<p>If I want to take a scandinavian language, is there any way I can ask USC to hire a professor or design my own scandinavian studies major? I know UCLA has one of the best scandinavian studies departments but can I somehow make my own major here at USC?</p>
<p>I want to go to graduate school for Nordic/Scandinavian studies but they require 2 years of learning a Scandinavian language and USC simply doesn't give me that option.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Not likely… If you study abroad for a year, you could certainly get one year of language study in if you go to a Scandinavian country. So you need to figure out how to get that second year completed.</p>
<p>USC’s study abroad does not have ANY of the Scandinavian countries available. Doing an independent year would be ok, if they would let me use my financial aid. However, they are not flexiable with that at all. (trust me, i’ve spent multiple hours talking to FA and abroad offices).</p>
<p>Does USC let me design my own major and petition to hire professors if other students demand it? </p>
<p>If USC doesn’t let me do that, is my only option to transfer to a school with a definitive Scandinavian studies major like UW or UCLA? I really love USC, but its major choices are way too limited for a university on the national stage. I cannot even study Germanic studies anymore…sigh.</p>
<p>You can ask, but I am not aware that they will do that. The only school I am aware of right offhand that will hire/pay for additional language coursework is the Georgetown School of Foreign Service (SFS) – there certainly could be others, but even colleges that allow you to “design your own majors” aren’t going out and hiring teachers in disciplines they don’t offer. I would say that a transfer is your best option. University of Wisconsin is another school that has a pretty good program, I think. </p>
<p>Does USC allow you to study through “partner programs”, and are there any of those? Sweden is probably the country I have seen most commonly available through various study abroad programs. You probably know this, but most colleges have (1) their own programs or (2) partner programs offered by other universities that you can participate in. Sometimes you can use your financial aid for those partner programs, sometimes not… Then there is the final direct enrollment in a foreign university option. My D did that one semester (not from USC, from another college) – gotta say, it was a pretty big hassle to “do it yourself” – especially finding housing.</p>
<p>Did your daughter recieve financial aid? The office has constantly told me taht any program outside of what USC offers =NO AID. ugh…this is so frustrating :(</p>
<p>Could you learn a Scandinavian language on your own and pass a test to prove you are proficient?</p>
<p>Could you study something more general like history or international relations and take Scandinavian languages at a different school (perhaps UCLA extension? Some school’s online program? A community college? I dunno how available those languages are at CCs). Or you could study at a different school like UW or UCLA for two years and then transfer to USC, if you were that set on coming here. Though if they don’t offer your intended course of study, why do you want to come here?</p>
<p>I get the impression that the OP is already at USC. And the Scandinavian languages are not commonly taught at four year colleges, can’t imagine that many community colleges have them. There ARE four year colleges that have them, just not tons. Doubt you will find much online, either, but that is probably worth a Google search.</p>
<p>Another option is to look for a summer program and pay to do that. But that could be pretty expensive.</p>
<p>Another angle – do any of the other study abroad programs take place at universities where you could get in a year of a nordic language? Say, one of the UK programs where they offer Swedish or Norwegian or something? Do that for a year (but you have to make sure you can get the language class AND whatever you need to stay on track for graduation). Then spend a year as an au pair in the country after you graduate, and apply to grad schools during that year.</p>
<p>I would suggest studying German since the Scandinavian languages are Northern Germanic languages. It is not a perfect proxy, but very close and will give you an idea for grammar, pure vowels, and verb second that are all present in Swedish, Finnish, and Danish. After you finish undergrad you could do a post-bacc program or get a certificate at one of these schools: [Scandinavian</a> Programs](<a href=“Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study”>Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study)</p>
<p>I also echo working as an au pair to gain language skills, many Europeans are happy to help their au pairs advance their language skills. Rosetta Stone sells language learning software in Swedish, though imo it is pricey.</p>
<p>You can construct an Independent Studies Major. But USC is not the place to do Scandinavian languages. If this is your intended field of study and you are not yet a student, do not come here to do it. If you are already a USC student and want Scandinavian studies, you should transfer.</p>
<p>Students who can show advanced proficiency in a foreign language not taught at USC can meet the requirement of three semesters by a competency exam through the Language Center. You don’t get any credit for it, but you can satisfy your three-semester requirement that way.</p>
<p>BTW, USC will not hire somebody to teach you a language not taught here.</p>
<p>2redhares - I believe USC no longer offers German due to lack of interest or is trying to phase it out.</p>
<p>The major in German studies is no longer offered, but courses in German are and a minor in German Studies is offered:</p>
<p>[About</a> the Program > German Studies Program > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences](<a href=“USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences”>About the Program > German Studies Program > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences)</p>
<p>[German</a> | USC Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://web-app.usc.edu/soc/20133/germ]German”>302 Found)</p>
<p>Well… German still isn’t going to get the OP where they want to go.</p>
<p>I wonder why they got rid of the major if they’re still keeping the courses and the minor??</p>
<p>For Scandinavian Studies, checkout Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.</p>
<p>The Marshall School of Business has an exchange program in Copenhagen? Probably not what you’re looking for though.</p>
<p>[USC</a> Marshall » Partners Copenhagen Business School](<a href=“USC Marshall”>USC Marshall)</p>