Minor in Global Medieval Studies

The minor in Global Medieval Studies allows students to gain a deeper knowledge of how the world we live in was shaped by the events, people, arts, and ideas of the late antique, medieval, and early modern periods. The program thus aims to enrich students’ understanding of the relations between the contemporary world and its pre-modern origins. Program faculty come from a wide range of departments and programs within the College of Arts & Sciences and the University, including Archaeology, Classical Studies, English, History, History of Art & Architecture, Musicology, Philosophy, Romance Studies, Religion, and World Languages & Literatures. Students can shape an individualized plan of study that supplements or complements their specific majors or interests.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will cultivate a multidisciplinary perspective, a skill crucial to today’s teaching and research.
  • Students will improve their cultural literacy and cultivate their sense of internationalization by intensively studying a variety of cultural materials from the global Middle Ages.
  • Students will learn to use an array of theories and methodologies and communicate their research and ideas with skill.
  • Students will learn appreciation of the various communities of interpretation active in diverse parts of the world in the pre-modern period.

Requirements

The minor consists of six 4-credit courses, chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and in accordance with requirements below. Any member of the Medieval Studies faculty may serve as an advisor for the minor. In order to ensure interdisciplinary breadth, students are advised to choose their courses from at least three different programs or departments.

A grade of C or higher is required in each course to receive credit toward the minor.

Courses may be selected from those clearly identified by title or syllabus contents as concerned with the Middle Ages, broadly and globally conceived, including topics courses, independent studies, or relevant seminars. CAS CC 101 and CC 102 may be jointly applied as a single course.

At least four of the six courses applied must be at the 200 level or higher. Students may petition to apply courses taken through Study Abroad programs, other BU schools and colleges (e.g., CFA MH 211), recognized summer institutes, or similar.