Medieval and Renaissance Studies – Academic Catalog 2025-26

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

Medieval and Renaissance Studies encourages students interested in the global cultures and polities that flourished from (ca. 250-CE-1700) to deepen their understanding of these worlds through an interdisciplinary program of study. Students explore timeless questions of power, identity, meaning, belief, and value through a wide range of fascinating and challenging written, archaeological, material, and visual evidence.

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. Please note: 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).

Minor Requirements – 42 Total Credits

Core Courses – Required 18 credits

Supporting Courses – Required 18 credits

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

Capstone Seminar – Required 6 credits

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

HIST 335: Finding Ireland’s Past
HIST 336: Controversial Histories: Ideological Conflict and Consensus in Historical Perspective (not offered 2025-26)
LTAM 230: Ancient People of the Andes (not offered 2025-26)
LTAM 330: Ancient Peoples of the Andes (not offered 2025-26)
RELG 322: Apocalypse How?
SPAN 301: Greek and Christian Tragedy
SPAN 330: The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes’ Don Quijote (not offered 2025-26)

About Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Optional Off-Campus Programs

Requirements for the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Minor

Minor Requirements – 42 Total Credits

Core Courses – Required 18 credits

Supporting Courses – Required 18 credits

Capstone Seminar – Required 6 credits