Medieval Studies Minor

The interdisciplinary minor in 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 fifth to sixteenth centuries. The program thus aims to enrich students’ understanding of the relations between the contemporary world and its medieval 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.

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. Students are expected to develop a tentative plan of study in consultation with their advisors as early as possible during their time at BU. This plan will reviewed for final approval by a committee of three faculty members. 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 300 level or higher. In cases where a different course numbering system is in use (e.g., the History Department), exceptions to this requirement for courses at the 300 level or above may be approved on an ad hoc basis by a committee of three program faculty members.
• 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.