Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Medieval Studies (MDVS)

Professors: Chandler (Coordinator), Preston (Coordinator)
Associate Professor: Heyes (Coordinator)

  • Major: Medieval Studies
  • Courses required for major: 10
  • Capstone requirement: MDVS 449
  • Minor: Medieval Studies

The Medieval Studies major provides a framework for coursework focusing on the Middle Ages. This interdisciplinary major offers a foundation of historical and literary coursework in the period, introducing students to the essential people, events, and works of the time. Students will develop the critical thinking, reading, writing, and research skills essential to both the study of the era and the mission of a liberal arts education. The major requires ten courses, including interdisciplinary introductory and capstone courses. Students also choose five electives from a range of courses that relate to the language, literature, history, art, religion, and philosophy of the medieval period in Europe.

Major Requirements

1. Two Core Courses
MDVS 200  Introduction to Medieval Studies (usually first-year or sophomore students)
MDVS 449  Advanced Medieval Studies (usually junior or senior year)

2. Three Additional Core Courses from the following:
ENGL 220  British Literature I
ENGL 311  Medieval Literature
HIST 212  Medieval Europe and Its Neighbors
HIST 401  The Middle Ages in Modern Eyes

3. Three of the following:
ENGL 219  History of the English Language
ENGL 220  British Literature I (when not counting as a core course)
ENGL 311  Medieval Literature (when not counting as a core course)
ENGL 335  Chaucer
HIST 211  From Rome to the Vikings
HIST 212  Medieval Europe and Its Neighbors (when not counting as a core course)
HIST 232  The Rise of Islam
HIST 334  Origins of Europe
HIST 336  Crusades: Conflict and Accommodation
HIST 401  The Middle Ages in Modern Eyes (when not counting as a core course)
PHIL 202  Medieval Philosophy
REL 213  Medieval Women’s Religious Literature
REL 214  Constructing Gender in Christianity

4. Two of the following:
ARHI 222  Introduction to Art History I
LAT 102 (or above)  Latin Grammar and Readings II
MUS 335  History of Western Music I
REL 113  Introduction to the Old Testament
REL 114  Introduction to the New Testament
THEA 332  Theatre History I

Capstone Requirement

All majors must successfully complete MDVS 449.

Minor Requirements

The minor in Medieval Studies requires six courses: ENGL 220 and 311, HIST 212 and 401, and two additional electives that count toward the Medieval Studies major.

200
INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL STUDIES
An introduction to the important people, events, works, and themes of the medieval period and the interdisciplinary means for studying them. The course aims to provide a working familiarity with the manifold medieval habits of mind, conditions of life, and ways of understanding the world. Prerequisite or corequisite: ENGL 106, 107, or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

449
ADVANCED MEDIEVAL STUDIES
Focuses on the advanced practice of historical and literary research, analysis, and writing. Students complete a substantial independent research project incorporating primary and secondary source analysis of a proposed topic, subject to instructor approval. Required of majors in their junior or senior year. Prerequisite: completion of core major requirements or consent of instructor.