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 requires ten courses, at least eight of which must be at the 100 level or above in the following four areas of study: fine arts (art and music); history; language and literature (English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, and Spanish); and philosophy and religion.
Two courses may be at the introductory level approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students presenting two courses in the Medieval and Renaissance Focus program do not need approval.
Each program is tailored to the needs and interests of the student under the supervision of a committee consisting of faculty members from appropriate departments. After discussion with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, the student submits a provisional program of study outlining special interdisciplinary interests. Normally the program is planned well before the end of the sophomore year to allow time to acquire a working knowledge of languages pertinent to specific interests.
Majors are encouraged to pursue honors study. Because many Medieval and Renaissance majors also major in another department, these students are especially encouraged to pursue a new dual-honors plan that was approved by Trinity College, effective fall 2003, which rewards students for conducting research based upon both fields of study. Double honors may be awarded for a single thesis written for two separate departments/programs at Duke. This plan supports in an innovative way interdisciplinary study at Duke. See the requirements and procedures for honors study.
Students double-majoring in Medieval and Renaissance Studies and another department or program may elect to work on an honors project in both areas. The following additional guidelines apply.
The student must propose a double-thesis in advance to both departments/programs and seek their approval together. A student may not seek the approval of a second department or program after already proposing a thesis to one department/program and beginning work on it.
To qualify as a legitimate double-thesis, the thesis must clearly draw on advising from and work done for both departments/programs. Specifically, the student must form two separate committees; only one member may be on both committees (the thesis advisor). The student must also take at least one thesis-related course from each department/program involved, as determined by each area (e.g., thesis seminar or independent study). A double-thesis, therefore, should benefit clearly from its basis in two different departments/programs, exemplifying a strong cross-disciplinary quality.
Evaluation of the double-thesis is to be done separately by the two committees. This means in practice that the committees may evaluate the thesis differently according to their own standards. It would be possible for such a thesis to receive highest honors from one committee and honors from the other; or honors from one, and no honors from the other. This separate evaluation process would insure that the thesis legitimately satisfies the requirements and standards of two separate departments/programs.
Requirements. Five courses, at least three of which must be at the 100 level or above. Two of these must be Focus or MEDREN 114 and 115. The three remaining courses may be taken in any distribution suiting the student's interests in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Courses in the Medieval and Renaissance Studies program are taken in distributions across four areas of study. Some of these courses are available in more than one study area. Students who have participated in the Focus Program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies may take MEDREN 114 and 115 to fulfill distribution requirements.
Area 1: Fine Arts
112A, 112B, 113, 130, 131B, 131C, 140C, 141, 142, 143, 144B, 145B, 150, 151C, 152B, 155S, 157, 158, 159, 188, 212, 223A, 223B, 224, 233S, 237S, 241, 242, 243S, 245S, 248S, 261S.
Area 2: History
107A, 133B, 134A, 134B, 138, 144C, 146A, 147A, 147B, 148B, 151A, 156A, 157A, 164D, 166, 167, 202A, 202B, 202C, 205, 220AS, 220BS, 236A, 250, 267S, 268S, 272, 273.
Area 3: Language and Literature
106A, 109S, 111A, 111B, 111ES, 116S, 117A, 121A, 121B, 123A, 129C, 132AS, 139AS, 139BS, 140A, 140BS, 141B, 144A, 145A, 151, 151B, 153B, 160S, 161S, 162S, 165S, 166, 166B, 167, 167B, 168S, 182, 183, 201S, 203S, 209S, 210AS, 210CS, 213S, 220S, 221BS, 228, 239S, 240, 249, 260B.
Area 4: Philosophy and Religion
119, 120, 130, 134C, 144C, 146A, 147A, 153A, 156A, 202A, 202B, 202C, 204, 205, 206, 207, 210CS, 216, 218S, 219S, 220BS, 233S, 234A, 236A, 245, 246, 247, 250, 254, 272, 273, 276.
Additional Topics and Seminar Courses
The following topics courses are taught in various disciplines and vary from semester to semester. They may be taken in any of the above four study areas depending on the nature of their subjects. Students need to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to determine how any one of these courses may be distributed.
21S, 22S, 49S, 50, 100, 100S, 110, 114, 114S, 115, 195, 196, 200, 200S.
21S. First-Year Seminar: Topics in Medieval Studies. Topics vary according to instructor: perspectives from history, literature, religion, philosophy, and the arts. One course.
22S. First-Year Seminar: Topics in Renaissance Studies. Topics vary according to instructor: perspectives from history, literature, religion, philosophy, and the arts. One course.
49S. First-Year Seminar. Topics vary each semester offered. One course.
114. The Living Middle Ages. (ALP, CCI, CZ, EI) Interdisciplinary introduction to medieval culture that includes sources and methods from history, literature, and art history. Emphasizes interpretation of written texts, oral traditions, visual culture, and artifacts. One course. C-L: Art History 139, Classical Studies 139, History 116, English 123C.
114S. Aspects of Medieval Culture (ALP, CCI, CZ) Seminar version of Art History 139, Classical Studies 139, History 116, Medieval and Renaissance Studies 114, English 123C. One course. C-L: Art History 139S, Classical Studies 139S, History 116S, English 123CS.
115. Aspects of Renaissance Culture. (ALP, CCI, CZ) A study of historical, literary, philosophical, and art historical materials introducing Renaissance culture and the methods developed for its study. One course. C-L: Art History 149, History 148A, Italian 134, English 123E.
195. Research Independent Study. (R) Individual research and reading in a field of special interest, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in a substantive paper or written report containing significant analysis and interpretation of a previously approved topic. Usually undertaken by a student working on an Honors project in consultation with the student's project advisor. Consent of instructor required. One course.
196. Independent Study. Individual non-research directed study in a field of special interest on a previously approved topic, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in an academic and/or artistic product. One course.
Click here for a comprehensive list of over 120 other courses that count toward the Medieval and Renaissance Studies major or minor.