BA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies

The program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies is designed to provide the student with a well-rounded understanding of the historical, cultural, and social forces that shaped the medieval and Renaissance periods. Students take courses across disciplines in four areas of study (see below). A major or minor is available in this program. The Major The major requires ten courses, two requirements and eight elective distribution courses taken in the following four areas of study: history; fine arts (art and music); language and literature (English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, and Spanish); philosophy and religion. Requirements The two requirements may be fulfilled in one of two ways: (1) by taking the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Focus program; or (2) by taking two courses that satisfy a Medieval Cultures and Renaissance Cultures requirement. Students following the second option need to consult with the program coordinator to select courses that may count toward this requirement. In addition to these two courses, students must take the remaining eight elective courses in one of the following distributions: (a) 3320, three courses in two of the four areas of study and two courses in a third area; or (b) 3311, three courses in two of the four areas of study and one course in each of the other two areas. Each program is tailored to the needs and interests of the student. After discussion with the director of undergraduate studies or another advisor for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, the student submits a provisional program of study outlining special interdisciplinary interests. Normally the program is planned before the end of the sophomore year to allow time to acquire a working knowledge of languages pertinent to specific interests. Goals for Undergraduate Education in Medieval and Renaissance Studies Students in the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program will gain a broad, interdisciplinary knowledge of Medieval and Renaissance worlds. Drawing on a variety of perspectives from history, religion and philosophy, languages and literatures, and fine arts, and employing a range of interpretive strategies and methodologies, students will develop a sophisticated understanding of how present-day experience has been shaped by patterns of inheritance and rejection of Medieval and Renaissance traditions. The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program engages and builds upon students’ intellectual curiosity and dedication by promoting and supporting honors work in the major. The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program aims to produce majors who actively engage in firsthand experiences of cultural forms, such as performances, exhibitions, special collections, historic buildings, cinematic or textual representations of the period, and historical reenactments. A major in Medieval and Renaissance Studies will give students the skills and flexibility of a liberal arts education to prepare them for graduate work and a wide variety of career paths. Our goals for undergraduate education are consonant with the general philosophy of Trinity College