What is the American College of Norway
American College of Norway is part of the U.S. university system and offers curriculum in English. Study abroad at ACN for a semester, the academic year and/or the summer program.
Since 1992, the American College of Norway (ACN) has provided a study abroad opportunity to Americans and other international students, bringing them together with Norwegian peers to take courses toward their U.S. bachelor’s degree. ACN is part of the American university system and offers curriculum in English taught by American faculty. The schedule and academic calendar follow the typical U.S. system as well. Because our study abroad students are comfortable with this form of education, other cultural differences are then exciting and not overwhelming.
“In the 25-year [now 28] long partnership, over 2,000 students and more than 80 American faculty have been favorably impacted. This is one of the most successful and enduring educational partnerships in all of Norway.” Kåre R. Aas, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Ambassador to the United States
ACN partner universities
WHO ARE OUR STUDENTS?
Americans and international students make up about 25% of the student body. There are only 70 students admitted to the program each year so students get to know their classmates and enjoy the intimate environment. They attend ACN to study abroad and experience a different culture and the daily excitement of living in Norway. Click here for admission requirements for international students.
In ACN’s living/learning community, students learn not only from their instructors, but also each other. This is part of the unique program which helps create the best fit for everyone.
Norwegian students choose to start their bachelor’s degree at ACN to gain one-year of an American university education before heading to the U.S. to complete their degrees. After successful completion of the program, Norwegian students transfer to one of ACN’s cooperative partners and other U.S. universities.
Students at all academic levels are welcomed and encouraged to apply to study abroad at ACN. Each year freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors attend our program from universities all over the United States.
“The American College of Norway provides a great opportunity for students looking to study abroad. As a freshman, it has given me the chance to have an experience abroad while taking care of my general classes before I get deep into a major. The small classes and many activities present the chance to really get to know professors, staff and other students well.” Conrad Pederson, Study Abroad Student Spring 2018
To learn more about ACN, you can read several articles in English on our blog! You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and even Snapchat (myacnsnaps)!
Academics & Tuition
The best study abroad programs are the ones that give students an intimate insight into a country’s people and culture while also providing useful university credit that will help progress their education. If you want to study abroad in Norway, look no further because the American College of Norway (ACN) does just that!
WHAT CAN YOU STUDY AT ACN?
When students study abroad in Norway at ACN, students take U.S. university courses that easily transfer to any U.S. university. ACN’s school of record is the University of North Dakota (UND) and all courses are pre-approved and transcripted by UND – making it very easy for U.S. university students wanting to study abroad in Norway at ACN, to transfer their credits completed abroad back to their home university.
One of the exciting aspects ACN’s study abroad program is how vibrant it is! The course offering does not stay the same year after year and this is because the American College of Norway has the pleasure of welcoming new and enthusiastic faculty from top U.S. universities every semester.
ACN offers a wide variety of courses which fit into the general education requirements or electives at U.S. universities. The courses offered each semester will be based off of the expertise of the visiting faculty. Upcoming course listings are usually available well in advance of the start of new semesters.
TUITION
Tuition is NOK 48 000 per semester for full-time students (approx USD 4,700, (exchange rate as of March, 2023). Tuition for the ACN Summer School differs.
HOUSING COSTS
Living on campus lets you make the most of your university experience. It is a great way to be near your classes and fellow students and is the most
convenient housing option for ACN students.
Student housing is available and costs between NOK 41 000 – 42 000 per semester (approx USD 4,000 – 4,100 exchange rate as of March 2023). The rent includes electricity and internet. Contact ACN if you would like more information about courses or cost of attending.
Note that if the exchange rate changes dramatically, we will adjust this and students will either get money back or we will charge the difference.
ACN ON-CAMPUS APARTMENTS
The apartments are just short walk from the school. Each unit contains 2 bedrooms, shared bathroom, and a kitchen/living area. The building has room for 36 students. The apartments are furnished with: beds, closets, desk/chair, dining table/chairs, fridge/freezer, stove, and washing machine. Students must bring their own bedding for a 90 cm bed and their own kitchen equipment. Electricity is included in the rent. Internet is installed in each apartment and the cost is also included in the rent.
