Celebrating our 49th year!

2012 Theme:  "Election 2012-- A Divided United States"

July 12-28, 2012

Welcome to the website of the American Studies Institute for Scandinavian-Nordic Educators! Since its beginning in 1963, over 1800 educators from the five Nordic nations have attended the Institute, held each July on the campus of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, U.S.A.

This year's theme will be ELECTION 2012--A DIVIDED UNITED STATES. The 2012 election will be a referendum on President Obama's first term in office and the competing platforms of Democrats, Republicans and Independents. This two week seminar will explore contemporary challenges for the president of a country sharply divided on issues relating to the economy, health care, taxes, immigration, education and the role of the US on the world stage.

Past participants consistently rank it among the best summer courses they have ever taken: "I never expected to learn so much! I do not know how you managed to fit all the lectures, field trips, parties, theater, concerts, and picnics into such a short time. The summer course was so well planned and taken care of that I lived it instead of just taking part."