Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program
DirectorLouis Roberts, Ph.D.
Department of ClassicsThe purpose of the Medieval and Renaissance Studies program is to give students a broad, multidisciplinary training in the history and culture of Europe from late antiquity to the early modern period. Both as a major and a minor, the program offers a wide range of courses and a guide for anyone with a special interest in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is especially recommended as a second major for anyone considering going on to graduate study in some aspect of medieval and Renaissance studies.
Degree Requirements for the Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Studies
General Program
B.A.: A minimum of 36 credits: 9 credits of the core history courses, 6 credits in literature and philosophy, 6 credits in art and music, and 15 elective credits chosen from courses approved for the program. If a student applies the credits from one or more of the approved courses of the program to the requirements of a minor (e.g., the 6 credits in literature,) he/she is absolved from fulfilling that particular requirement in the program and may substitute an equal number of credits from any of the elective courses to reach the required minimum of 36 credits.
Majors are required to demonstrate at least an elementary reading ability in Latin either by satisfactory completion of the first year course in this language at the college level or by the completion of two years of instruction in this language in high school or by a test administered at the convenience of the program director. In addition, it is strongly recommended that majors acquire at least an elementary reading ability in one modern Western language other than English.
Courses which conform to the intent and content of the program but are not listed below may be counted towards fulfilling the requirements upon approval of the program director.
History Core Courses
A His 336 (or 336Z) History of the Early Middle Ages
A His 337 (or 337Z) The High Middle Ages
A His 338 (or 338Z) The Italian Renaissance 1300-1530
A His 339 (or 339Z) Renaissance and Reformation in 16th-Century Europe
A His 391 Topics in European History (when appropriate)
History Elective Courses
A His 235 or 235Z Early and Medieval Christianity
A Jst 343 or 343Z Issues in Medieval Jewish History
A Spn 313 Medieval Spain: Christians, Arabs, Jews
Literature and Philosophy Courses
A Eng 291 The English Literary Tradition I
A Eng 341 Chaucer
A Eng 344 Early Works of Shakespeare
A Eng 345 Later Works of Shakespeare
A Eng 348 Milton
A Eng 421 Literature of the Middle Ages
A Eng 422 Literature of the Earlier Renaissance
A Eng 425 Literature of the Restoration and the 18th Century Enlightenment
A Fre 361 French Literature: Middle Ages to the 17th Century
A Fre 362 French Literature: 18th to 20th Centuries
A Ita 421 Dante
A Ita 441 The Italian Renaissance
A Jst 430 Maimonides and Spinoza
A Phi 311 History of Medieval Philosophy
A Phi 312 Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Philosophy
A Spn 311 Hispanic Literature through the Golden Age
A Spn 482 Cervantes
Art and Music Courses
A Arh 331 Early Medieval & Romanesque Art
A Arh 332 Gothic Art
A Arh 341 Renaissance Art of the 15th Century
A Arh 342 & 342Z Renaissance Art of the 16th Century
A Mus 205 History of Music I
A Mus 230L Music History I
A Mus 287 University Chamber Singers (when appropriate)
Undergraduate Bulletin — Table of Contents
University at Albany
State University of New York