Medieval & Early Modern Studies (Interdisciplinary Minor)

The medieval & early modern studies (MEMS) minor provides students with an intellectual platform for articulating complex connections among the histories, literatures and cultures of a crucial era in global history. Courses in the minor explore cultural change in the medieval and early modern world (from the fall of Rome in 450 CE to about 1800), tracing the influences of various disciplines on past and current methods of inquiry. A central goal of the minor is to acknowledge differences and continuities between the medieval and modern worlds, and to broaden students' perspectives of the pre-modern world by including coursework beyond Christian Europe, such as Pre-Columbian Art & Architecture (AR 267), Slavery in Latin America (HI 426), or Cultural History of China & Japan (EMS 345).

The minor consists of 19 to 20 credits in departments across the university, including English, history, music, art, theology and theatre. Students will study these fields and time periods using interdisciplinary approaches, culminating in a one-credit Senior Capstone that synthesizes the minor into a thoughtful narrative portfolio.  

Requirements for Medieval & Early Modern Studies Minor (19)

Note: No more than six lower-division credits may count toward this minor.
1. CULTURE IN CONTEXT (3 credits)3
History of Renaissance and Baroque Art
History of Medieval Art
History of Medieval Art
J.R.R. Tolkien
Shakespeare on Film
Spanish Culture and Civilization
Gender and Identity Formation in Latin America
History of Christianity
History of Theatre I
Classical and Early Christian Sites in Greece
2. LITERATURE IN CONTEXT (6 credits)6
The Story of the Holy Grail
Arthurian Literature
Shakespeare
Medieval Women Writers
French Literature before 1800
Chaucer and Medieval Literature
Beowulf & Beyond
British Literature Before 1800
The Story of the Holy Grail
Arthurian Literature
British Renaissance
Chaucer and Medieval Literature
Shakespeare Seminar
Survey of Spanish Literature I
Don Quixote
3. HISTORY (6 credits)6
The Pacific World
Cultural History of China and Japan
Medieval Russia: Mongols and Madmen
Roman Empire
The Crusades
History of Buddhism
European Myths of Identity
Holy War in Europe
Women in the Early Modern World
4. ONE MORE COURSE from the lists above, or any course on medieval or early modern studies offered in History, English or other departments. (3 credits)3
Note: Examples of other courses that could fulfill this requirement if those departments approve:
History of Renaissance and Baroque Art
History of Medieval Art
Shakespeare
Shakespeare Seminar
Don Quixote
Spanish American Narrative & History
History of Theatre I
5. SENIOR PORTFOLIO FOR MEMS (1 credit)1
Medieval and Early Modern Studies Senior Portfolio

Courses

EMS 102The Pacific World (Cross-listed as HI 102)3
EMS 201Pirates: A World History through Naval Crime (Cross-listed as HI 201)3
EMS 207British Literature Before 1800 (Cross-listed as EL 207)3
EMS 226HThe Story of the Holy Grail (Cross-listed as HU 226H)3
EMS 238Arthurian Literature (Cross-listed as EL 238 and HI 238)3
EMS 247Shakespeare (Cross-listed as EL 247)3
EMS 261History of Renaissance and Baroque Art (Cross Listed as AR 261)3
EMS 264History of Medieval Art (Cross-listed as AR 264)3
EMS 301Music History I (Cross-listed as MU 301)3
EMS 313History of Christianity I (Cross-listed as TH 313)3
EMS 338Arthurian Literature (Cross-listed as EL 338)3
EMS 343Shakespeare on Film (Cross-listed as EL 343)3
EMS 345Cultural History of China and Japan (Cross-listed as HI 345)3
EMS 364Medieval Russia: Mongols and Madmen (Cross-listed as HI 364)3
EMS 365WHistory of Economic Thought (Cross-listed with EC 365W)3
EMS 371WBritish Renaissance (Cross-listed as EL 371W)3
EMS 405WChaucer and Medieval Literature (Cross-listed as EL 405W)3
EMS 409Survey of French Literature I (Cross-listed as FR 409)3
EMS 409WSurvey of Spanish Literature I (Cross-listed as FR 409W)3
EMS 420Spanish Culture and Civilization (Cross-listed as SN 420)3
EMS 425WHoly War in Europe (Cross-listed as HI-425W)3
EMS 447Shakespeare Seminar (Cross-listed as EL 447)3
EMS 465HDon Quixote (Cross-listed as SN 465H)3
EMS 450WSpanish American Narrative & History (Cross-listed as SN-450W)3
EMS 476WHistory of Theatre I (Cross-listed as TA 476W)3
EMS 497Medieval and Early Modern Studies Senior Portfolio (Cross-listed as HI 497 and EL 497)1
Director, Medieval & Early Modern Studies

COURTNEY BARAJAS

Faculty

ANTHONY CLARKSTACEY MOOBENDI BENSON SCHRAMBACHCORLISS SLACK