Academic Course Catalogs

Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Michael Agnew, PhD, Co-Coordinator
Thomas W. Barton, PhD, Co-Coordinator

One of the most foundational periods in the formation of the modern world, the Middle Ages witnessed the development of the Church, fundamental currents in philosophy and theology, the establishment of Europe’s first universities, the growth of the continent’s major cities, the flourishing of Romanesque and Gothic art and architecture, and complex interactions with the wider world. Emerging out of the Medieval world, the Renaissance and Early Modern periods were shaped by the invention of the printing press and the growth of lay literacy, the development of Humanism and the furthering of modern scientific and philosophical inquiry, religious and ideological upheaval, the creation of the first modern nation-states, Europeans’ encounters with previously unknown civilizations, and the creation of the first truly global economy. The complexity of this long stretch of history, remarkable for its accomplishments but also characterized by violence and intolerance, cannot be adequately accounted for by a single discipline. A minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies provides students with a solid grounding in the historical context for many of the major cultural and intellectual developments that contributed to the foundations of our modern global society.

Requirements:

18 units total, comprised of six units of lower-division and 12 units of upper-division coursework. A minimum of three academic disciplines must be represented in this total.

Lower-Division: Students must take HIST 103, The Medieval World. The other lower-division course may be chosen from the following:
ARTH 133 ARTH 134 ARTH 136 ENGL 280 HIST 108 HIST 109 PHIL 271 THRS 116	Introduction to Art History I Introduction to Art History II The Year 1500: A Global History of Art and Architecture Introduction to Shakespeare The Atlantic World, 1500-1700 The Pacific World, 1500-1700 History of Medieval Philosophy Introduction to Biblical Studies
Upper-Division:
ANTH 339 ANTH 362 ENGL 300 ENGL 310 ENGL 312 ENGL 314 ENGL 324 ENGL 326 ENGL 328 ENGL 332 ENGL 334 ENGL 420 FREN 320 HIST 321 HIST 322 HIST 323 HIST 324 HIST 331 HIST 333 HIST 346 HIST 353 HIST 357 HIST 360 HIST 382 HIST 386 MUSC 330 MUSC 331 MUSC 430W PHIL 467 PHIL 471 SPAN 422 SPAN 423 SPAN 424 THRS 354 THRS 355	Post-Medieval Seafaring and Empire Piracy in the New World British Literature to 1800 Dante Studies in Medieval Literature Chaucer Renaissance Drama Renaissance Studies Milton Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Studies Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama Advanced Studies in Shakespeare Survey of French Literature I: Middle Ages to the 18th Century The Fall of the Roman Empire, 250-1050 Castles and Crusades: Medieval Europe, 1050-1450 Medieval Women Christians, Muslims and Jews in Medieval Spain Renaissance Europe Europe 1600-1800 Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Europe Spain to 1820 Topics in Russian and East European History Colonial Latin America The Spanish Southwest The Pacific Ocean in History Music History I: Antiquity-1600(Euripides-Monteverdi) Music History II: 1600-1830 (Monteverdi-Beethoven) History of Medieval and Renaissance Music Studies in Renaissance Philosophy Studies in Medieval Philosophy Studies in Medieval Spanish Literature Studies in Spanish Literature of the Golden Age Don Quijote The Medieval Church The Reformation Era
Relevant 394/494 and other topics courses or Honors courses in Anthropology, Art History, English, French, German, History, Latin, Music, Philosophy, Spanish, or Theology and Religious Studies, to be approved by the program coordinator, may also satisfy the upper-division requirements.

Contact Information

Fax (619) 260-2303

Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

University of San Diego
Loma Hall 339
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110