Full Summer Course List
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Early Summer Session 1
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Children with Special Needs
An interdisciplinary perspective on understanding children and families with special needs and the settings for their support. The seminar examines the dichotomies and dilemmas of working with children who may have diagnoses while also recognizing and supporting the child’s perspective and right to play, friendship and learning. The students’ practicum experiences will be discussed and analyzed from various theoretical perspectives.
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Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business Practice
A study of the ways in which different actors address sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The main focus will be on Scandinavian corporations and their responses to demands and expectations from stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, investors, and consumers with regard to corporate social, environmental and ethical performance, including human rights, environmental issues, working conditions, diversity, etc.
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Design and Society in Denmark
Denmark has a national design policy, a requirement for design education in the public schools, and exceptional architectural and product design. Students will explore the connection between design and society within such themes as urban design, public transportation, housing, child care and education, and sustainability. Each student will compile and edit their visual notes, reflections and ideas into a comprehensive weblog.
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Free Speech and Islam in Europe
This is a course on the Danish Muhammad Cartoon Crisis. It offers case study research into the social, political, and cultural issues underlying this crisis, using topics and methods from political science, sociology, international relations, anthropology, and religious studies. You will interview some of the central actors in the crisis. The three main issues are cultural conflict, freedom of expression, and Islam in secular Europe.This course will provide you with the tools to analyze and assess the rising number of crises of this sort in a global context.
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Gender and Sexuality in Scandinavia
What characterizes interpretations of gender, body, and sexuality in the liberal Scandinavian context? The course explores current Scandinavian debates on gender equality, the role of men and masculinity, family structure, homosexuality, and prostitution. How do concepts of gender, body, and sexuality intersect with concepts of normality and what are the real consequences of these for both genders?
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Health Delivery & Prioritization in Northern Europe
The course and study tour aim to provide students with a solid knowledge of the provision and organization of public health in Northern Europe and of the historical, social, economic, and political background of the present health care systems. Furthermore, the course will provide an understanding of what determines health, the priority-setting for public health policy, and the relationship between the many players involved in policy-making and provision of health services. Social and political dilemmas in the field of health care will be examined.
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Human Health and Disease: A Clinical Approach
Introduction to the most important human diseases, their diagnoses and treatments, and to the clinical working methods of physicians as practiced at Danish and European university hospitals. Taught at Amager Hospital in Copenhagen.
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Human Trafficking in a Global Context
Globally, human trafficking ranks among the most profitable international criminal activities. It is also a violation of human rights. This course provides an overview of legal, law-enforcement and societal responses to trafficking. Journalists, social workers and government representatives involved in the issue contribute their unique perspectives, including trafficking's links to prostitution.
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Human Trafficking & Prostitution
Globally, human trafficking ranks among the most profitable criminal activities. It is also a violation of human rights. In this course, students will gain an understanding of the issue of trafficking, including its extent, relation to other criminal activities, and its victims and perpetrators. They will also learn the most important elements of the legal and policy framework addressing trafficking at the European and international level.
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International Advertising
This course offers knowledge of the challenges of international advertising. Specific topics include: Building of Brands, International Segmentation, The Marketing Mix, Cross-cultural challenges of advertising, Communications Strategy, Media Strategy, PR, Corporate Communications, Regulations, Advertising Effectiveness and International Marketing Research.
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Positive Psychology
What does science reveal about happiness? What are the possbile pitfalls of a psychology of happiness? This course is an examination of recent psychological reserach in the rapidly explanding field of positive psychology. Students will explore constructs of well-being and happiness and consider the ways that positive emotions influence cognition, health, wealth, and social relationships.
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Public Health in Northern Europe
A study of the organization and provision of public health in Northern Europe, and of the historical, social, economic and political background of the present health care systems. The course provides an understanding of what determines health, priority-setting for public health policy, and the relationship between the many players involved in policy-making and provision of health services.
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Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility
A study of the ways in which different actors address sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The main focus will be on Scandinavian corporations and their responses to demands and expectations from stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, investors and consumers with regard to corporate social, environmental and ethical performance, including human rights, environmental issues, working conditions, diversity, etc.
