Instructor: Stephen Turner

A critical examination of how recent political, economic, and cultural changes—in Europe and in Sweden—have changed the Swedish “model” of the welfare state. The course takes a comparative perspective in order to highlight the ways in which the “Swedish Model” differs from, as well as currently converges with, dominant public policy trends in the United States and Europe. This course is typically given credit by the Sociology and Political Science departments.

Instructor: Stephen Turner

This course examines the current dialogue on the phenomena of “globalization.” We will critically examine two different perspectives: 1) mainstream economics contends that the advance of the global market economy (i.e. free trade and the growing power of international economic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund) is a “positive sum game” in which virtually all participants benefit from increased prosperity; and 2) a critical sociological view which challenges this claim by arguing that such economic prosperity is not inevitable and that it may instead increase global inequality. Lastly, we will focus on the question of how increasing economic homogenization is affecting the tradition of distinctive national cultures. This course is typically given credit by the Sociology, Economics, and Political Science departments.

Instructor: Pehr-Johan Norbäck

The focus of this advanced macroeconomics course is on the process of international economic integration; the removal of trade impediments between participating nations along with the establishment of elements of economic cooperation and coordination. Our intent is to understand the dynamics of the Swedish economy, Europe, and the European Union within the context of the global economy. Policy areas to be examined include: unemployment, inflation, government budget deficits, labor and education, agriculture and the environment, and technology. Pre-requisite: two courses in economics. This course is typically given credit by the Economics department.

Instructor: John Alexander

The course provides an overview of the role of the moving image in Swedish culture and society during the last 100 years, a period when moving image culture became increasingly more important. Swedish film and television culture is presented in relation to international trends and developments. Various approaches are considered, including the analysis of formal concerns combined with different socio-cultural perspectives as well as entertainment genres and avant-garde experiments. Industrial practice and film analysis are discussed with a focus on individual artists. Attention is also paid to case studies dealing with questions of criticism and reception. This course is typically given credit by the Film and English departments.

Instructor: Jonas Brodin

This course compares the Swedish and the U.S. judicial and penal systems from a historical, sociological, philosophical, and political perspective. Students will be asked to reflect on the larger philosophical and moral questions underlying the judicial and penal systems. For example, how do cultural and political values and assumptions affect our definition of justice? How have the judicial and penal systems in both countries developed historically? Crime will be examined from a sociological perspective looking at the social forces that lead to certain kinds of illegal behavior. Why do some countries have high crime rates while others do not? Lastly, we will examine the institutions and professions tied to both legal systems, such as, the role of correctional facilities and lawyers. This class is typically given credit by History, Sociology, Political Science, and Philosophy Departments. This is an excellent course for pre-law students.

Instructor: Stephan Larsen

The purpose of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the modern Swedish crime novel from the works of Sjöwal/Wahlöö up to and including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Special attention will be given to how these texts mirror Swedish society, and to the role of women, both as writers and literary characters.

Instructors: Bjorn Edlund and Stephen Turner

The Psychology of Happiness

This course is an introduction to the core findings of Positive Psychology.  Traditional Psychology has focused primarily on understanding a wide range of mental illness.  While the emphasis on a “disease model” has helped us understand what makes people unhappy, it has also neglected the “other side” of the mental health continuum.  “Positive Psychology” has shifted the focus from how to reduce human suffering to how to increase human happiness.   We will examine how this exciting new field of psychology can be applied at a personal as well as public policy level.

Instructor: Peder Fallenius

An examination of the cultural history of modern Scandinavia with a unique focus on art and architecture. We will look at how cultural forces, such as religion, geography, and views of community and nature have shaped the ways in which Swedes have created urban space and other images of their society, i.e., art. The class will incorporate visits to Stockholm’s well known museums into the structure and methodology of the course. This course is typically given credit by the Art History department.

