA degree only. We accept applications from students holding a bachelor’s degree from Berkeley or elsewhere, and from those who hold a master’s degree. The best preparation for those with a limited background in Scandinavian Studies is acquisition of at least one Scandinavian modern language, familiarity with classic Scandinavian literature, and literature theory.
Doctoral Degree Requirements
Normative Time Requirements
Total Normative Time
Total normative time is six years.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Required | ||
| SCANDIN 201A/201B | Old Norse | 4 |
| SCANDIN 215 | Literary and Cultural Theory | 4 |
| SCANDIN Courses per specialized study list for major and minor concentrations | ||
| SCANDIN 300A | Methods of Teaching Scandinavian Languages | 3 |
| SCANDIN 300B | Teaching Practicum | 1 |
| SCANDIN 301 | Scandinavian Teaching Methods | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Theories and Practices of Teaching College Composition [2] | ||
| Methods of Teaching Literature and English Composition-Comparative Literature [2] | ||
| Teaching Rhetoric [2] | ||
Other suitable preparation for Reading & Composition courses | ||
Courses
Literature and Culture:
Languages:
Scandinavian
Danish
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DANISH 1A | Beginning Danish | 4 |
| DANISH 1B | Beginning Danish | 4 |
| SCANDIN 100A | Intermediate Nordic Languages (section 103, intermediate Danish) | 4 |
| SCANDIN 100B | Intermediate Nordic Languages (section 103, advanced Danish) | 4 |
Finnish
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| FINNISH 1A | Beginning Finnish | 4 |
| FINNISH 1B | Beginning Finnish | 4 |
| FINNISH 102A | Intermediate Finnish | 4 |
| FINNISH 102B | Intermediate Finnish | 4 |
Icelandic
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ICELAND 1A | Beginning Icelandic I | 4 |
| ICELAND 1B | Beginning Icelandic II | 4 |
Old Norse
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SCANDIN 201A | Old Norse | 4 |
| SCANDIN 201B | Norse Literature | 4 |
Norwegian
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NORWEGN 1A | Beginning Norwegian | 4 |
| NORWEGN 1B | Beginning Norwegian | 4 |
| SCANDIN 100A | Intermediate Nordic Languages (section 102, intermediate) | 4 |
| SCANDIN 100B | Intermediate Nordic Languages (section 102, advanced) | 4 |
Swedish
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SWEDISH 1A | Beginning Swedish | 4 |
| SWEDISH 1B | Beginning Swedish | 4 |
| SCANDIN 100A | Intermediate Nordic Languages (section 101, intermediate) | 4 |
| SCANDIN 100B | Intermediate Nordic Languages (section 101, advanced) | 4 |
Contact Information
Department of Scandinavian
6303 Dwinelle Hall
Phone: 510-642-2979