Program Coordinator: Christina von Nolcken, G-B 331, 702-7977, mcv4@uchicago.edu

Secretary: Amy Schulz, G-B 309, 702-7092

Program of Study

The Committee on Medieval Studies offers two options to undergraduates for studies in the medieval period. Students may elect either to enter a B.A. program in medieval studies or to pursue medieval studies in conjunction with another program through the judicious selection of courses.

Program Requirements

The purpose of the B.A. program in medieval studies is to acquaint students with a broad range of medieval materials from a variety of perspectives (e.g., historical, literary, artistic, theological) as a preparation for writing a B.A. paper on some aspect of medieval civilization. Students pursue the investigation of the Middle Ages through studies in historical, literary, and adjunct areas. Eleven courses are required, including at least three courses basically historical in nature, three courses of linguistic character, and two courses in other disciplines (e.g., art, music, philosophy, theology). Each student should determine these courses in consultation with the adviser assigned by the program.

Students majoring in medieval studies are expected to demonstrate competence in reading one language in which a significant body of medieval source material exists. Such competence is demonstrated primarily through language courses and through the use of source materials in the B.A. paper. Latin is strongly urged for those working in Western materials, but other options (particularly for students interested in Byzantine, Jewish, or Muslim cultures) are available. Students should consult the adviser regarding the three-course language requirement, which is to be used both for acquiring language skills, if necessary, beyond the College language requirement and for pursuing the reading of medieval texts.

The program also requires all majors to participate in a one-quarter reading and research course with a member of the committee who has agreed to advise them in planning and writing the B.A. paper; students should register for a reading course in this committee member's department. Their completed paper will ordinarily be read by at least two members of the committee representing different academic departments.

Students who wish to pursue medieval studies in conjunction with another program of study should choose their courses in consultation with the program coordinator.

This program may accept a B.A. paper or project used to satisfy the same requirement in another major if certain conditions are met and with the consent of the other program chair. Approval from both program chairs is required. Students should consult with the chairs by the earliest B.A. proposal deadline (or by the end of third year, when neither program publishes a deadline). A consent form, to be signed by both chairs, is available from the College adviser. It must be completed and returned to the College adviser by the end of Autumn Quarter of the student's year of graduation.

Summary of Requirements

3 courses in historical studies

3 language studies

2 adjunct areas

3 electives

1 reading and research course

- B.A. paper

Grading. Except for courses taught within the New Collegiate Division, there is no P/N or P/F grading in this major.

Honors. Consideration for honors is individually arranged with the program coordinator. For candidacy, a student must have completed a B.A. paper of the highest quality and have a GPA of at least 3.0 overall and at least 3.5 within the major.

Faculty

M. Allen, D. Bevington, R. Dankoff, A. Davidson, D. Delogu, F. Donner, C. Fasolt,
R. Fulton, N. Golb, R. Hellie, R. Helmholz, A. Hollywood, D. Hristova, N. Ingham, W. Kadi,
W. Kaegi, R. Kendrick, J. Kraemer, R. Lerner, M. Miller, M. Murrin, R. Nelson, L. Pick,
A. W. Robertson, J. Schleusener, L. Seidel, J. Steinberg, J. Stern, N. Swerdlow,
C. von Nolcken, E. Weaver, D. Whitcomb, J. Woods

Courses (offered 2004-05)

Historical and Civilization Studies

ARTH 22004/32004. Medieval Chinese Visual Culture. J. Purtle. Spring.

ARTH 22604/32604. Middle Byzantine Art. R. Nelson. Autumn.

CLCV 21500. The Medieval Book. (=CLAS 31500) M. Allen. Spring.

HIST 21702. Byzantine Empire, 610 to 1025. W. Kaegi. Winter.

HIST 22001. Byzantium and Islam. W. Kaegi. Autumn.

HIST 22102. Medieval Travelers. R. Fulton. Spring.

HIST 29900. Tolkien: Medieval and Modern. (=RLST 22400) R. Fulton, L. Pick. Spring.

JWSC 20100/31100. Jewish Civilization II: Rabbinic Judaism from the Mishnah to Maimonides. (=HUMA 20100) Winter.

MDJS 28000-28100-28200. Medieval Jewish History I, II, III. (=HUMA 23000-23100-23200, JWST 23000-23100-23200) PQ: Consent of instructor. N. Golb. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

NEHC 20601/30601. Introduction to Islamic Civilization I. (=SOSC 22000) W. Kadi. Autumn.

NEHC 20621/30621. History of the Islamic Middle East I: The Rise of Islam and the Caliphate. (=HIST 25700/35700) F. Donner. Autumn.

NEHC 20622/30622. History of the Islamic Middle East II: 1200 to 1700. (=HIST 25800/35800) J. Woods. Winter.

NEHC 20638/30638. Arabic Wisdom Literature. T. Qutbuddin. Spring.

NEHC 20686/30686. Word and Image in Islamic Literature and Art. R. Dankoff. Autumn.

RLST 22000. Saints in the Medieval World. (=HIST 11700) L. Pick. Autumn.

RLST 22700. The Jews in Medieval Spain. (=HIJD 41900) J. Robinson. Winter.

Linguistic and Literary Studies

ENGL 14900/34900. Old English. (=GRMN 31000) A. Rabin. Autumn.

ENGL 15102/35102. Old English Seminar: The Discovery and Invention of Old English Literature. PQ: ENGL 14900/34900 or equivalent. The class meets at the Newberry Library. J. Niles. Winter.

ENGL 15200/35200. Beowulf. PQ: ENGL 14900/34900 or equivalent. C. von Nolcken. Winter.

ENGL 15600. Medieval English Literature. (=GNDR 15600) M. Miller. Autumn.

ENGL 15800. Medieval Epic. M. Murrin. Autumn.

ENGL 20104. Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales. (=FNDL 25700) C. von Nolcken. London Program. Autumn.

ENGL 20105. From the Annals of Wales to Monty Python and the Holy Grail: King Arthur in Legend and History. C. von Nolcken. London Program. Autumn.

ITAL 20700. Survey I: Letteratura italiana dal Duecento al Quattrocento. PQ: ITAL 20300 or consent of instructor. A. Maggi. Autumn.

ITAL 22600/32600. The Making and Unmaking of Petrarch's Canzoniere. PQ: ITAL 20300 or consent of instructor. J. Steinberg. Winter.

ITAL 22700/32700. Dante's Inferno. PQ: ITAL 20300 or consent of instructor. Taught in English. J. Steinberg. Spring.

LATN 23400/33400. Boethius. P. White. Spring.

PHIL 23600/33600. Medieval Philosophy. J. Stern. Winter.

RUSS 21800/31800. Russian Historical Syntax. (=HUMA 21800, LING 29300/39300) D. Hristova. Autumn.

SLAV 22000/32000. Old Church Slavonic. (=LGLN 25100/35100) PQ: Knowledge of another Slavic language or another old Indo-European language. S. Clancy. Winter.

SPAN 20700. Literatura Hispánica: Textos Clásicos. PQ: SPAN 20300 or consent of instructor. Winter.