Instructor: Anna Cavallin

We begin in the early 20th century examining the role of gender in relation to modernity and the development of the social democratic model in Sweden. This upper division course will look critically at the status of women in Sweden highlighting how feminism and social democratic policies have promoted gender equality as well as the current ways in which those gains are being contested. Moreover, the study of gender in Sweden will be examined in relation to how power, class, sexuality, and race affect the experience of women. Lastly, we will study how Sweden’s entry into the European Union in the mid 1990’s has affected the status of women. This course is typically given credit by the Sociology and Women’s Studies departments.

Swedish Language 1

Instructor: Eva Löfstedt-Panova 

Study of grammatical structure, vocabulary, and syntax. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of conversational skills.

Swedish Language 2

Instructor: Eva Löfstedt-Panova

Advanced study of the structure of Swedish language, with emphasis on both conversational and written skills. 

Instructor: Jonas Brodin

Health care systems are embedded in economic, political, and social structures and reflect a country’s cultural values. This class will look at the historical development of health care systems in Sweden and the U.S., medical education, and the type of institutional settings in which health care is provided. We will also look at the role of the health care consumer in each country and how factors such as race, class, and gender impact citizens’ access to and experience in the health care system. This course is typically given credit by the Sociology and Political Science departments.

Instructor: Christopher Hill

This course will investigate the ways in which technology is transforming both the natural world and the structure of human societies. Topics covered will include the problem of atmospheric ozone depletion, destruction of coral reef systems, the greenhouse effect, and nuclear waste dilemmas. Lastly, we will focus on how the environmental movement in Sweden is confronting these issues. Pre-requisite: one course in either Environmental Science or Environmental Policy or by the permission of the instructor. This course is typically given credit by the Environmental Science, Political Science, and Economics departments.

Instructor: Stephen Turner

A critical examination of how recent political, economic, and cultural changes—in Europe and in Sweden—have changed the Swedish “model” of the welfare state. The course takes a comparative perspective in order to highlight the ways in which the “Swedish Model” differs from, as well as currently converges with, dominant public policy trends in the United States and Europe. This course is typically given credit by the Sociology and Political Science departments.

Instructor: Pehr-Johan Norbäck

The focus of this advanced macroeconomics course is on the process of international economic integration; the removal of trade impediments between participating nations along with the establishment of elements of economic cooperation and coordination. Our intent is to understand the dynamics of the Swedish economy, Europe, and the European Union within the context of the global economy. Policy areas to be examined include: unemployment, inflation, government budget deficits, labor and education, agriculture and the environment, and technology. Pre-requisite: two courses in economics. This course is typically given credit by the Economics department.

Instructor: Christopher Hill

This course will investigate the ways in which technology is transforming both the natural world and the structure of human societies. Topics covered will include the problem of atmospheric ozone depletion, destruction of coral reef systems, the greenhouse effect, and nuclear waste dilemmas. Lastly, we will focus on how the environmental movement in Sweden is confronting these issues. Pre-requisite: one course in either Environmental Science or Environmental Policy or by the permission of the instructor. This course is typically given credit by the Environmental Science, Political Science, and Economics departments.

Instructor: John Alexander

The course provides an overview of the role of the moving image in Swedish culture and society during the last 100 years, a period when moving image culture became increasingly more important. Swedish film and television culture is presented in relation to international trends and developments. Various approaches are considered, including the analysis of formal concerns combined with different socio-cultural perspectives as well as entertainment genres and avant-garde experiments. Industrial practice and film analysis are discussed with a focus on individual artists. Attention is also paid to case studies dealing with questions of criticism and reception. This course is typically given credit by the Film and English departments.

Instructor: Stephen Turner

This course examines the ways in which economic globalization is affecting national cultures, with special emphasis on Sweden and Europe. The first part of the class will focus on immigration and multiculturalism in Europe, examining examples of both cultural conflict and integration. Special attention will be given to studying the cultural experience of immigrants from Islamic countries in Europe as well as on how such immigration is affecting the cultures of Europe. The second half of the class will study how the global spread of Western (mainly American) media has affected national cultures, both in the less developed and developed nations. For example, how are national cultures affected when CNN or Fox becomes the dominant lens for interpreting the news throughout the world? This course is typically given credit by the Sociology and Political Science departments. 

