Snapshot
Dates
| Term | Application Deadline | Program Start | Program End |
|---|---|---|---|
| May Session 2027 | February 1, 2027 | Tentative - May 9, 2027 | Tentative - May 27, 2027 |
About the Program
Program Highlights
- Visit the Swedish cities of Lund, Växjö, Älmhult (home of IKEA), and Stockholm before venturing to Odense, Aarhus, Billund (home of the LEGO House), and Copenhagen, Denmark
- Experience hundreds of years of history that exist in these world-class cities and mid-sized towns, while taking in the beautiful countryside that each location offers
- Experience the living traditions of Nordic art and design
Program Overview
Students will explore ancient to contemporary designs in Sweden and Denmark. They will meet curators, artists, designers, and art educators in museums, galleries, studios, and community spaces. Each student will choose a topic to research from ancient Viking designs, Swedish folk art, the Crystal Kingdom-Glass industry, Växjö Cathedral history, glass artists Bertil Vallen, Ulrica Hydman Vallien, designer Estrid Ericson, artist/designer Josef Frank, Interior design firm Svenskt Tenn, Gudrun Sjödén clothing and textile designs, Nordic contemporary graphic designers, LEGO, IKEA, Danish contemporary design, furniture designer/architect Arne Jacobsen, and more.
Academics
Prerequisites:
- Art 1010 Drawing
- Art 1011 2D Design
- Art 1013 2D Digital Design
- Students may participate in study abroad anytime after freshman year (or completing 24 college credits post completion of high school). Note: Students may apply to a program during freshman year but must have completed freshman year in good standing to participate in the program.
Nordic Art and Design in Denmark & Sweden, ILSA 3812, 3 credits
- Study Scandinavian art and design through a variety of artistic styles, media, practices, traditions, and innovations
- Explore ideas of interactivity and play in fostering creativity within art and design
- Investigate the cultural goal of “art for all" in art, art in the marketplace, art education, design, and art history
- Actively use, interact with and critique various design and wayfinding systems while traveling by various means through multiple countries
- Visit art and design studios, glassworks, galleries, schools, art museums, public landmarks, and sculpture parks to learn first-hand how traditional and contemporary art and design is integrated into Scandinavian society
This is approved to count for:
- Liberal Education: Global Perspectives
Cost Information
Use this cost estimate to help calculate expenses and budget for your study abroad program. This includes all program fees billed to your UMD student account and necessary out-of-pocket expenses. Please note that cost estimates and fees may change depending on international economic factors. We will post final fees once enrollments, inflation, and exchange rates are determined in order to provide the most accurate pricing. We strive to post final fees by October 1 for Winter and Spring programs, March 1 for May/Summer programs, and May 1 for Fall and Academic Year programs. This cost does not include the $50 application fee.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Scholarships are Available!
- Financial aid applies to May and Summer sessions. Students are discouraged from enrolling in an online course that runs during the same time as their study abroad program. Short-term programs are academically and time-intensive and depending on the location wifi access can be unpredictable and intermittent.
- Note: Credits taken on study abroad programs cannot be used toward the Bulldog Bundle.
Travel Documents
Get a passport right on campus! Processing times vary, but it can take several weeks to a few months receive one. If you already have a passport, make sure its expiration date goes at least 6 months beyond the end date of your program so it's valid the entire time you're abroad.
Contact
Program Instructors
Alison Aune, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Art and Design at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She has over 30 years of travel experience in Scandinavia and has lived in Sweden and Norway. She was a Fulbright Scholar at Linnaeus University in Sweden. Her areas of focus are Nordic art and art education. She understands Swedish and Norwegian, and a little bit of Danish. View some of her work here!
Department of Art & Design
317 Humanities
218-726-6216
[email protected]
Matthew Olin, Ph.D., is an associate professor, designer, and illustrator in Duluth, Minnesota. His work has been featured by Wired, Mashable, Under Consideration, and the Washington Post, and it has been recognized internationally. Matthew teaches upper-division Interactive Design courses within the Department of Art and Design at UMD. He focuses on teaching basic and advanced principles of both user-interface and user-experience design. Matthew's research explores how we design and interact with our world both through play and creativity and he does work for clients globally.
Department of Art & Design
226 Montague Hall
218-726-8984
[email protected]
Study Abroad Instructor-Led Program Coordinator
Apply
Before you click on the "Start my application" button below, make sure you know how to identify the correct program by searching for the:
- Program Name: UMD - Instructor-Led - Nordic Art & Design - May Session;
and the - Term (e.g. May Session 2027)
A $50 non-refundable application fee will be billed to your One Stop account upon submission of an application.
After you apply
- After approximately 20 minutes, you will see checklist items for you to complete.
- All application checklist items need to be submitted by the application deadline which is noted near the top of the page.
- Your UMD Program Contact will review your application materials.
- You must complete the Confirmation of Participation form to confirm your participation.
- Once we receive your confirmation, your UMD account will be billed a confirmation deposit.
If you decide you cannot participate, you must log in to the online application system and submit the "Cancellation Request form."
Program health and safety information
is available at GO SAFE.