A housing deposit of NOK 3 000 (approx USD 300, exchange rate as of March 2023) for international students staying one semester, must be paid before you move in to confirm your room. Housing deposit for a school year is NOK 4 000 (approx. USD 4,000). Information about the housing deposit will be sent out with the housing assignments. The deposit is refundable upon successful check-out when the rental period is over.
BUDGETING
When planning to study abroad in Norway, it’s a good idea to do some advanced planning and have a good idea about where you will use your money. Norway is an expensive place to live if you try to live like you would in the U.S. (e.g. eating out). However, with good planning and suggestions you’ll receive from ACN staff after arrival, you should be able to stay within your budget. Here is a suggestion:
- Housing: NOK 42 000 ($4,100)
- Food: NOK 13 500 ($1,300)
- Books and Supplies: NOK 1 500 ($150)
- Other expenses (including personal purchases such as entertainment, clothing, gym membership etc): NOK 10 000 ($1,000)
- Total for 5 months: NOK 67 000 (about $6,550)
Approximate USD prices in parenthesis, exchange rate as of March 2023.
Because ACN is centrally located and walk-able, no public transportation costs within Moss are necessary.
Students must pay a housing deposit (NOK 3 000 – approx. $300), which is refundable upon successful completion of check-out and return of keys.
Travel estimates not included. Charter airlines to European destinations make weekends/breaks an affordable option. ACN staff are great resources for suggestions and tips.
Courses
Fall 2023
ENGL 110: College Composition I – 3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Robin Smith, American College of Norway
Immersion in college-level critical reading and expository writing, emphasizing revision and careful
preparation of manuscripts. English Composition is a foundational course for students who will be
transitioning to university. It is designed to increase your ability to construct prose that reflects
your thoughts, analysis, synthesis, interpretations, and ideas about texts, research, literature, essays,
and the like. In essence, you will learn to read critically, which entails, among others, identifying
problems, assumptions (stated and unstated), inferences, analyzing arguments, and testing
conclusions.
ENGL 226: Creative Writing – 3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Robin Smith, American College of Norway
In this course students will explore the process of writing fiction and poetry. Throughout the
semester they will be expected to bring in examples of their own work to share with their peers.
(Don’t worry. Everyone has to do it. This is part of the process.) Class discussions will focus on
constructive criticism, thus giving the writer ideas for revision. At the end of the semester
participation and a small body of work demonstrating revision and dedication will be used to
determine a grade.
THEA 210 – Ibsen as an Influencer – 3 credits
Instructor: Eric Todd Guggisberg, American College of Norway
This course is designed for students who have interests in social media, cinematography, and
cultural studies. The course melds practical skills like learning effective filming and camera
techniques with a theoretical understanding of messaging and communication. In addition to
studying old and new influencers and gaining practical experience with camera techniques and
social media, we will spend time in Oslo throughout the course where we will hopefully have the
unique opportunity to conduct research, meet Scandinavian icons, visit Norway’s National Theater,
along with other arts venues.
We will focus on Ibsen and the social, cultural, and gender issues he addressed in his works. We will
look at the social, cultural, and gender issues in the United States for a brief period. From there
students will “modernize” a specific part of Ibsen’s work so that it addresses the issue that they
have chosen to highlight.. Along the way a field trip to the Ibsen Museum will be arranged. We will
also see the Nationalteater’s production of “John Borkman”. It will be very stylized and modernized.
THEA 397: Cooperative Education, Events – 1 credit
Instructor: Tonje Kristiansen, American College of Norway
This is a 1 credit interactive course offering students practical experience in performance and event
planning. Students will work collaboratively to plan special events, organize performance pieces as
needed, and participate in running events and any performances. College is a pivotal time for
students to expand their horizons, gain real world experience and build community. Specifically,
clubs and societies on campus are one of the many ways students can get involved. Being an active
member of an organization not only helps enrich a student’s college life, but can help them
strengthen various qualities both personally and professionally.
