Hákonarætt Institute of Eddic Studies is the educational and formation ministry of Hákonarætt Fellowship, dedicated to the study of the Old Norse tradition and the application of its inherited wisdom through Eddic studies, character formation, leadership development, and lifelong learning.

120 Semester Credit Hours

Program in Development

The Bachelor of Eddic Studies (B.E.S.) is a planned 120-semester-credit-hour program integrating the study of Eddic literature, saga tradition, Old Norse language, history, law, archaeology, religion, and culture with character formation, leadership, teaching, and cultural stewardship.

Through sustained engagement with primary sources and historical evidence, students develop the knowledge and interpretive skills necessary to understand the Old Norse tradition in its historical context while considering questions of wisdom, responsibility, community, and the stewardship of cultural inheritance..

• Interpret the Poetic and Prose Eddas and saga literature using historical, textual, and linguistic methods.

• Read introductory Old Norse and work critically with manuscripts, translations, and editorial choices.

• Distinguish primary evidence from interpretation by integrating literary, archaeological, legal, and historical sources.

• Explain Norse religion, cosmology, ethics, and social order within their historical context.

• Communicate effectively through rhetoric, storytelling, and the public presentation of primary texts.

• Demonstrate leadership, character, and responsibility oriented toward frith, hospitality, and the common good.

• Design and deliver educational materials and learning experiences about the Eddic tradition for diverse audiences.

• Contribute to cultural stewardship and preservation through research, documentation, and community initiatives.

• Complete a capstone thesis or applied project that responsibly applies or advances Eddic studies.

The Hákonarætt Institute of Eddic Studies approaches education through three principles: Wisdom, Honor, and Service.

Wisdom

Learning is not merely collecting information; it is becoming wise enough to use knowledge responsibly.

Honor

A person's learning is measured by their conduct.

Service

Knowledge exists to strengthen the community.

The Institute is committed to making serious study accessible. The HIES Open Library provides public-domain primary sources, historical scholarship, language resources, and source collections supporting the study of the Old Norse tradition.

Hákonarætt Institute of Eddic Studies is the educational and formation ministry of Hákonarætt Fellowship. The Institute brings together serious study of Eddic literature, Old Norse history, language, religion, and culture with the formation of wisdom, character, leadership, and service.

Inspired by the education and example of Hákon the Good, the Institute approaches learning as more than the acquisition of knowledge. Education should shape how knowledge is understood, exercised, and carried forward in service to others.

To study the inheritance. To form the person. To carry the tradition forward.