The focus of the teaching and research activities of the School of Culture and Society is the interplay of culture and society in time and space:
The school encompasses a range of strong research and degree programmes, which in dialogue with each other and with society work to develop innovative ways to solve issues of topical or perennial interest.
It comprises a wide range of programmes, which makes it possible to approach cultural and social conditions from many different angles: Anthropology (incl. Human Security), Archaeology (incl. Sustainable Heritage Managment), Global Studies (China Studies, Japan Studies, Brasilian Studies, India and South-East Asian Studies), Philosophy and History of Ideas, History and Classical Studies (Classical Archaeology and Classical Philology), Area Studies Europe (incl. Russia Studies, International Studies, and European Studies), the Study of Religion (incl. Arabic and Islamic Studies) and Theology.
The school's research competencies are dedicated in particular to global and regional cultural processes, and the school houses a number of the university's international and globally-orientated degree programmes and fields of research (anthropology, global studies, human security, the study of religion, history, European studies, and international studies).
The school has a strong academic environment for teaching and research in the classical fields, which are decisive for understanding and manifesting Denmark's position in the world (theology, philosophy and the history of ideas, classical studies, archaeology, the study of religion and history).
The school has a comprehensive network of contacts and partners in Danish and international society, and the department’s research and degree programmes contribute to social innovation, the communication of research results, and continuing and further education.
There is a constructive tension within the school between, on the one hand, a scholarly focus on the fundamental conditions of human life and the theoretical opportunities for research and, on the other hand, an empirical investigation of concrete and topical social issues. This tension serves to strengthen the academic quality of the department's research and degree programmes and is the point of departure for its contribution to resolving the problems facing modern society.
The School of Culture and Society (CAS) was founded at Aarhus University in 2011. The school consists of units from the former Department of Anthropology, Archaeology & Linguistics, the Department of History and Area Studies, the Department of Philosophy and the History of Ideas, the Department of Languages, Literature & Culture, and the Faculty of Theology.
The school's roots date back to 1928, when "University Education in Jutland" opened with 64 students enrolled. The first courses were offered in autumn 1928, and philosophy was among the first subjects taught. History and classical philology were added in subsequent years.
The Faculty of Theology was founded in 1942. At that time there were 70 students of theology at the university. The faculty grew rapidly and could soon offer students a complete Master’s degree in Theology. The first higher doctoral degree in Theology (dr. theol.) was awarded in 1947.
By the time of the university's 25th anniversary in 1953, also classical archaeology and prehistoric archaeology were offered. In subsequent decades, ethnography, medieval archaeology, the history of religions and the history of ideas followed.
The most recent subjects taught in the school include European studies, Eastern European studies and Asian studies.
