A panoply of academic subjects

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:

• from the classical research fields of theology and the humanities to applied social research
• through history from the earliest times to issues of topical interest
• from familiar Danish forms of culture to other and very different worlds
• from local issues to global challenges.

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 (Prehistoric, Medieval, and Renaissance), Asian Studies (Chinese, Japanese/South-East Asian Studies, Arab and Islamic Studies), Philosophy and the History of Ideas, History, and Classical Studies (Classical Archaeology and Classical Philology), Area Studies Europe (incl. International Studies, and Eastern European Studies), the Study of Religion, and Theology.

Constructive tension

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, Asian 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.

Bjarke Paarup
Head of School