SOCI 101 – Introduction to Sociology – 3 credits
Instructor: Susan Joel, PhD, Springfield College
This course provides an introduction to sociological thought, research, concepts, and theory.
SOCI 312 – Genders in Society – 3 credits
Instructor: Susan Joel, PhD, Springfield College
This class focuses on sociological analysis of gender relations. Sociological concepts and
theories help to explain both differences and inequalities between men and women in United
States society.
SOCI 250: Youth In Society – 3 credits
Instructor: Susan Joel, PhD, Springfield College
This course is designed to provide a critical comparative framework for interpreting the
experiences and perceptions of youth in the United States. We consider the ways that society
portrays youth, the effect of corporate culture on youth, the expression of youth identities
through experiences like the prom, the internet, fashion, and music. We look at real people’s
experiences within these contexts, and see how they operate as spaces for youth to internalize
and confront social power relations reflected in age, social class, racial and ethnic, and
gendered norms.
Spring 2024
ENGL 130: College Composition II: Writing for Public Audiences – 3 credits
Instructor: 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.
PSYCH 299: Cultural Influence on Behavior – 3 credits
Instructor: Abbey Marie Schneider, American College of Norway
The demand for understanding the impact of culture on human behavior continues to grow as the human experience is increasingly characterized by intercultural contact. To acknowledge variation among cultures is a first step. This course will delve deeper into the ways in which culture impacts our behavior, the way we think, what we believe and our own identity. The course will be organized in three parts beginning theoretically and moving toward practical applications.
MGMT 300 – Principles of Management – 3 credits
Instructor: Kay M. Powell, University of North Dakota
This course provides a survey of the traditional functions of management with primary emphasis on planning, organizing, controlling, and leading. This emphasis involves coverage of managerial decision making, leadership, motivation, interpersonal communication, staffing human resources, and organizational structure, design, and change and development. Additional topics include the history of managerial thought, management information systems, international management, and business ethics and social responsibility.
LEAD 494 – Readings in Leadership – 3 credits
Instructor: Kay M. Powell, University of North Dakota
An introduction to leadership as a discipline including the theories of leadership, the role of leadership in history and today’s society, communication and interaction with diverse individuals and groups, basic network-building concepts and assessment of application of leadership theory and skills.
The course material/assignments will be dealing with decision-making, team dynamics, and historical figures of leadership to make it worthy of a 400-level designation. For students who continue their education at UND, it would “count” for those seeking a Leadership Minor as their first course in the study.
HON 391 – Hollywood and Business – 3 credits
Instructor: Kay M. Powell, University of North Dakota
Advanced interdisciplinary course on varying topics in the humanities: Hollywood film class that focuses on the theme of “Business.” Through lectures, in-class screenings, and discussion, we will trace the evolution of the perception of business and management. Moving chronologically from the industrial revolution to today’s fast-paced global world of information management and AI, how does popular culture made in Hollywood keep up? What has changed in the narrative structure of storytelling and the field of management? We’ll start with the US’ Hays code and advance to current marketing of products in film and how these arrangements affect what we see on the screen.
Note: Students should consider that these films may have content that some consider offensive and that several movies/shows are rated “R” or “TV-MA” (mature audiences).
HUM 391 – Advanced Humanities Seminar – Social Media – 2 credits
Instructor: Tonje Kristiansen, American College of Norway
POLS 220: Arctic Symposium – Travel Course (Svalbard) – 1 credit
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.
IDS 399: The Arctic Seminar – 3 credits
This course will offer a wide-ranging yet targeted survey of an emergent geo-political focal point of the 21st century, the Arctic region. While climate change and rising sea-levels have worried many from an environmental perspective, these developments have also opened new and lucrative economic possibilities, especially for the oil-prospecting, shipping and even tourism industries. These various components will be explored in the course: the geographical context; the history of Arctic exploration; the parallels with Antarctic scientific cooperation; the impact of climate change; the importance of oil and gas deposits; the shipping industry; the changing role of Arctic Council; Scandinavian interests in the area; the role of the big powers, even including China; and 21st century scenarios for this vital emergent region.
