First Week of Classes

This was the first week of classes here at Uppsala University. That being said, I only had class on Thursday. Here in Sweden class scheduling is quite different than in the US. In Sweden you are required to fill 30 credits per semester. For some students that means taking four 7.5 credit courses, for others that means taking two 15 credit courses or any other combination that adds up to 30. Classes start and finish at random points throughout the semester so you are never taking more than 2 or 3 courses at once. It is sort of nice because for those several weeks you are in a class, you can really focus most of your attention on that single subject.

I am taking four courses all worth 7.5 credits each. 

People of the Baltic

Starts: Sept. 1

Ends: Oct. 13

Final Paper due: Sept. 29

Meeting time: 13:00-15:00 Thursdays

(this means we have just four classes before out final paper is due!!)

Critical Perspectives of Sustainable Development in Sweden

Starts: Sept. 1

Ends: Dec. 15

Final Paper due: Dec. 5

Meeting time: 17:00-19:30 Thursdays

Basic Swedish Language

Starts: Sept.7

Ends: Early Dec.

Final Paper due: ?

Meeting time: 18:00-20:00 Mondays and Wednesdays

Swedish Art and Music

Starts: Nov. 2

Ends: Dec. 2

Final Paper due: ?

Meeting time: Don't know yet

Due to this scheduling I have much fewer contact hours than I am use to having. A lack of contact hours seems to translate to an increase in readings due each week :( 

Also, since all of my classes are later in the day I have lots of free time to explore the city and travel. I currently do not have class on Friday and my class on Monday is not until 6pm which is prefect for traveling over a long weekend!