About the Program

The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program

Santa Clara University offers a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies designed to encourage in-depth exploration of the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Europe and analogous eras in other parts of the world. At the same time the program seeks to challenge students with questions about the links between the medieval and modern worlds, especially the development of the singular intellectual, cultural, and social structures of modernity.

The Middle Ages and Renaissance lay at the edge of modernity, when the distinctive characteristics of the contemporary world began to form and when major new connections were made between Europe and Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, and the Americas. Study of these periods from different perspectives affords opportunities to gain valuable perspectives on their inspiring achievements as well as on their troubling conflicts and to reflect on the ways that Medieval and Renaissance people, events, and institutions have helped to shape the modern world.

Medieval and Renaissance Studies offers a particularly rich curriculum with a broad choice of courses. Students are encouraged to tailor the minor to their individual interests and needs.

Requirements

A minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies consists of :

regular courses chosen from the list of courses

an integrative paper written during the senior year

At least four of the courses must be numbered 100-199 and must be selected from at least three different departments. No more than one lower-division and two upper-division courses taken to satisfy a student’s major may normally be applied toward the minor. One of the upper-division courses must require an inter-disciplinary research paper based on source materials and secondary works dealing with a topic rooted in the Medieval and/or Renaissance periods. Alternatively, this research paper requirement may be fulfilled by enrolling in Medieval & Renaissance 199 under the supervision of an affiliated faculty member or the Program Director.

We recommend study of French, German, Greek, Italian and/or Spanish and encourage study of Latin or proficiency in Medieval Latin. Students should consult with the Program Director and/or a member of the Program Committee to determine the cluster of courses best suited to their personal interests and preparation.