All 3 credit courses unless otherwise noted
*Courses subject to change
Student Life in Norway at ACN
If you're looking for a study abroad program that is welcoming, inclusive, not to mention exciting, the American College of Norway is the place to be! Read more about student life in Norway and ACN below!
On-Campus Activities
ACN knows the importance of cultural exchange through study abroad programs and works hard to provide an active and engaging community for all students. Student life in Norway and at ACN is exciting! And with our hands on approach., students are offered many opportunities to get involved on-campus.
During our welcome activities and throughout the year, students can enjoy paintball, BBQs, movie marathons, Homecoming Week, Spring Formal, Thanksgiving, Halloween, ice skating, bowling, and much more!
In addition, if you are looking to get involved on campus, students are offered the opportunity to join the Activities Committee where they have weekly meetings to plan, prepare and execute monthly events on campus with our Activities Coordinator. In addition to helping create an active campus life, ACN students have participated in several service projects, helped at community events and have created events for the community. ACN will help you to get involved!
NO CLASSES ON FRIDAY
If you’re looking for a program that offers a wide variety of travel opportunities, ACN might just be the right study abroad program for you!
Travel is encouraged at ACN and with classes scheduled from Monday through Thursday, every weekend is a three-day weekend! Scheduling classes this way allows study abroad students to be engaged and present in their classes, while giving them enough time to explore Norway and the rest of Europe. Additionally, ACN has a week-long break during fall semester (fall break) and spring semester (winter break). During these breaks, students can plan longer trips.
Airfare in Europe on charter airlines is inexpensive and with airports located just north and west of Moss, the rest of Europe is at your fingertips. You can also connect to other cities in Norway and Europe from the local train station. ACN’s experienced and knowledgeable staff are a great resource for travel tips and recommendations. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
With no classes scheduled on Friday, ACN staff frequently plan excursions in the area and day trips to Oslo. ACN has ventured to local art galleries and cafes to Oslo’s many museums and famous landmarks.
TRAVEL COURSES
ACN also offers travel course opportunities where students can gain university credit. ACN has studied Arctic affairs in Svalbard, Norway’s northernmost territory, experienced London’s theatre and art scene, explored Ireland’s Viking history and beyond! To find out if ACN is offering a travel course during your semester abroad, see our course offerings for the year.
Click here to read about ACN’s Arctic expedition to Svalbard!
Click here to read about ACN’s London and the Arts travel course offered during the Spring 2018 semester!
HOUSING
Moss, Norway
The American College of Norway has been located in Moss, Norway since its inaugural year. Having a program like ACN in a town such as Moss helps create a sense of community for our students, faculty and staff. And with classes housed in one building and on-campus residence halls just up the street, students truly get to know one another. This environment helps create a tight-knit, living-learning community where everyone has a sense of belonging.
ACN is located in Moss, Norway, a charming, friendly coastal town located on the Oslo Fjord with all the benefits of a large city, but with a small-town feel. Moss is only a 40 minute train ride from Oslo, Norway’s capital. From the local train station, a short walk from campus, you can make easy connections to cities in Norway, Sweden, and beyond! Additionally, the Norwegian coastline, “skjærgård,” is all around you!
Since the Middle Ages Moss has been an industrial city. In 1720 it was given city status (that’s older than the U.S.!). The inhabitants were mainly farmers who were drawn to the city because of its great location in the middle of the Oslo Fjord (as well as in-between Oslo and Sweden). Today Moss has approximately 30,000 inhabitants. In the neighboring municipalities there are 25,000 people who use Moss for shopping and leisure activities.