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The Social Brain - The Neuropsychology of Social Behaviors
The goal of this course is to explore the neural basis of human social interaction. Emphasis will be placed on how social psychology and neuroscience inform our understanding of social behavior, with each discipline offering unique and complimentary perspectives. Examples of topics: brain/behavior development, relationship of emotions, cognition and social behavior, theory of mind, the role of empathy and the social self.
Early Summer Session 2
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Children in a Multicultural Context
Based on readings and student experiences at their practicum sites, this seminar examines practices around the terms ethnic diversity, the good childhood, ethnicity and multiculturalism in Danish culture, education and social policy. Cultural and educational issues such as teaching practices, intercultural communication and learning, multilingualism, the influence of culture on education, and Nordic philosophies on nature and play will be thoroughly examined.
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European Business Strategy
This course offers a case-oriented approach to the strategies of European businesses in the global marketplace, the point of departure being actual European business cases. Students will work on projects based on company visits to gain a holistic understanding of how businesses can create value through their strategies and the nature of the business environment in the European Union (EU).
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European Clinical Psychology
An overview of the field of European/Danish clinical psychology both as a scientific discipline and a profession. We will cover theories of abnormality, psychological disorders, assessment and treatment approaches, preventative measures, and psychological problem areas related to health and culture. Applying a macro-level analysis, we will discuss controversial issues in the field and consider possible differences between US and Europe.
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Greenland Field Work
This field course begins with a 2 day introduction to Greenland taught by DIS faculty Henning Thing. Then DIS students join the DTU group of students and scientists for the 3 week field research work within arctic technology in Sisimiut.
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Health Delivery & Prioritization in Northern Europe
The course and study tour aim to provide students with a solid knowledge of the provision and organization of public health in Northern Europe and of the historical, social, economic, and political background of the present health care systems. Furthermore, the course will provide an understanding of what determines health, the priority-setting for public health policy, and the relationship between the many players involved in policy-making and provision of health services. Social and political dilemmas in the field of health care will be examined.
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Holocaust and Genocide
After the Holocaust, members of the international community said ‘never again,’ yet numerous cases of genocide have occurred since then, causing the 20th century to be termed 'the century of genocide'. This course and study tour analyze the causes and consequences of genocide. Specific cases of genocide and near-genocide, including the Holocaust, will be studied along with issues such as perpetrator profiles, commemoration, and genocide prevention.
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Human Health and Disease: A Clinical Approach
Introduction to the most important human diseases, their diagnoses and treatments, and to the clinical working methods of physicians as practiced at Danish and European university hospitals. Taught at Copenhagen University Hospitals. Visits to clinical settings at the university hospital in Berlin (Session 2).
Please be aware that the course does not provide regular medical training corresponding to that of medical students and does not include shadowing of doctors or physical examination of patients.
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Humanitarian Law & Armed Conflict
This course is an examination of human rights and the laws of armed conflict, and how they apply to contemporary conflicts. The course seeks its inspiration in current events, and aims at enabling students to analyze events such as Somalian piracy, the killing of Osama Bin Laden, and armed conflicts in Libya and Afghanistan in a legal context.
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Human Trafficking & Prostitution
Globally, human trafficking ranks among the most profitable criminal activities. It is also a violation of human rights. In this course, students will gain an understanding of the issue of trafficking, including its extent, relation to other criminal activities, and its victims and perpetrators. They will also learn the most important elements of the legal and policy framework addressing trafficking at the European and international level.
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Positive Psychology
What does science reveal about happiness? What are the possible pitfalls of a psychology of happiness? This course is an examination of recent psychological research in the rapidly expanding field of positive psychology. Students will explore constructs of well-being and happiness and consider the ways that positive emotions influence cognition, health, wealth, and social relationships.
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Psychology of Human Sexuality
A study of human sexuality emphasizing psychological aspects and focusing on topics such as sexual development, gender, sexual attitudes and behavior, and sex therapy. One goal of this class is to develop a greater awareness of your own sexuality and the sexuality of others. The tour to Brussels will include visits with organizations, NGO’s, and researchers dealing with sex education and psychological components of sexuality.
