Medieval Studies
Website: msp.sewanee.edu/msp
Medieval studies is an interdisciplinary major, combining courses in languages, literature, philosophy, history, and art. Students learn about the variety and complexity of the Middle Ages, and complete their senior year by working closely with faculty members on a focused research project.
Medieval Colloquium
Website: medievalcolloquium.sewanee.edu
The annual Sewanee Medieval Colloquium brings scholars to campus to discuss various issues of the Middle Ages. Attendees spend several days on campus, meet with faculty and student groups, and speak to classes.
Recent themes of the colloquium have included law, religion, and the role of women in medieval society. Guest lecturers have come from prominent national and international institutions of higher learning.
The colloquium is sponsored by the University and supported by grants from the duPont Lectures Committee and by individual and group sponsors or patrons. The Colloquium Committee also sponsors a series of papers on medieval subjects presented early in the spring term by members of the college faculty. On occasion, student papers are included in the series.
The Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
This centre/program was founded in 1975 in Oxford as a permanent institute for the interdisciplinary study of the medieval, Renaissance and early modern periods. The institute provides academic training for overseas students who wish to complete part of their education in Oxford in these areas of study. Because Sewanee is a CMRS consortium member, Sewanee students who qualify have access to this program.
Professors Clark, Conn, Engel, McDonough, Peters, Raulston, Ridyard, Spaccarelli
Associate Professors Bruce, Glacet, Irvin (Chair)
The medieval studies program provides the structure within departmental course offerings for a comprehensive major in a particular area of concentration in the medieval period — such as literature, history, or philosophy — chosen by the student and approved by the committee at the time the major is declared.
Travel and study abroad are highly desirable for students electing this major. They are encouraged to participate in British Studies at Oxford, European Studies, the semester at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford, or other established programs.
Requirements for the Major in Medieval Studies
The major requires successful completion of the following:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements 1 | ||
| ARTH 320 | Medieval Art and Architecture | 4 |
| PHIL 203 | Ancient Philosophy from Homer to Augustine | 4 |
| PHIL 302 | Medieval Philosophy | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 4 | |
| Medieval Latin | ||
| Anglo-Saxon Language and Literature | ||
| Early French Literature | ||
Another medieval language course in addition to completion of LATN 104 | ||
An independent study in another medieval language (with permission from the Chair of Medieval Studies) | ||
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Medieval Drama and its Legacy | ||
| Medieval English Literature | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Medieval Europe I | ||
| Medieval Europe II | ||
| Medieval Women -- In Their Own Words | ||
| Medieval England I | ||
| Medieval England II | ||
| Saints and Society in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages | ||
| MDST 444 | Independent Study (research project and paper) 3 | 4 |
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Requirements | ||
| A comprehensive examination 4 | ||
| 1 | Elective courses are recommended by the committee in accordance with the student’s approved area of concentration from among upper-level course offerings in various disciplines. |
| 2 | Majors are encouraged to satisfy the college language requirement with Latin as early as possible and to complete the program requirement in Latin at their first opportunity. Familiarity with a vernacular language other than English is desirable. |
| 3 | Majors are required to carry through a research project culminating in a paper of interdisciplinary character in the chosen area of concentration, whose subject is approved by the committee at the beginning of the senior year. The project is directed by a member of the committee but evaluated by an interdisciplinary panel. |
| 4 | Majors must pass a written comprehensive examination of interdisciplinary character devised and judged by an interdisciplinary panel. |
Honors
A citation of honors on the research paper and on the written comprehensive examination by a majority of the members of the examining panel qualify the major for honors.