Upcoming ACN Courses

3 Credits

Instructor: Dr. Robin Jewel Smith, American College of Norway

College Composition with an emphasis on rhetoric and critical thinking. Requires the writing and production of both primary and secondary research, while asking students to apply that research to larger community issues. Students will practice writing with an immediate and explicit public purpose.

3 Credits

Instructor: Jeremiah Bartz, University of North Dakota

This course covers mathematical concepts within the context of cultures. Mathematical ideas are investigated in topics such as number systems, calendars, art, kinship relations, divination, and games. Examples are taken from cultures in many parts of the world. The main emphasis in the course is learning how cultural activities can be considered mathematical and often include non-trivial mathematical ideas. Case studies include Viking and Norwegian mathematics. 

3 Credits

Instructor: Jeremiah Bartz, University of North Dakota

This course studies mathematical tools and techniques relevant to studying current social justice issues including human trafficking, income inequality, policing, environmental racism and justice, gerrymandering, voting methods, and access to education. 

3 Credits

Instructor: Jeremiah Bartz, University of North Dakota

This course covers mathematical concepts within the context of cultures. Mathematical ideas are investigated in topics such as number systems, calendars, art, kinship relations, divination, and games. Examples are taken from cultures in many parts of the world. The main emphasis in the course is learning how cultural activities can be considered mathematical and often include non-trivial mathematical ideas. Case studies include Viking and Norwegian mathematics.

3 Credits

Instructor: Jeremiah Bartz, University of North Dakota

A course which studies encryption methods with no math prerequisites and historical context of early encryption systems. This course would involve some math, but at a basic level. Emphasis would be on historical developments of secret communications. This could be considered a history course.

2 Credits

Instructor: Tonje Kristiansen, American College of Norway

What makes for a successful presence on social media and in the field of marketing? How do you engage your audience effectively and elevate a brand in the ever expanding digital realm? This class will explore the intricacies of social media and marketing through real life cases - and provide the opportunity for students to promote the American College of Norway through the role of a Student Ambassador. The students will take part in the annual Open House on campus and have a genuine impact on ACN’s marketing presence.

 1 Credit

Instructor: Dr. Tami Carmichael, University of North Dakota

This course is built around a five-day, four-night group trip to Norway’s fascinating Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Our primary aim is to stimulate and deepen interest in the Arctic, a region of increasingly vital importance to our world, as well as in the far north of Norway. During our time we will experience firsthand the climate of the High North, sample life in Longyearbyen, one of the world’s most northernmost towns, and expand our understanding of Svalbard’s history and status. Along the way will also learn more about its beautiful but fragile ecosystem and about the interlinking global processes of climate change. This is truly a rare opportunity that will unfold a unique place.

3 credits

Essential Studies: Humanities

Dr. Tami Carmichael, American College of Norway

Oslo is a modern city renowned as a mecca of sustainable living, social equality, and modern arts. But what can we learn if we dig deeply into the history, demographics and politics of this wonderful European city? Oslo, which has been an important port city since the Viking times, offers endless opportunities to better understand the history and culture of Norway and to view the development of early and modern Europe. In this course which includes weekly trips to Oslo, we will start with the Oslo (or Viken) of Viking times and trace the socio-political developments that took the city and the nation into the hands of the Danes and the Swedes; we will study the growth of early nationalism and look at how Norway’s independence is reflected in the art and architecture of Oslo; we will delve into the Nazi occupation and Norwegian Resistance headquartered in Oslo, and we will end our studies by examining the vibrant immigrant and hipster neighborhoods of modern Oslo.

3 credits

Essential Studies: Analyzing Worldviews and Social Sciences

Dr. Elaine Jenks, Westchester University

How do we communicate with people who are different from us? That’s the main question this course explores. On the intercultural interpersonal level, we will study how individuals from different countries, races, religions, and ethnicities form relationships. On the international global level, we will study how organizations reach large audiences. We will explore topics ranging from how Norwegians and Americans greet strangers on the street, to similarities and differences in each country when communicating with friends, family members, and co-workers, to how major companies in Norway and the USA advertise. From waffles and brown cheese to peanut butter and jelly, from skiing and saunas to baseball and Black Friday, we will study the messages produced by and about both countries and the people who live in them. This course will include readings and discussions as well as written analyses of popular culture and hands-on experiences of field trips, films, food tastings, and social media creation.