Medieval and Renaissance Studies

The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Minor encourages students interested in the cultures and kingdoms that flourished from Late Antiquity through the Renaissance (ca. 250-1700 CE) to deepen their understanding of these periods through an interdisciplinary program of study. Heirs to ancient empires and creators of complex cultures, societies in northern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and areas of Asia and Africa offer fascinating opportunities to watch communities and cultures coping with timeless problems of power, identity, meaning and belief. 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).

Requirements for the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Minor

Core Courses (3 courses/18 credits required):

ARBC 185 The Creation of Classical Arabic Literature
ARCN 246 Archaeological Methods & Lab
ARTH 101 Introduction to Art History I
ARTH 102 Introduction to Art History II
ARTH 155 Islamic Art and Architecture (not offered in 2021-22)
ARTH 235 Revival, Revelation, and Re-animation: The Art of Europe's "Renaissance"
ARTH 255 Islam in the Eyes of the West
ARTH 263 European Architectural Studies Program: Prehistory to Postmodernism
ARTH 321 Arts of the Chinese Scholar's Studio
CLAS 124 Roman Archaeology and Art
ENGL 114 Introduction to Medieval Narrative
ENGL 144 Shakespeare I
ENGL 203 Other Worlds of Medieval English Literature
ENGL 210 From Chaucer to Milton: Early English Literature (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 216 Milton (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 244 Shakespeare I
ENGL 278 London Program: Shakespeare's England
ENGL 281 London Program: Literature, Theater, and Culture in Tudor and Stuart England
ENGL 285 Textual Technologies from Parchment to Pixel
ENGL 310 Shakespeare II (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 381 Literature, Theater, and Culture in Tudor and Stuart England
FREN 352 The Arthurian Legend (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 131 Saints and Society in Late Antiquity (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 133 Crisis, Creativity, and Transformation in Late Antiquity
HIST 135 Making and Breaking Institutions in the Middle Ages: Structure, Culture, Corruption, and Reform (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 137 Early Medieval Worlds in Transformation
HIST 138 Crusades, Mission, and the Expansion of Europe (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 139 Foundations of Modern Europe (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 201 Rome Program: Building Power and Piety in Medieval Italy, CE 300-1150 (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 204 Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Medieval Mediterranean (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 206 Rome Program: The Eternal City in Time: Structure, Change, and Identity (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 231 Mapping the World Before Mercator (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 232 Renaissance Worlds in France and Italy
HIST 233 The Byzantine World and Its Neighbors, 750-ca. 1453
HIST 238 The Viking World
HIST 243 The Peasants are Revolting! Society and Politics in the Making of Modern France (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 245 Ireland: Land, Conflict and Memory (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 331 Regional States: Boundaries and Horizons in Fourteenth-Century Italy (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 332 Image Makers and Breakers in the Premodern World
LATN 243 Medieval Latin
RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
RELG 162 Jesus, the Bible, and Christian Beginnings
RELG 229 Monks and Mystics (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 231 From Luther to Kierkegaard (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 234 Angels, Demons, and Evil (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 263 Sufism (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 275 Death, Heaven, and Hell (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 282 Samurai: Ethics of Death and Loyalty
SPAN 227 Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Early Modern Spain (not offered in 2021-22)
SPAN 301 Greek and Christian Tragedy
SPAN 318 Islamic Spain
SPAN 330 The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes' Don Quijote (not offered in 2021-22)

Supporting Courses (18 credits required):

Note: all courses listed as "core courses" also qualify as "supporting courses."