Moss is considered one of Norway’s cultural cities. If you are interested in art it is strongly suggested that you visit Galleri F15 on Alby, which is one of the leading art galleries in Norway. Downtown there is also an art gallery called Moss Kunstgalleri. Since the 1970’s Moss has carried the nickname the “city of rock”. Naturally, this has affected the culture. On weekends there are often bands from all over Scandinavia. At the end of summer, Moss hosts Festivalen Sin, a large-scale music festival frequented by famous Norwegian artists. Every year, Moss also hosts a festival for contemporary art called NonStop. This goes on for over a month with theater, films, live bands and so on. Moss also has a new movie theater in Møllebyen, a very short walk from our school.
If you wish to go out to eat there are many possibilities. Greek, Thai, Chinese, Norwegian and so on, the choice is yours. If you feel like a night out on the town, Moss has many pubs, bars and clubs to choose from. If you want to see a concert, musical acts often perform in Moss or nearby Oslo. The shopping possibilities consist of many different grocery, clothing, music hardware and drug stores. There are two major malls in Moss, they are called AMFI Senteret and Mosseporten. Besides the malls, there are many other specialty stores downtown.
The Moss region is also famous for its beaches. You can enjoy the sunshine and the water virtually undisturbed. In addition to the Oslo Fjord, Moss has a nearby lake called Vansjø, and on the east side there is a large forest area called Mossemarka.
One of the most exciting parts of the city is Jeløy, Moss’ famous island, with its lava formations, originating from a volcanic eruption. The local climate, geology and soils create conditions for agriculture, forestry and biological diversity. The island has some rare and protected species.
To read more about Moss, Norway and the Østfold region, click here!
Staff and faculty
Staff
KRISTA LAURITZEN
Krista Lauritzen is the Executive Director of the American College of Norway, a position she has held since the college’s founding in 1991. She is from Two Harbors, Minnesota and has her higher education from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. While in college she participated in an exchange program at the University of Trondheim and is committed to helping students to study abroad!
Siv Lønningdal
Siv is the Office & Accounting Manager. She is from Os in the western part of Norway, but has lived in the area since 1974. She has been with ACN since 1993 and is likely the first person you will meet here. She handles the college’s finances and assists with information about such things as rent and student tuition payments.
Tonje Kristiansen
Tonje is the Marketing & Event coordinator at ACN. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Event Management at the University of Winchester, and her Master’s degree in Tourism Studies from the Arctic University of Norway. Tonje grew up in Moss and is passionate about making sure students explore the town, and she is always looking for opportunities for students to engage authentically with the local community.
HEIDI BENJAMINSON
Heidi is the Academic Advisor. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from ACN’s partner school, University of North Dakota and spent half of her junior year studying abroad at ACN, where she met her husband, a Norwegian ACN student. After graduation, they lived and worked in Norway for a few years before moving to Scotland where she earned a Master of Science in Education focusing on international education and study abroad. Heidi spent nearly a decade in Brisbane, Australia working with inbound and outbound international students before moving back to Norway.
COLIN SOLAAS
Colin is the Resident Assistant at the on-campus dorms. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He started his college education at ACN in 1999 and has taught accounting classes here.
DR. TAMI CARMICHAEL
ACN FACULTY SPRING 2021, SPRING 2022, SUMMER 2022, FALL 2022 and SUMMER 2023
Tami is a Professor of English, Theatre Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of North Dakota (UND). In addition, she coordinates the university’s American College of Norway collaboration. She has taught at ACN many times and visits frequently. Carmichael received her Master’s degree and her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Currently, in both her teaching and research, she focuses on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. She enjoys working with students and creating student-centered learning projects that integrate issues, ideas, and data across the disciplines so that students can gain a wider perspective on areas of real-world significance. Dr. Carmichael publishes and speaks extensively on interdisciplinary education, integrative general education, learning communities, the assessment of student learning, and international teaching and learning. She believes that students should be given every opportunity to develop the skill sets that are essential in the real world: critical and creative thinking, evidence-based reasoning, collaboration, and integrative thinking. Dr Carmichael has received several national awards including the CASE/Carnegie state Professor of the Year award (2008); the national STIRS (Scientific Thinking and Reasoning Scholar) Scholar award (2014) from the Association of American Colleges & Universities; and in 2015 she was named as one of five United States’ AAC&U STIRS Fellows. In her free time, Dr. Carmichael enjoys skiing, hiking, yoga, traveling, and her dog.
