The following regularly offered courses count towards the Certificate in Medieval Studies. Departmental offerings are marked as “Category A” (History, History of Science, Philosophy, and Political Science) or “Category B” (Languages, Literature, Visual Arts, and Music). These courses are offered fairly regularly. Courses that have a significant medieval content but do not appear below (or courses taken at another university or on a study-abroad program) may be substituted for these courses where appropriate; consult the Director with any queries.
To find out what is being offered in a given semester, please consult the Schedule of Classes website maintained by the Office of the Registrar.
Recommended Language Study
While language study is not required for the Certificate, all candidates are encouraged to enhance the work they can do in Medieval Studies by acquiring a reading knowledge of a modern or historical European language as early as possible. Studying Latin in addition is strongly recommended for those who plan to do graduate work in the field.
Themes and Competencies in Medieval Studies
Art (See Media, Visual Studies and Performance)
Book History and Manuscript Studies (Category B)
Art History 415 (Topics in Medieval Art): Image and Text in Medieval Manuscripts
Art History 650: History of Books and Print Culture in Europe and North America
French and Italian 709: Medieval Manuscripts and Textual Criticism
German 755/758: Palaeography of Medieval and Early Modern German
History 316: Latin Paleography
Library and Information Sciences (LIS) 644: History of the Book and Print Culture
Scandinavian Studies 511: Paleography and Philology.
Gender and Sexuality (Category B)
Art History 425: Race and gender in Italian Early Modern Art
Art History 815: Seminar in Medieval Art: The Body in Medieval Art (topic offered periodically)
English/Medieval Studies 425: Medieval Romance
Women’s Studies 416: Women in Medieval Society
Globalization and Cultural Exchange (Categories A & B)
Art History 415 (Topics in Medieval Art) Cultural Appropriation and Alterity
History 600: Interfaith Relations in Crusader States
Integrated Liberal Studies 271: Pre-Copernican Astronomy and Cosmology in Cross-cultural Perspective
Jewish Studies 473: Jewish Civilization in Medieval Spain
Scandinavian Studies 446 Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelation
Scandinavian Studies 474: Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations
Spanish 361 Spanish Civilization
History (Cultural, Intellectual and Political) (Category A)
English 360: The Anglo-Saxons
French 347 Medieval, Renaissance & Early Mod Civilization
History 112: The World of Late Antiquity
History 115: Medieval Europe
History 200: Historical Studies (when topic is medieval)
History 311: Schools and Learning in the Medieval World
History 312: The Medieval Church
History 313: Introduction to Byzantine History and Civilization
History 314: Problems in Byzantine History and Civilization
History 317: Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 400-1200
History 318: Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 1200-1450
History 321: Economic Life in Medieval Europe
History 325: History of Medieval France
History 333: The Renaissance
History 360: The Anglo-Saxons
History 413: Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000
History 417: History of Russia
History 426: The History of Punishment
History 431: History of Scandinavia to 1815
History 439: Islamic History from the Origin of Islam to the Ottoman Empire
History 459: The Rule of Law: History and Theory
History 476 Medieval Law and Society
History 539: The Middle East and the Balkans during the Ottoman Era, 1200-1600
History 550 Medieval Law and Society
History 805 Seminar-Medieval History (Law and Violence in the Middle Ages)
Integrated Liberal Studies 203 Western Culture: Literature & The Arts I
Integrated Liberal Studies 205 Western Culture: Political, Economic & Social Thought I
Languages and Cultures of Asia 266: Introduction to the Middle East
Philosophy 435: Jewish Philosophy from Antiquity to the 17th Century
Political Science 501: The Development of Ancient and Medieval Western Political Thought
Scandinavian Studies 431: History of Scandinavia to 1815
Languages (Category B)
English 417: History of English Language
English 520: Old English
English 522: Middle English Language
French 701: Introduction à l’ancien français
German 651 (meets with Medieval Studies 651): Intro to Middle High German
German 755: Old Germanic Languages
German 768: Comparative and Historical Grammar of the Old Germanic Languages
Italian 771: History of the Italian Language
Latin 563: Mediaeval Latin
Medieval Studies 408: Old Norse
Medieval Studies 651: Introduction to Middle High German
Medieval Studies 755: Old Germanic Languages: Gothic
Scandinavian Studies 407: Old Norse I
Scandinavian Studies 408: Old Norse II.
Scandinavian Studies 511 Paleography and Philology.
