Academic Programs
An Interdisciplinary Major:
Some of our most lasting modern ideas, institutions, and technologies have their points of origin in medieval culture(s): the city, the state, the Church, romantic love, religious war, religious orders, extended fictional narrative, capitalism, artistic realism, gunpowder, the Papacy, religious tolerance and religious persecution, natural law, absolute monarchy, democracy, witchcraft, heresy, the vernacular as a literary language, linguistic and literary theory, cathedrals and skyscrapers. Dante, Aquinas, Saladin, Frederick, Maimonides, Averroes, Al-Ghazali, Innocent III, Joan of Arc, Christine de Pizan, all have made their mark on modern thought and cultural practice. The program encourages the study of medieval culture(s) across disciplinary boundaries.
Requirements for the Major:
Students in the College may choose either of two tracks.
I. Medieval Studies
Majors are required to take "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Age of Dante" (MVST-201) or "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Book of Good Love" (MVST-202 )in the spring semester of either their sophomore or junior year. In their senior year, they will take a two-semester Senior Seminar that will introduce more advanced methodologies of doing research in Medieval Studies and result in a required Senior Thesis (MVST-348 and 349). In addition, each student must complete 8 other electives drawn from disciplines related to the program. These courses should be planned in consultation with the director of Medieval Studies.
II. Honors Medieval Studies
For the Honors track, students must complete the requirements under I. above above. In addition, they must also achieve competence in Medieval Latin, normally demonstrated by completing or testing out of Classics (CLSL) 001, 101, and by taking a one-semester course in Medieval Latin texts (Classics 109). Finally, their Senior Thesis Project must earn an A- or better.
Requirements for the Minor:
For a minor in Medieval Studies, students in the College are required to take "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Age of Dante" (MVST- 201) or "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Book of Good Love" (MVST-202) and five additional electives approved by the director. Latin is not a requirement for the minor.
Certificate in the School of Foreign Service:
The School of Foreign Service has approved a Medieval Studies Certificate in SFS. SFS students are required to take "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Age of Dante" (MVST 201)or "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Book of Good Love"(MVST-202) and five additional electives approved by the director. They must also write a thesis, in conjunction with MVST-349 Thesis Seminar, under the direction of faculty approved by the director. For more details, consult Dean Martha J. Denney, Director of the Undergraduate Program in the School of Foreign Service.
Some of our most lasting modern ideas, institutions, and technologies have their points of origin in medieval culture(s): the city, the state, the Church, romantic love, religious war, religious orders, extended fictional narrative, capitalism, artistic realism, gunpowder, the Papacy, religious tolerance and religious persecution, natural law, absolute monarchy, democracy, witchcraft, heresy, the vernacular as a literary language, linguistic and literary theory, cathedrals and skyscrapers. Dante, Aquinas, Saladin, Frederick, Maimonides, Averroes, Al-Ghazali, Innocent III, Joan of Arc, Christine de Pizan, all have made their mark on modern thought and cultural practice. The program encourages the study of medieval culture(s) across disciplinary boundaries.
Requirements for the Major:
Students in the College may choose either of two tracks.
I. Medieval Studies
Majors are required to take "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Age of Dante" (MVST-201) or "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Book of Good Love" (MVST-202 )in the spring semester of either their sophomore or junior year. In their senior year, they will take a two-semester Senior Seminar that will introduce more advanced methodologies of doing research in Medieval Studies and result in a required Senior Thesis (MVST-348 and 349). In addition, each student must complete 8 other electives drawn from disciplines related to the program. These courses should be planned in consultation with the director of Medieval Studies.
II. Honors Medieval Studies
For the Honors track, students must complete the requirements under I. above above. In addition, they must also achieve competence in Medieval Latin, normally demonstrated by completing or testing out of Classics (CLSL) 001, 101, and by taking a one-semester course in Medieval Latin texts (Classics 109). Finally, their Senior Thesis Project must earn an A- or better.
Requirements for the Minor:
For a minor in Medieval Studies, students in the College are required to take "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Age of Dante" (MVST- 201) or "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Book of Good Love" (MVST-202) and five additional electives approved by the director. Latin is not a requirement for the minor.
Certificate in the School of Foreign Service:
The School of Foreign Service has approved a Medieval Studies Certificate in SFS. SFS students are required to take "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Age of Dante" (MVST 201)or "Introduction to Medieval Studies: The Book of Good Love"(MVST-202) and five additional electives approved by the director. They must also write a thesis, in conjunction with MVST-349 Thesis Seminar, under the direction of faculty approved by the director. For more details, consult Dean Martha J. Denney, Director of the Undergraduate Program in the School of Foreign Service.
