Academic Program
Students may major or minor in medieval studies in either the Course or Honors Program. Students must take work in a variety of medieval subjects to be drawn from art history, history, literature, music, religion, and philosophy. Majors often do research abroad on college-sponsored fellowships during the summer of their junior year and then write a thesis which they present as seniors to an interdisciplinary Medieval Studies Committee.
Requirements
All students who major or minor in medieval studies, either in honors or course, must fulfill the program's distribution requirements by taking medieval courses from the following distribution areas:
- art history
- history
- literature (English, classics, etc.)
- music
- religion or philosophy.
Course Major: Options and Requirements
Course majors must take at least 8 credits in medieval subjects, including at least one medieval course in three of the five distribution areas (must include history), and pass a senior comprehensive which includes a written and oral exam given by the student's instructors in her or his medieval courses. These examinations are intended to be a culminating exercise to facilitate the review and integration of the various subjects and methods involved in the interdisciplinary field of medieval studies.
Honors Major: Options and Requirements
Honors majors must take at least one medieval course in three of the five distribution areas (must include history). The Honors Program itself will include four double-credit preparations in medieval subjects which reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the major and must include work in at least three of the distribution areas. The preparations may be constituted by some combination of the following: seminars, preapproved two-course combinations, courses with attachments, or a thesis. Senior Honors Study for honors majors in medieval studies will follow the policies of the individual departmental preparations used in the program. Honors majors will have a 90- to 120-minute oral panel examination with all four examiners present. These examinations are intended to be a culminating exercise to facilitate the review and integration of the various subjects and methods involved in the interdisciplinary field of medieval studies. Honors major normally do not have a separate minor as part of their Medieval Studies Honors Program, but they may apply one of their four honors preparations toward an honors minor. In such a case, a student must fulfill all the requirements set by the relevant department or program of that honors minor.
Course Minor: Options and Requirements
Course minors must take 5 credits in medieval subjects in at least two distribution areas. Only one of these credits can also be in the department of the student's major.
Honors Minor: Options and Requirements
Honors minors must take 5 credits in medieval subjects in at least two distribution areas. The honors preparation in a medieval subject should reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the minor and may be satisfied by one of the following: a seminar, a pre-approved two-course combination, a course with an attachment, or in special cases a thesis. The minor preparation must be in a department distinct from the student's major. Senior Honors Study and written and oral honors exams will follow the pattern of the department in which the preparation is offered.
Courses and seminars in the various departments which are counted as medieval studies courses are listed on the college catalog and will shortly be posted online. Students may also take medieval courses at Bryn Mawr or Haverford as part of their program.