Slavic 803: Introduction to Old Church Slavonic and the History of Russian Literary Language
Spanish 541: Old Spanish
Spanish 546: History of the Spanish Language
Spanish 811: Philological Seminar: Old Spanish
Literature and Textual Criticism(Category B)
African Languages & Literature 120: Literary Legacy of the Arabs
Comparative literature 377: Literary Periods (when topic is medieval)
English 177: Tolkien, Beowulf and the Rise of Modern Fantasy
English 241: Literature and Culture 1
English 359: Beowulf
English 360: The Anglo-Saxons (cross-listed as History 360, Religious Studies 360)
English 423: Topic in Medieval Literature [varies] (cross-listed as Medieval Studies 423)
English/Medieval Studies 424: Medieval Drama
English /Medieval Studies 425: Medieval Romance
English/Medieval Studies 426: Chaucer’s Courtly Poetry
English/Medieval Studies 427: Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
English 546: Travel Literature before 1800
English 751: Chaucer and the Courtly Tradition
English 752: Late Medieval Religious Literature
English 753: Medieval Literature (topics vary)
English/Medieval Studies 803: Topics in Medieval Literature
French 321: Introduction to Medieval, Renaissance & Early Modern Literature
French 347: Introduction to Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Civilization
French 430: Readings in Medieval and Renaissance Literature (topics course)
French 451: Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Studies
French 703: La littérature française du XIVe et du XVe siècle
French/Medieval Studies 704: La Litterature Francaise du XIV et du XV Siecle
French 705: La littérature française des débuts jusqu’à la fin du XIIIe siècle
French 939: La Littérature médiévale
German 611: Survey of German Literature to 1750
German 650: History of the German Language
German 652: Readings in Middle High German
German 701: Literature of the Middle Ages (750-1400)
Italian 321: Introduction to Italian Literature I (Beginnings through the Renaissance)
Italian 350: Rome: The Changing Shape of the Eternal City
Italian 360-Literature in Translation: French and Italian Renaissance Online
Italian/Medieval Studies 659-660: Dante’s Divina Commedia
Italian 671: Il Duecento (Part I)
Italian 672: Il Duecento (Part II)
Languages and Cultures of Asia 314: Literatures of Central Asia
Literature in Translation 214: Literature of Central Asia in Translation
Literature in Translation 235: The World of the Sagas
Literature in Translation 253: Dante’s Divine Comedy
Literature in Translation 255: Boccaccio’s Decameron
Literature in Translation 256: Images of the Individual in the Italian Renaissance
Literature in Translation 271: Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature, Middle Ages-1900
Literature in Translation 342: Mythology of Scandinavia
Literature in Translation 345: The Scandinavian Tale and Ballad
Literature in Translation 346: The Icelandic Sagas
Medieval Studies 423: Topics in Medieval Literature and Culture
Medieval Studies 440: Francis of Assisi: Literature and the Arts
Medieval Studies 503: Survey of Medieval Literature
Medieval Studies 504: Survey of Medieval Literature
Medieval Studies 803: Topics in Medieval Literature
Medieval Studies 842: Seminar in Medieval Literature
Scandinavian Studies 373: Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature: Middle Ages to 1900
Scandinavian Studies 409: Survey-Old Norse-Icelandic Lit
Scandinavian Studies 430: The Vikings
Scandinavian Studies 433: The Scandinavian Tale and Ballad
Scandinavian Studies 435: The Icelandic Saga
Scandinavian Studies 474: Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations
Slavic 701: Survey of Old Russian Literature
Spanish/Medieval Studies 414: Literatura de la Edad Media Castellana (ss. XII-XV)
Spanish 503: Survey of Medieval Literature I
Spanish 504: Survey of Medieval Literature II
Spanish/Medieval Studies 841: Seminar: Libro de Buen Amor, Celestina, Corbacho
Spanish 842: Seminar: Medieval Literature (topics course)
Media, Visual Studies, and Performance (Category B)
Art History 201: From Pyramids to Cathedrals (Ancient and Medieval Art)
Art History 305: History of Islamic Art and Architecture
Art History 310: Early Christian and Byzantine Art
Art History 318: Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture
Art History 321: Italian Art: 1250-1400
Art History 331: Angels, Demons, Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting
Art History 373: Great Cities of Islam
Art History 413: Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs
Art History 415: Topics in Medieval Art (including Image and Text in Medieval Manuscripts; Death and the Afterlife in Medieval Art; Civic Art, Architecture and Public Space in Medieval Italy)
Art History 478: Art and Religious Practices in Medieval Japan
Art History 515: Proseminar in Medieval Art
