Course Information

  • Credits 3
  • Available Fall, Spring
  • Disciplines Sociology, Urban Studies, History, Philosophy, Urban Design

About this course

Denmark stands at the forefront of modern communal living.  From communes to co-housing, from ecovillages to collective houses, greater share of people live in intentional communities here than in any other industrialized nation. This course examines these diverse forms of alternative living, focusing on how Danish design, planning, and social ideals have been used to foster togetherness and happiness.  Blending theory and history with direct engagement, students will meet the people shaping these communities and visit some of Denmark’s most innovative examples.

Syllabus

Spring 2026

This is a draft syllabus. The final syllabus will be available here a few days prior to the new course’s first start date.

Go to syllabus

Faculty

Stephen Lloyd-Moffett

PhD (Religious Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2005); MTh (Patristics, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 2003), MA (Religious Studies, UCSB 2002), BA (Economics & Film Studies, Claremont McKenna College, 1994). Professor of Religion and Culture, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California 2005-present; guest researcher at the Department of Built Environment (BUILD) at Aalborg University (Copenhagen) 2025-2026; Executive board of the International Communal Studies Association (ICSA), 2015-present; Professor, Semester at Sea, Fall 2024; Guest Researcher at University of Adelaide, South Australia (2012). With DIS since 2026.