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Public Health in Northern Europe
The course and study tour aim at providing students with a solid knowledge of the provision and organization of public health in Northern Europe, and of the historical, social, economic and political background of the present health care systems. Furthermore, the course will provide an understanding of what determines health, the priority setting for public health policy, and the relationship between the many players involved in policy-making and provision of health services. Social and political dilemmas in the field of health care will be examined.
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Sustainable Technology & Responses to Climate Change
The course is a study of the link between technology and culture in the creation and maintenance of a sustainable environment – ecologically as well as socially. Environmental best practice, sustainable environmental and social policy, environmental/green technologies and their dissemination. Visits will focus on the Danish energy industry, “clean tech” companies as well as relevant research centers.
Early Summer Sessions 1 & 2
Late Summer
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Architectural Design Studio
Studio instruction focuses on the design process in Danish practice. Design problems address context, the user, and sustainability, starting from a critical analysis of Scandinavian architecture. Through a series of assignments, students develop their skills in conceptual design, representation, model-making, and communication.
Studio groups combine students of different standing and background. The course is taught vertically, and expectations relate to each individual student.
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Architecture Foundations Studio
Students develop design skills through analysis of existing buildings and by solving real-life architectural problems in a Danish context. In studio projects, they construct spatial models in physical and digital media and advance their communication skills in expressing abstract ideas. At the same time, they will build up a vocabulary of architectural concepts and an individual design process.
Studio groups combine students of different standing and background. The course is taught vertically, and expectations relate to each individual student.
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Furniture Design in Scandinavia
A general view of furniture design in Scandinavia, with a focus on Denmark. Current and historical conditions of furniture design are presented and the underlying design theories and methodologies introduced. Aspects of Scandinavian industrial design, interior design and architecture are included.
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Furniture Design Studio and Workshop
Training students in the process of furniture-making through design and building of a full-scale ‘sitting support’. Includes conceptual development, continued refinement of the concept, production of working drawings, building of a wood, laminate veneer, or steel prototype in scale 1:1, and training communication through the exhibition of their work.
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Information Design Studio
Studio focuses on urban graphic design. Design skills are developed through analysis of composition and function of existing signage and through urban signage design problems solved within the Danish context. Students work in digital and analog modes, advancing their communication skills and learning the opportunities and challenges of different media and user perception. Studio groups combine students of different standing and background. The course is taught vertically, and expectations relate to each individual student.
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Interior Architecture Studio
Studio focuses on Interior Architecture design in a Danish context, developing a concept and project design within an existing structure. Students create a design strategy shaping interior space and user experience. Through a series of assignments, students develop their skills in conceptual design, representation, model-making, and communication.
Studio groups combine students of different standing and background. The course is taught vertically, and expectations relate to each individual student.
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Scandinavian Design and Architecture: History, Theory and Practice
This course provides a general view of design and architecture in Scandinavia with special emphasis on Denmark. Current and historical conditions of interior design/architecture, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and planning are presented with underlying design theories. The course incorporates multiple tracks offering both general lectures for all students as well as lectures specific to the students’ individual discipline. The course is comprised of lectures, seminars, field studies, study tours which are documented in a visual journal.
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Textile Design in Scandinavia
A study in critical themes of the Scandinavian design tradition as well as main theories and current tendencies in textile design in Scandinavia.
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Textile Design Studio and Workshop
Students are introduced to the 3 most commonly used techniques in the textile industry at the moment; direct printing, transfer printing and digital printing. Training students in design and printing of repeat pattern in maximum 3 colors, presented with 4-5 other color ways in sample size. Direct printing and overprint with fiber reactive dyes and burn-out can be used. Students will create a portfolio with selected samples and experiments created in the workshop.
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Urban Design Studio
Using Copenhagen as a laboratory, students solve real-life problems using analytical and design methods specifically devised for urban design and landscape questions. Some sections in the Urban Design Studio will focus on issues of sustainable design.
Studio groups combine students of different standing and background. The course is taught vertically, and expectations relate to each individual student.