Medieval and Renaissance Studies – Academic Catalog 2024-25

A 10th-century diagram depicting the interconnections between aspects of the world.

Medieval and Renaissance Studies examines the global cultures and kingdoms that flourished from ca. 250–1700 CE. The minor encourages students to deepen their understanding of the people of Europe, Byzantium, and the Muslim world from Late Antiquity through the Renaissance. We compare these societies in terms of power, identity, belief, and representation.

The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Minor encourages students interested in the cultures and polities that flourished from (ca. 250-CE-1700) to deepen their understanding of these worlds through an interdisciplinary program of study. Heirs to ancient empires and creators of complex cultures, the societies in northern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, East and South Asia, Africa, the North Atlantic, and Latin America each offer fascinating opportunities to watch communities and cultures coping with timeless problems of power, identity, meaning, belief, and value. Students explore these topics through written, archaeological, material, and visual evidence in pursuit of a rich, multi-dimensional understanding of other peoples and other worlds. The minor is open to students in ANY major who wish to expand their knowledge of this important and fascinating period of human history and all of the cultures and connections that contributed.

A total of 42 credits (usually 7 courses) is required for the minor: 18 credits in “Core” courses, 18 credits in “Supporting” courses; and a capstone seminar. In addition to the capstone seminars listed below, students may count — with prior approval of both the course instructor and the minor coordinators — another advanced course (at the 200 or 300 level) as a capstone course provided that the minor pursues a substantial interdisciplinary research project on a topic within the period covered by the minor.

Optional Off-Campus Programs

Off-campus study can be an important part of the minor. Students interested in study abroad as part of the concentration are advised to consult with their academic advisers in deciding when to go off-campus and with the minor coordinators to discuss the range of programs available and potential programs of study. Courses taken abroad may count for up to two “core” courses (12 credits) and two “supporting courses” (12 credits).

42 credits are required for the minor:

I. Core Courses (3 courses/18 credits required):

II. Supporting Courses (18 credits required):

Note: all courses listed as “core courses” also qualify as “supporting courses.”

III. Capstone Seminars (6 credits required):

Please consult with the Program Coordinator regarding the Capstone Seminar/Project Requirement

HIST 332: Image Makers and Breakers in the Premodern World (not offered 2024-25)
HIST 335: Finding Ireland’s Past (not offered 2024-25)
HIST 336: Controversial Histories: Ideological Conflict and Consensus in Historical Perspective
LTAM 230: Ancient People of the Andes
LTAM 330: Ancient Peoples of the Andes
RELG 322: Apocalypse How? (not offered 2024-25)
SPAN 301: Greek and Christian Tragedy (not offered 2024-25)
SPAN 318: Islamic Spain (not offered 2024-25)
SPAN 330: The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes’ Don Quijote

About Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Optional Off-Campus Programs

Requirements for the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Minor