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Finnish & Nordic Studies

Check out Finnish & Nordic Studies at Finlandia University!

Finnish StudiesThe Finnish & Nordic Studies minor program is an interdisciplinary area studies program that can complement and augment any major field of study offered at Finlandia University. Finnish & Nordic Studies minors build an understanding of aspects of Nordic history, culture, and society with a special focus on Finland, which can be arranged to correspond directly with the student’s major field, or to call to a student’s unique interests separate from the major.

What will i do with a finnish & Nordic studies minor?

In connection with a student’s major program, a Finnish & Nordic Studies minor provides the graduate with numerous options: it is a particularly attractive specialization to prepare for careers in international business, social sciences and humanities fields, as well as for the local job market, in which Finnish culture and heritage is an important aspect of public life.

What classes will I take?

The Finnish Studies minor consists of 21 credits encompassing aspects of the social sciences, history, arts and literature, and language. Students in the minor are uniquely poised to help shape the program to best suit their needs and interests. Courses in the program satisfy a number of requirements across the curriculum. While all students in the minor are required to complete FNS 221: History and Culture of Finland, the remaining 18 credit hours are selected by the student in coordination with their advisor. Selected classes include (number of credit hours in parentheses):

FNS 151 ELEMENTARY FINNISH I (4)

FNS 152 ELEMENTARY FINNISH II (4)

FNS 221 HISTORY AND CULTURE OF FINLAND (3)

FNS 251 INTERMEDIATE FINNISH I (4)

FNS 252 INTERMEDIATE FINNISH II (4)

FNS 310 NORDIC LITERATURE (3)

FNS 316 GENDER IN NORDIC SOCIETY (3)

FNS 330 SÁMI HISTORY AND CULTURE (3)

FNS 360 KALEVALA (3)

FNS 490 PALOHEIMO FELLOWS SEMINAR (3) (STUDY ABROAD)

Seminar in Finnish culture and society as well as anthropological qualitative research methods including 2.5 week collaborative research project in Finland to take place immediately following spring semester. Enrollment by accepted application in fall term. Students build communication, professional development, and team-based research skills. Spring semesters. Prerequisites: Junior standing and instructor approval.

Extracurricular Opportunities

Wahlstrom Nordic Workshop
Every February, Finnish & Nordic Studies faculty and students attend the Wahlstrom Nordic Workshop in Beaver Creek, Wisconsin to join peers from Nordic Studies programs across the Midwest for a weekend of lectures, discussions, traditional crafts, folk dancing, tons of great food, and ax-throwing. This low-cost professional development opportunity allows students to learn what peers do in Nordic Studies, to practice giving conference-style presentations, and to consider regional options in graduate studies. For more information, contact Dr. Hilary Virtanen.

Summer Courses in Finnish from the Finnish National Agency for Education
Annual intensive courses in Finnish language are offered by the Finnish National Agency for Education to students of Finnish who study at universities outside of Finland. These courses are free, including supplies and accommodations, and so they are extremely affordable for many. The annual application period is approximately mid-January to March 1. For more information, visit the link below.

http://cimo.fi/programmes/finnish_language_and_culture/support_to_students_outside_finland/summer_courses_in_finland

Study Abroad

Finlandia University boasts several study abroad options in Finland, both specific to major programs, and open to all disciplines. Students may spend as little as three weeks, or as long as a semester in programs designed for cross-cultural experience, language proficiency, job skills development, and collaborative research.

Learn more about Study Abroad opportunities

Financial Aid Opportunities

Several non-institutional scholarships are available to Finnish Studies minors and students of Finnish heritage, all of which are competitive awards. For more information on these awards, contact Professor Hilary Virtanen or the Department of Financial Aid.

Learn more about Financial Aid

Finnish and Nordic Studies News

News and Notes from Finlandia's Finnish and Nordic Studies Program


  • Finnish artist Camilla Vuorenmaa exhibit opening April 20

    Camilla Vuorenmaa Exhibit Poster 11x17

    Exhibit Dates: April 20 to June 15, 2023 Opening Reception: Thursday, April 20, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    Finlandia University Gallery will present “My Heroes and Monsters Walk Hand in Hand,” an exhibit by Finnish artist Camilla Vuorenmaa at the Finlandia University Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC), Hancock, from April 20 to June 15, 2023.

    A reception for the artist will take place at the gallery on Thursday, April 20th, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., with [...]


  • Academic Achievement Committee names 2023 Honors & Awards recipients

    2023 Honors & Awards Ceremony medallion, tassel and cords.

    Finlandia’s Academic Achievement Committee hosted the university’s annual Honors & Awards Ceremony on Friday. Friends, faculty and staff gathered in Martha Wiljanen Hall at FinnU’s Finnish American Heritage Center to celebrate the students selected to receive honors and awards.

    The Sisu Award is given to graduating students who have shown courage, fortitude and perseverance in overcoming hardship to achieve academic and personal success. Brandon Hale and Elijah Emmer were the two recipients of this year’s Sisu Award.

    Membership in the Sampo Society [...]


  • Finlandia University will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year

    Finlandia Logo White Background

    On Thursday, March 2, Finlandia University’s Board of Trustees announced that Finlandia will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year. The decision follows months of continuous efforts to find pathways for the University to continue its mission.

    “I am deeply saddened to announce that due to a combination of demographic changes, with fewer high school graduates available, a steep decrease in interest in going to college among those graduates, and an unbearable debt load, Finlandia’s Board of Trustees met and [...]

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Finnish Studies Faculty

Dr. Cassandra Hill
Cassandra Hill, Ph.D.Dean & Associate Professor of CommunicationFinlandia UniversityCassandra.Hill@finlandia.edu(906) 487-7283
Hilary-Joy VirtanenAssociate Professor, Finnish & Nordic Studies; Chair, Institutional Review BoardFinlandia Universityhilary.virtanen@finlandia.edu906-487-7514

Arts & Sciences

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