Art History 600: Special Topics in Art History (when topic is medieval)
Art History 715: Topics in Medieval Art
Art History 815: Seminar in Medieval Art
English/Medieval Studies 424: Medieval Drama
English 731: Advanced Theatre History 500BC to 1700
English 803: Topics in Medieval Literature > Pre-modern Literature & Media: Theory & Practice
History 600: Crusades & Chivalry in History, Literature & Film
Italian 350: Rome: The Changing Shape of the Eternal City
Medieval Studies 415: Topics in Medieval Art
Medieval Studies 424: Medieval Drama
Music 411: Survey of Music in the Middle Ages
Music 412: Survey of Music in the Renaissance
Music 923: Seminar in Notation
Religion (Categories A & B)
Art History 305: History of Islamic Art and Architecture
Art History 310: Early Christian and Byzantine Art
Art History 331: Angels, Demons, Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting
Art History 373: Great Cities of Islam
Art History 413: Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs
Art History 415 (Topics in Medieval Art): Death and the Afterlife in Mediaeval Art
Art History 430: Death and Magic in Renaissance Art
Art History 478: Art and Religious Practices in Medieval Japan
History 205: The Making of the Islamic World: The Middle East, 500-1500
History 309: The Crusades: Christianity and Islam
History 312: The Medieval Church
History 366: Medieval Monasticism
History 368: The Bible in the Middle Ages
History 600: Interfaith Relations in Crusader States
Italian 659-660: Dante’s Divina Commedia
Jewish Studies 211: Introduction to Judaism
Jewish Studies 237: Biblical Poetry in Translation
Jewish Studies 371: Topics in Jewish Civilization (when topic is medieval)
Jewish Studies 377-378: Jewish Cultural History
Jewish Studies 490: Topics in Jewish Studies (when topic is medieval)
Religious Studies 211: Introduction to Judaism
Religious Studies 368: The Bible in the Middle Ages
Religious Studies 439: Islamic History from the Origin of Islam to the Ottoman Empire
Religious Studies 440: Francis of Assisi: Literature and the Arts
Science, Medicine and Technology (Categories A & B)
Art History 731 (Topics in Early Modern Art): The Artist as Scientist
History of Science 201: Origins-Scientific Thought
History of Science 322: Ancient and Medieval Science
History of Science 401: History of Pharmacy
History of Science 507: Health, Disease, and Healing I
History of Science 562: Byzantine Medicine and Pharmacy
History of Science 622: Studies in Ancient and Medieval Science
History of Science 903: Seminar: Medieval, Renaissance and 17th-Century Science
Integrated Liberal Studies 271: Pre-Copernican Astronomy and Cosmology in Cross-cultural Perspective
COURSE LISTINGS BY DEPARTMENT
Art History (all courses Category B)
305: History of Islamic Art and Architecture 310: Early Christian and Byzantine Art 318: Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture 321: Italian Art:1250-1400 331: Angels, Demons, Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting
373: Great Cities of Islam 413: Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs
415: Topics in Medieval Art
515: Proseminar in Medieval Art
600: Special Topics in Art History (when topic is medieval)
815: Seminar: Medieval Art
Comparative Literature (all courses Category B)
377: Literary Periods (when topic is medieval)
English (all courses Category B)
320: Old English
321: Middle English
359: Beowulf
360: The Anglo-Saxons
361: A Study of an Outstanding Figure in Medieval English Literature
361: Chaucer’s Courtly Poetry
362: A Study of a Theme In Medieval English Literature
365: Early Medieval Literature (1066-1350)
367: Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
369: Contemporaries and Immediate Successors of Chaucer
751: Chaucer and the Courtly Tradition
752: Late Medieval Religious Literature
753: Medieval Literature (topics vary)
950: Seminar: Topics in Medieval Literature
Folklore (all courses Category B)
474: Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations
French (all courses Category B)
430: Readings in Medieval and Renaissance Literature (topics course)
701: Introduction à l’ancien français
703: La littérature française du XIVe et du XVe siècle
705: La littérature française des débuts jusqu’à la fin du XIIIe siècle
709: Medieval Manuscripts and Textual Criticism [also Italian]
939: La Littérature médiévale
German (all courses Category B)
611: Survey of German Literature to 1750
650: History of the German Language
651: Introduction to Middle High German
652: Readings in Middle High German
701: Literature of the Middle Ages (750-1400)
755: Old Germanic Languages
768: Comparative and Historical Grammar of the Old Germanic Languages
History (all courses Category A)
115: Medieval Europe 410-1500 (unless used to satisfy requirement #1 above)