ARBC 185 The Creation of Classical Arabic Literature
ARBC 387 The One Thousand and One Nights
ARCN 111 Archaeology of the Americas
ARCN 222 Experimental Archaeology and Experiential History
ARCN 246 Archaeological Methods & Lab
ARCN 395 Archaeology: Science, Ethics, Nationalism and Cultural Property
ARTH 101 Introduction to Art History I
ARTH 102 Introduction to Art History II
ARTH 155 Islamic Art and Architecture (not offered in 2021-22)
ARTH 165 Japanese Art and Culture (not offered in 2021-22)
ARTH 166 Chinese Art and Culture (not offered in 2021-22)
ARTH 209 Chinese Painting
ARTH 235 Revival, Revelation, and Re-animation: The Art of Europe's "Renaissance"
ARTH 236 Baroque Art (not offered in 2021-22)
ARTH 255 Islam in the Eyes of the West
ARTH 263 European Architectural Studies Program: Prehistory to Postmodernism
ARTH 323 Idolatry (not offered in 2021-22)
ARTS 117 Living London Program: Visualizing Renaissance England
CLAS 124 Roman Archaeology and Art
ENGL 114 Introduction to Medieval Narrative
ENGL 144 Shakespeare I
ENGL 203 Other Worlds of Medieval English Literature
ENGL 207 Princes. Poets. Power (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 208 The Faerie Queene (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 210 From Chaucer to Milton: Early English Literature (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 213 Christopher Marlowe (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 214 Revenge Tragedy (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 219 Global Shakespeare (not offered in 2021-22)
ENGL 244 Shakespeare I
ENGL 278 London Program: Shakespeare's England
ENGL 310 Shakespeare II (not offered in 2021-22)
EUST 111 The Age of Cathedrals (not offered in 2021-22)
FREN 352 The Arthurian Legend (not offered in 2021-22)
GEOL 245 “When the Earth Shook…” Earthquakes in Human History and Lab (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 100 Migration and Mobility in the Medieval North
HIST 131 Saints and Society in Late Antiquity (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 133 Crisis, Creativity, and Transformation in Late Antiquity
HIST 137 Early Medieval Worlds in Transformation
HIST 138 Crusades, Mission, and the Expansion of Europe (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 139 Foundations of Modern Europe (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 201 Rome Program: Building Power and Piety in Medieval Italy, CE 300-1150 (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 204 Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Medieval Mediterranean (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 206 Rome Program: The Eternal City in Time: Structure, Change, and Identity (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 231 Mapping the World Before Mercator (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 232 Renaissance Worlds in France and Italy
HIST 233 The Byzantine World and Its Neighbors, 750-ca. 1453
HIST 238 The Viking World
HIST 243 The Peasants are Revolting! Society and Politics in the Making of Modern France (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 245 Ireland: Land, Conflict and Memory (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 288 Reason, Authority, and Love in Medieval France (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 289 Gender and Ethics in Late Medieval France (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 330 Ideas Incarnate: Institutional Formation, Reform, and Governance in the Middle Ages (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 331 Regional States: Boundaries and Horizons in Fourteenth-Century Italy (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 332 Image Makers and Breakers in the Premodern World
IDSC 150 Plague, War and Crisis: Reading Hobbes Reading Thucydides, Books 1-2: Plague and Democracy (not offered in 2021-22)
IDSC 151 Plague, War, Crisis: Reading Hobbes Reading Thucydides: Books 3-5 Revolt and Revolution (not offered in 2021-22)
IDSC 152 Plague, War, Crisis: Reading Hobbes Reading Thucydides: Books 6-8 Catastrophe and Coup (not offered in 2021-22)
LATN 233 The Catilinarian Conspiracy (not offered in 2021-22)
LATN 234 Julius Caesar: the Gallic and Civil Wars (not offered in 2021-22)
PHIL 113 The Individual and the Political Community
PHIL 270 Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 272 Early Modern Philosophy
POSC 250 Kings, Tyrants, Philosophers: Plato's Republic
POSC 254 Freedom, Excellence, Happiness: Aristotle's Ethics (not offered in 2021-22)
POSC 354 Freedom, Excellence, Happiness: Aristotle's Ethics (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 120 Introduction to Judaism
RELG 121 Introduction to Christianity
RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
RELG 152 Religions in Japanese Culture (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism
RELG 155 Hinduism: An Introduction
RELG 228 Martyrdom (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 229 Monks and Mystics (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 231 From Luther to Kierkegaard (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 233 Gender and Power in the Catholic Church (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 236 History of Antisemitism (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 242 Oh My G*d: Christianity and Sexual Revolutions (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 263 Sufism (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 275 Death, Heaven, and Hell (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 287 Many Marys (not offered in 2021-22)
RELG 322 Apocalypse How?
SPAN 227 Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Early Modern Spain (not offered in 2021-22)
SPAN 301 Greek and Christian Tragedy
SPAN 330 The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes' Don Quijote (not offered in 2021-22)
THEA 195 Acting Shakespeare

Capstone Seminars (6 credits required):

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

ARCN 395 Archaeology: Science, Ethics, Nationalism and Cultural Property
ENGL 381 Literature, Theater, and Culture in Tudor and Stuart England
FREN 352 The Arthurian Legend (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 330 Ideas Incarnate: Institutional Formation, Reform, and Governance in the Middle Ages (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 331 Regional States: Boundaries and Horizons in Fourteenth-Century Italy (not offered in 2021-22)
HIST 332 Image Makers and Breakers in the Premodern World
RELG 322 Apocalypse How?
SPAN 301 Greek and Christian Tragedy
SPAN 318 Islamic Spain
SPAN 330 The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes' Don Quijote (not offered in 2021-22)