Instructor: Stephan Larsen

An in-depth examination of modern Swedish literature. We will study all the main genres: the novel; the short story; autobiography; drama; and poetry. Special attention will also be given to Strindberg and to writers he has influenced. Lastly, we will look at the role of literature in the history of ideas. This course is typically given credit by the English and Comparative Literature departments.

Instructor: Jonas Brodin

This course compares the Swedish and the U.S. judicial and penal systems from a historical, sociological, philosophical, and political perspective. Students will be asked to reflect on the larger philosophical and moral questions underlying the judicial and penal systems. For example, how do cultural and political values and assumptions affect our definition of justice? How have the judicial and penal systems in both countries developed historically? Crime will be examined from a sociological perspective looking at the social forces that lead to certain kinds of illegal behavior. Why do some countries have high crime rates while others do not? Lastly, we will examine the institutions and professions tied to both legal systems, such as, the role of correctional facilities and lawyers. This class is typically given credit by History, Sociology, Political Science, and Philosophy Departments. This is an excellent course for pre-law students.

Instructor: Anna Cavallin

We begin in the early 20th century examining the role of gender in relation to modernity and the development of the social democratic model in Sweden. This upper division course will look critically at the status of women in Sweden highlighting how feminism and social democratic policies have promoted gender equality as well as the current ways in which those gains are being contested. Moreover, the study of gender in Sweden will be examined in relation to how power, class, sexuality, and race affect the experience of women. Lastly, we will study how Sweden’s entry into the European Union in the mid 1990’s has affected the status of women. This course is typically given credit by the Sociology and Women’s Studies departments.

Instructors: Bjorn Edlund and Stephen Turner

The Psychology of Happiness

This course is an introduction to the core findings of Positive Psychology.  Traditional Psychology has focused primarily on understanding a wide range of mental illness.  While the emphasis on a “disease model” has helped us understand what makes people unhappy, it has also neglected the “other side” of the mental health continuum.  “Positive Psychology” has shifted the focus from how to reduce human suffering to how to increase human happiness.   We will examine how this exciting new field of psychology can be applied at a personal as well as public policy level.

Instructor: Peder Fallenius

An examination of the cultural history of modern Scandinavia with a unique focus on art and architecture. We will look at how cultural forces, such as religion, geography, and views of community and nature have shaped the ways in which Swedes have created urban space and other images of their society, i.e., art. The class will incorporate visits to Stockholm’s well known museums into the structure and methodology of the course. This course is typically given credit by the Art History department.

Swedish Language 1

Instructor: Eva Löfstedt-Panova 

Study of grammatical structure, vocabulary, and syntax. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of conversational skills.

Swedish Language 2

Instructor: Eva Löfstedt-Panova

Advanced study of the structure of Swedish language, with emphasis on both conversational and written skills. 

Instructor: Mikael Blomdahl

This direct enrollment course offered by the Department of Political Science will focus on both the conflicts created by economic globalization as well as how it creates the new possibilities for international cooperation. Special attention will be given to examining how current economic, political, and cultural trends are shaping the world’s prospects for war and peace. Current wars and conflicts will be studied focusing on how best to resolve them in the 21st century. Pre-requisite: one course in political science. This course is typically given credit by the Political Science department.

Instructor: Jonas Brodin

An investigation into the history of radical politics, from the first modern revolutions to the present. This study proceeds on several fronts: parallel to the historical narrative, there is a theoretical survey of the political philosophy that inspired each radical movement or event. There will be an emphasis on examining the impact of these movements or events on international relations. At the end of the course, students will und erstand the history of radical politics, its theoretical sources, and its international impact. This course is typically given credit by the International Relations, Political Science, and History departments.