200: Historical Studies (when topic is medieval)
205: The Making of the Islamic World: The Middle East, 500-1500
309: The Crusades: Christianity and Islam
311: Schools and Learning in the Medieval World
312: The Medieval Church
313: Introduction to Byzantine History and Civilization
314: Problems in Byzantine History and Civilization
316: Latin Paleography
317: Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 400-1200
318: Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 1200-1450
321: Economic Life in Medieval Europe
325: History of Medieval France
333: The Renaissance
366: Medieval Monasticism
413: Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000
417: History of Russia
426: The History of Punishment
431: History of Scandinavia to 1815
439: Islamic History from the Origin of Islam to the Ottoman Empire
459: The Rule of Law: History and Theory
539: The Middle East and the Balkans during the Ottoman Era, 1200-1600
600: Advanced Seminar in History (when topic is medieval)
719: Proseminar: Medieval History
720: Selected Topics in Medieval History
805: Seminar–Medieval History
History of Science (all courses Category A)
201: Origins of Scientific Thought (unless used to satisfy requirement #1 above) [also ILS]
322: Ancient and Medieval Science
401: History of Pharmacy
507: Health, Disease, and Healing I
562: Byzantine Medicine and Pharmacy
622: Studies in Ancient and Medieval Science
903: Seminar: Medieval, Renaissance and 17th-Century Science
Integrated Liberal Studies
201: Western Culture: Science, Technology, Philosophy I (unless used to satisfy requirement #1 above) [also Hist Sci, with a different title] (A)
203: Western Culture: Literature and the Arts I (B)
205: Western Culture: Political, Economic, and Social Thought I (A)
271: Pre-Copernican Astronomy and Cosmology in Cross-cultural Perspective (A)
Italian (all courses Category B)
321: Introduction to Italian Literature I (Beginnings through the Renaissance)
659-660: Dante’s Divina Commedia
661-662: Il Trecento
671: Il Duecento
709: Medieval Manuscripts and Textual Criticism [also French]
771: History of the Italian Language
Jewish Studies
371: Topics in Jewish Civilization (when topic is medieval) (either Category A or Category B depending on the focus that semester)
377-378: Jewish Cultural History (A)
473: Jewish Civilization in Medieval Spain (A)
490: Topics in Jewish Studies (when topic is medieval) (either Category A or Category B depending on the focus that semester)
Latin (all courses Category B)
563: Mediaeval Latin
Literature in Translation (all courses Category B)
235: The World of the Sagas
253: Dante’s Divine Comedy
255: Boccaccio’s Decameron
256: Images of the Individual in the Italian Renaissance
271: Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature, Middle Ages-1900
342: Mythology of Scandinavia
345: The Scandinavian Tale and Ballad
346: The Icelandic Sagas
347: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore
Medieval Studies
185: Introduction to Medieval Studies for Honors (either Category A or Category B depending on the focus that semester)
351: Arthurian Legend and Literature (B)
368: The Bible in the Middle Ages [also Hebrew, History, Jewish St, Religious St] (B)
550: Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in Medieval Civilization(either Category A or Category B depending on the focus that semester)
551: Advanced Studies in Medieval Literature (B)
553: Advanced Topics in Medieval Civilization(either Category A or Category B depending on the focus that semester)
685: Honors Seminar in Medieval Studies (either Category A or Category B depending on the focus that semester)
Music (all courses Category B)
411: Survey of Music in the Middle Ages
412: Survey of Music in the Renaissance
923: Seminar in Notation
Philosophy (all courses Category A)
435: Jewish Philosophy from Antiquity to the 17th Century
Political Science (all courses Category A)
501: The Development of Ancient and Medieval Western Political Thought
Scandinavian Studies (all courses Category B)
373: Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature: Middle Ages to 1900
407-408: Old Norse
409: Survey of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature
430: The Vikings
433: The Scandinavian Tale and Ballad
435: The Icelandic Sagas
444: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore
474: Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations
Spanish (all courses Category B)
414: Literatura de la Edad Media Castellana (ss. XII-XV)
503-504: Survey of Medieval Literature
541: Old Spanish
546: History of the Spanish Language
718: Topics in Medieval Spanish Literature
811: Philological Seminar: Old Spanish
841: Seminar: Libro de Buen Amor, Celestina, Corbacho
842: Seminar: Medieval Literature (topics course)
Women’s Studies (all courses Category A)
416: Women in Medieval Society