Candidates for the master of arts in Scandinavian studies will specialize in one of the following three fields: literary and cultural studies, philology, or area studies.
Scandinavian studies is in the oldest such program in the Americas, tracing its roots to 1875. Department faculty have received numerous awards and other marks of recognition for their teaching and scholarship. The department offers the master of arts and the doctor of philosophy in Scandinavian studies. A doctoral minor is also available. The program offers the possibility to attain a broad education in Scandinavian culture that has proven to be extremely useful in students' professional careers. Students will become well-versed in theory and methodology as well as in cultural history. The department possesses particular strengths in Scandinavian literature and film, Old Norse philology, and Nordic folklore. Within these broader categories, students may pursue interests in such topics as mythology, Sámi studies, saints' lives, modernism, sagas, gender studies, immigration studies, national identity—to name only a few. Languages offered in the department include Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Sámi, and Swedish. The department has an excellent record of placing its PhD graduates in good positions in the field.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | January 2 |
| Spring Deadline | This program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | This program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required but may be considered if available. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Applicants should have a BA degree from an accredited institution in a field of humanities or social studies. Applicants are expected to have preparation equivalent to an undergraduate major in Scandinavian Studies at UW–Madison and should preferably either have taken three years of a Scandinavian language or must demonstrate (by examination) equivalent competence in one Scandinavian language or Finnish. A GPA of 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) is required for admission; students with a GPA below 3.25 but above 3.00 may be considered for admission on probation. A writing sample (in English or a Scandinavian language) is required.
Reentry students need to contact the program before applying for admission to terms outside of the fall term.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
The department has a number of scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, and readerships at its disposal and makes a serious effort to provide qualified students with adequate financial assistance and teaching experience throughout their graduate careers.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.25 GPA required. |
| Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
| Assessments and Examinations | All MA pathways require a comprehensive written and oral examination and offer a thesis option. |
| Language Requirements | All pathways require an advanced competency in a modern Scandinavian language. If the modern Scandinavian Language is Finnish or Icelandic, a working knowledge of Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish is required. For all pathways a minimal competency in German or another research language approved by the department is required. The philology pathway requires two semesters of Old Norse. For the literature pathway a competency in Old Norse is encouraged. |
Required Courses
Each pathway has specific course requirements to be met.
Literary and Cultural Studies Pathway1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| SCAND ST 401 | Contemporary Scandinavian Languages | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introductory Old Norse | ||
| The Vikings | ||
| The Sagas of Icelanders in English Translation | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of Scandinavia to 1815 | ||
| History of Scandinavia Since 1815 | ||
| Contemporary Scandinavia: Politics and History | ||
| Select one of the following, depending on individual circumstances and determined in consultation with the graduate advisor: | 3 | |
| Survey of Scandinavian Literature: 1500-1800 | ||
| Survey of Scandinavian Literature: 1800-1890 | ||
| Seminar in Special Topics 2 | ||
| Professional Development: | 3 | |
| Graduate Seminar in Professional Development | ||
| Electives: | 14-15 | |
Students consult with their advisor to select courses numbered 300 and above. Recommended courses may be found below. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Recommended courses: | ||
| Scandinavian Children's Literature | ||
| The Drama of Henrik Ibsen | ||
| The Drama of August Strindberg | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Scandinavian Fiction | ||
| Kierkegaard and Scandinavian Literature | ||
| Contemporary Scandinavian Literature | ||
| Memory and Literature from Proust to Knausgard | ||
| The Art of Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen | ||
| Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations | ||
| Scandinavian Decadence in its European Context | ||
- 1
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
- 2
Students must take SCAND ST/HISTORY 577 and SCAND ST 901 for 3 credits to count toward these requirements.
Philology Pathway1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The following are departmental guidelines for a philology specialization, though ultimately everything must be approved by the graduate advisor. | ||
| Core | ||
| SCAND ST 401 | Contemporary Scandinavian Languages | 3 |
| SCAND ST/MEDIEVAL 407 & SCAND ST/MEDIEVAL 408 | Introductory Old Norse and Intermediate Old Norse | 6 |
| SCAND ST 410 | Introduction to Scandinavian Linguistics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| SCAND ST 415 | History of the Scandinavian Languages II: Standard Languages | 3 |
| or SCAND ST 510 | Topics in Scandinavian Linguistics | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| SCAND ST 496 | The Scandinavian Heritage in America | 3 |
| or SCAND ST/MEDIEVAL 409 | Survey of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature | |
| Professional Development | 3 | |
| Graduate Seminar in Professional Development | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
Students consult with their advisor to select courses numbered 300 and above. Recommended courses may be found below. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Recommended Courses: | ||
| The Sagas of Icelanders in English Translation | ||
| Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations | ||
| Old Germanic Languages | ||
| Comparative and Historical Grammar of the Old Germanic Languages | ||
| Old English | ||
| History of the English Language | ||
| The Anglo-Saxons | ||
- 1
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Area Studies Pathway1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
1. One Seminar in the student's emphasis area. | ||
| Seminar in Special Topics | ||
2. A thesis of ca. 40-50 pages on a topic agreed upon by the student and advisor. | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Required Courses: | ||
| One course in Scandinavian literature or literary history. | 3-4 | |
| SCAND ST 401 | Contemporary Scandinavian Languages | 3 |
| Professional Development: | 3 | |
| Graduate Seminar in Professional Development | ||
| Electives: | 17-18 | |
| Students consult with their advisor to select courses numbered 300 and above. Recommended courses may be found below. | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Recommended courses: | ||
| History of Scandinavia to 1815 | ||
| History of Scandinavia Since 1815 | ||
| The Sagas of Icelanders in English Translation | ||
| Scandinavian American Folklore | ||
| Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today | ||
| Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore | ||
| Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations | ||
| The Scandinavian Heritage in America | ||
| Possible courses of interest: | ||
| Folklore of Wisconsin | ||
| The Supernatural in the Modern World | ||
| Myth | ||
| Folk Epics | ||
| Women and Politics in Popular Culture and Folklore | ||
| Ethnic Representations in Wisconsin | ||
| Digital Storytelling for Social Media | ||
| Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present | ||
| Introduction to Museum Studies I | ||
| The Anglo-Saxons | ||
| Chaucer's Canterbury Tales | ||
| Geography of Wisconsin | ||
| History of the German Language | ||
| Introduction to Middle High German | ||
| Old Germanic Languages | ||
| History of Europe Since 1945 | ||
| Contemporary Scandinavia: Politics and History | ||
| Cultural Resource Preservation and Landscape History | ||
| Dimensions of Material Culture | ||
| Shamanism | ||
- 1
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a University Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
In order to encourage progress toward the degree and to determine the status of a student’s program, the department requests an annual activities report from all continuing students to be submitted by the end of January. In the case of first-year students, this report will, of course, only cover work done during the fall semester. A copy of this report will be placed in the student’s permanent file. Students are expected to consult regularly on their progress with their advisor.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credits
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.
Other
n/a
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulates, critiques, or elaborates the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry or schools of practice in the field of study.
- Identifies sources and assembles evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in the field of study.
- Demonstrates understanding of the primary field of study in a historical, social, or global context.
- Selects and/or utilizes the most appropriate methodologies and practices.
- Evaluates or synthesizes information pertaining to questions or challenges in the field of study.
- Communicates clearly in ways appropriate to the field of study.
- Possesses an advanced competency in a Nordic language and a serviceable master of an additional research language.
- Recognizes and applies principles of ethical and professional conduct.