Explore the Finnish epic Kalevala at Finlandia University

Finlandia’s Finnish & Nordic Studies program invites students and auditors to explore the history of Kalevala.

Immortalized as Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala encapsulates ancient Finnish folk traditions. The course details the historical development of the Kalevala poetry tradition, its development and structure as a literary work, its use as an anthropological text, and its use as a political and cultural icon of Finnish identity.

Teaching the class will be Finlandia’s Associate Professor of Finnish & Nordic Studies, Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen. Recently named co-editor of the Journal of Finnish Studies, Virtanen will lead classes starting the week of January 16, 2023. 

FNS 360 Kalevala (3 credits) will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:10 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, over Zoom, with synchronous meetings and the option to watch lectures online later if a person can’t make it to class.

“I am thrilled to be able to share my online classes with auditors because it allows people from many walks of life to study things that many find difficult to even begin to approach on their own,” Virtanen said. “These courses provide a chance to take a guided exploration of topics of interest to lifelong learners with all the resources of a university course and are designed to suit the individual interests and needs of both the for-credit and auditing student.”

How to Register

The registration process for auditors is incredibly easy. To begin, email admissions@finlandia.edu and share your interest in auditing a particular class. The audit fee is $75 per credit hour or $225 for a 3-credit course, textbooks not included.