DR. ELAINE JENKS
ACN FACULTY FALL 2019, FALL 2021, SUMMER 2022, FALL 2022 and SUMMER 2023
Lainey Jenks is a Professor of Communication and Media at West Chester University. She teaches courses in interpersonal communication, friendship communication, communication and disability, public speaking, and film. Lainey has won three teaching and two service awards. Her scholarship focuses on interpersonal communication and disability from an ethnographic perspective. Lainey has researched the communicative behaviors of individuals who are blind or visually impaired in summer camp, friendship, family, and athletic settings. Lainey lives in Delaware outside of Philadelphia and has two sons. Her oldest son is a member of the USA Men’s Goalball Team. Her youngest son lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Lainey enjoys traveling, reading mystery novels, writing, listening to music, walking her rescue dog – a Pointer mix named Buddy, studying Swedish, and eating Nidor Smørbukk Originals.
ABBEY SCHNEIDER
ACN FACULTY FALL 2022 and SPRING 2023
Abbey Schneider is a social sciences lecturer at the American College of Norway and Bjørnholt videregående skole in Oslo. She is from Washington, DC where she taught for several years in Maryland high schools, the American University and Georgetown University before coming to Norway as a Fulbright Roving Scholar in American Studies in 2007. For the last twelve years she has been teaching psychology in Oslo. Abbey is passionate about equity in education, student well-being and the role of education in democracy. Outside of her professional interests, Abbey is active in the international community in Oslo. She spends her free time trying to keep up with her daughter and the family dog.
DR. ROBIN SMITH
ACN FACULTY SPRING 2023
Robin Smith is a femme, queer, writer & scholar originally from Northern California. Robin is the author of the chapbook “Confessions of a Love Addict” (Dancing Girl Press, 2020) and two full length collections Love Glut (Rebel Satori Press 2021) and Willow Abuelo & Me (UND ProQuest 2023). She is the winner of the Academy of American Poets Prize and the Katherine B. Tiffany Award, among others. Her work has appeared in By & By poetry review, Aji Literary Magazine, Visual Artists Collective, Zoetic Press, Red Ogre, Westwind, Legendary Review, PACIFICReview among many others. Her work has also been featured in anthologies such as Bliss and Drawn to Comics. She was the lead poetry editor for the Northridge Review, and is an associate editor for Voicemail Poems. Robin Smith was the judge of the 2019 Rachel Sherman award for up and coming poets. She received her B.A and M.A in Creative Writing (poetry) from California State Northridge and recently graduated the University of North Dakota where she received her Phd in Creative Writing and Literature. Robin currently lives in Norway where she teaches Composition for the American College of Norway. She is a huge fan of Taco Bell and was proudly rejected by Taco Bell Quarterly this year and she also loves literary gossip and trash TV.
DR. TURK RHEN
ACN FACULTY SPRING 2023
Turk Rhen is professor of Integrative Biology at the University of North Dakota (UND). He has taught genetics, genomics, molecular and cell biology, endocrinology, animal behavior, and scientific writing. He strives to provide his students a rigorous education so they become broad, integrative thinkers. His undergraduate and Masters degrees are from UND. After earning his Ph.D. at the University of Texas-Austin, he did postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Rhen has developed expertise in areas of biology ranging from molecular biology to ecology and evolution. He is particularly interested in sexual differentiation as well as how genes and the environment interact to influence animal development. Dr. Rhen has published 56 peer-reviewed papers on these topics and secured over $2 million in funding from the US National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health to support his research. In his free time, he enjoys traveling the world with his wife and children.
ACN’s world-class faculty bring their extensive knowledge and experience to the classroom. Meet them here: