Don Abbott, Program Director
Lynda Jones, Staff Advisor
Paula Goldston, Administrative Assistant
Program Office, 176 Voorhies Hall (530-752-2257)
The Major Program
The Major in Medieval Studies examines the intellectual, political,
and cultural forces that shaped modern European civilization during
the period from the end of Ancient Rome (fifth century) to the beginning
of the Enlightenment (mid-
eighteenth
century). An interdisciplinary and interdepartmental program, the
major includes studies in history, art, philosophy, literature, drama,
music, national languages, religion, rhetoric, and political theory.
The major requires interdisciplinary work, while allowing the student
to focus on the early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, the Renaissance,
or the Baroque. The series of Medieval and Early Modern courses in
the program provides the foundation for the major and prepares students
for advanced work within the individual disciplines. On the upper-division
level, students may choose course work in specific areas of History,
Comparative Literature, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish,
and Latin, philosophy and religion, arts and language, and political
thought. In addition, each student may elect to complete a senior
thesis on a selected aspect of Medieval and/or Early Modern culture.
A.B. Major Requirements:
Preparatory Subject Matter: 24 units
Medieval Studies 20A, 20B, 20C: 12 units
Three additional courses (totaling 12 units) chosen from: Art History
1B,1C; Comparative Literature 2, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E; English10A, 46A;
German 47, 48; History 4A, 4B; Humanities 1*, 9; Philosophy 21, 22
Language proficiency is a desideratum. Courses in Latin and other
European languages are strongly recommended, particularly for students
planning to pursue graduate studies in the medieval or early modern
field.
Depth Subject Matter: 44 units
In consultation with the undergraduate adviser, students select a
total of eleven courses (44 units) from the following disciplines,
with at least three courses each from the Medieval and Early Modern
periods.
Art History AH1, 155, 156, 178A, 178B, 178C, 179B, 190B, 190C
Classics 110
Comparative Literature 139, 164A, 164B, 164C, 166A, 180*
English 111, 113A, 113B, 115, 117, 122, 150A, 153*,
165*, 185A*, 188*, 189*
French 115, 116, 117A, 118B, 141*
German 101A, 112*, 120, 121, 122, 124*, 131, 134*,
160
History 102B, 102D, 121A, 121B, 121C, 122, 125, 130A, 130B, 131A,
131B, 131C, 132, 135A, 136, 139A, 144A, 148A, 151A, 151B, 190B, 190C
Italian 105, 112, 113, 114, 115A, 115B, 115C, 115D, 118, 139B, 140,
141
Latin 100N, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110N, 111, 112, 114, 115, 116,
125
Medieval Studies 120A, 120B, 120D, 120E, 130A, 130B, 190
Music 121*, 124A, 124B
Philosophy 105, 145, 168, 170,
Political Science 115, 116, 118A
Religious Studies 102, 115, 130*
Spanish 130, 133N, 134B, 142*
* Prior approval by Undergraduate Adviser necessary.
Total Units for the Major: 68
Major Advisers: D. Abbott, L. Jones
Minor Program Requirements:
24 units
The minor in Medieval Studies is a coherent program of interdisciplinary
study. Medieval Studies units may be taken in one or more of the traditional
fields of concentration, including art, history, literature, music,
national languages, philosophy, political theory, and religious studies.
Courses must be upper-division with at least two courses each from
the Medieval and Early Modern periods. Students may also select a
minor with a thematic emphasis.
Although there is no foreign language requirement for the minor, knowledge
of Latin or a modern European language is recommended.
The minor must be designed in consultation with the Undergraduate
Adviser.
Minor Advisers: D. Abbott, L. Jones.
Medieval and Early Modern Studies Courses:
Lower Division Courses
20A. Early Medieval Culture (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Readings (in translation)
in early medieval culture, such as the Codes of Justinian,
the Confessions of Saint Augustine, the Consolation of Philosophy
of Boethius, Beowulf, the Nibelungenlied, and The Song of Roland.
GE credit: ArtHum, Wrt.—I. (I.) Roddy
20B. The Culture of the High Middle Ages (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Readings (in translation)
in the culture of the high Middle Ages, such as the Summa Theologica
of Thomas Aquinas, the Chronicles of Froissart, the Canterbury Tales
of Chaucer, and the Divine Comedy of Dante. GE credit: ArtHum, Wrt.—(II.)
Roddy
20C. The Late Medieval and Early Modern Period (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. The great transformations
that created the modern world: Constitutional Government, the Hundred
Years’ War, the Black Death, and the Peasants’ Revolts,
the Renaissance, Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and the Baroque.
GE credit: ArtHum, Wrt.—II
98. Directed Group Study (1-5)
(P/NP grading only.)
99. Special Study for Undergraduates (1-5)
(P/NP grading only.)
Upper Division Courses
120A-E. The Medieval World (4)
Lecture—3 hours: discussion—1 hour; term paper. Course
deals with selected themes from the Middle Ages: the Fall of Rome
to the beginning of the Renaissance. Subjects will vary from year
to year and cover such topics as
(A) The Monastic Orders;
(B) Origins of Universities;
(D) Family and Society;
(E) Chivalry.
GE credit for 120A or 120D or 120E: ArtHum, Wrt.—III.
121. Jewish/Christian/Islamic Relations 700–1400 (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: upper
division standing; one course from the 20 series recommended. Examination
of the relationships among Islam, Judaism, and Christianity between
700-1400. Topics include politics, geography and travel, architecture
and art, philosophy, science, theology, mysticism, and literature.
Offered in alternate years. GE credit: ArtHum, Div, Wrt.—(III.)
Schildgen
130A. Special Themes in Medieval Cultures (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Each offering concentrates
on an interdisciplinary aspect of medieval culture in the Middle East
and Europe: the idea of the hero, mysticism, urban development. Extensive
readings focused on medieval source material. May be repeated for
credit. GE credit: ArtHum, Wrt.—Schildgen
130B. Special Themes in Renaissance Culture (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Each theme illuminates
an interdisciplinary aspect of Renaissance culture in the eastern
and western hemispheres: exploration, medical pathology, daily life,
baroque culture. Immersion in source material from 1500-1650. May
be repeated for credit. GE credit: ArtHum, Wrt.—Schleiner
190. Senior Thesis (4)
Seminar—4 hours. Prerequisite: senior standing and major in
Medieval Studies. Preparation of a research paper dealing with a selected
aspect of medieval culture, under supervision of three members of
the Committee in Charge.—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)
197T. Tutoring in Medieval Studies (1-4)
Seminar—2 hours. Prerequisite: courses 20A and 20B; upper division
standing; consent of instructor and chairperson of curriculum committee.
Tutoring in Medieval Studies 20A and 20B, including leadership in
small discussion groups affiliated with the course. May be repeated
for credit for a total of 6 units. (P/NP grading only.)
198. Directed Group Study (1-5)
(P/NP grading only.)
199. Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5)
(P/NP grading only.)
