Course Information

About this course

In this course, we begin with a focus on prostitution and sex work in Europe as a starting point, then expand to countries globally. Along the way, you will gain insight into historical, cultural, legal, and political aspects of prostitution and examine current and future consequences of the varying national approaches across Europe. You also examine prostitution from different perspectives ranging from that of sex workers, customers, anti-trafficking advocacy groups, law enforcement officials, and politicians.

Syllabus

Fall 2026 – Section A

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Spring 2026 – Section B

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Travel on Study Tour

You only take one Core Course per semester, and each Core Course includes two Study Tours: one Short Study Tour to a nearby destination for three days, and one Long Study Tour to another European country for six days.

Led by your faculty, Study Tours take you into real-world settings where you will apply what you’ve learned outside the classroom.

Check out the Study Tours for this course
Students sitting on the floor in a modern building, engaging in a group activity with papers and notebooks scattered around.

Faculty

Deivida Vandzinskaite

Ph.D. (Education, Siauliai University, Lithuania, 2011), focus on the cross-cultural use of service learning in higher education. M.A. (Social Anthropology and Sociology, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, 2006). Lecturer and Senior Research Scholar, Siauliai University, 2007-2013. Visiting scholar at the Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, 2008-2012. Research experience on the national and international level covering topics related to cultural diversity and cross-cultural issues, gender and family studies, global diffusion of educational models, and voluntary participation in Europe. With DIS since 2013.

Long Study Tour

About this tour

This week-long Study Tour is designed to give you a more nuanced understanding of how prostitution reflects and is shaped by gender norms and social hierarchies. Amsterdam is a dynamic city full of culture, natural beauty, and liberal attitudes. A thriving red light district blends effortlessly into the cityscape of tree-lined canals, quaint cafes, and bustling bike lanes. Prostitution is legal in both Denmark and the Netherlands, but the approaches to prostitution are different, and are in stark contrast to the general approach in the U.S. Through meetings with Dutch sex workers and visits to NGOs and the Netherlands’ seat of government, The Hague, you will have plenty of opportunities to learn, ask questions, explore differences, and gain insight into the Dutch perspective toward prostitution and trafficking, as well as challenge your perceptions about prostitution.

The Study Tour program is supplemented with cultural visits to help you learn more about Dutch history and culture, as well as give you a more well-rounded understanding of the communities in which you are studying. In the past, cultural visits have included touring the Anne Frank House, visiting the Van Gogh museum, and enjoying traditional Dutch cuisine.

Learning outcomes

  • Compare and contrast the societal differences in legalized and criminalized prostitution in the Netherlands, U.S., Denmark, and Sweden
  • Understand the Dutch approach towards prostitution and trafficking
  • Gain new insights into the lives of sex workers in Europe

Possible activities

  • Participate in a guided tour of Amsterdam’s Red Light District by a former Dutch sex worker, including insight into what it is like to sit in ‘a window’ waiting for customers
  • Visit an NGO in The Hague that works with education on anti-trafficking in schools
  • Participate in a scavenger hunt of the Jordaan neighborhood

gothenburg sweden

Short Study Tour

About this tour

Core Course Week provides a unique opportunity to apply theories about prostitution and the sex trade to two seemingly similar contexts. Through a two-day seminar in Copenhagen and a three-day study tour in Sweden, you will examine the differences between the Swedish approach to prostitution in which the customer is criminalized, and the legalized status of prostitution in Denmark.

The program is supplemented with cultural visits to help you learn more about Danish and Swedish history and culture to give you a more well-rounded understanding of the communities in which you are studying. In the past, cultural visits have included a visit to the Louisiana Museum, a nature hike, and enjoying traditional food.

Learning outcomes

  • Compare and contrast Danish and Swedish approaches to prostitution
  • Expand your understanding of how policies play out in real life
  • Analyze the advantages and challenges of legalizing vs. criminalizing prostitution

Possible activities

  • Meeting with social workers and police officers to understand the differences in the legislative and policy approach to prostitution in Denmark and Sweden
  • Discussing with an anti-trafficking advocacy group regarding the challenges they face
  • Touring Copenhagen and Malmö to compare prostitution in the physical environment