Interdisciplinary Studies: Medieval Studies, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Interdisciplinary Studies, Medieval Studies Concentration
The Program in Medieval Studies sponsors this concentration.
This concentration introduces students to medieval cultures across the world during a long millennium stretching from circa 400 to 1500 CE: providing them with an understanding of the movements, institutions, environments, materials, ideas, beliefs, and values of the diverse societies that shared the medieval globe. Coursework spans both geographic regions and disciplines to encompass the breadth of methods and perspectives for studying the medieval past.
The concentration includes a minimum of 45 hours, divided into (I) an introductory course in global medieval literatures and cultures; (II) geographical distribution coursework as specified below; (III) advanced medieval coursework selected by the student in consultation with a Medieval Studies faculty advisor; and (IV) a capstone experience involving an intensive writing and research project. Because Medieval Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study, students are urged to consult with the Director of the Program to ensure that they take a range of courses providing some exposure to the fields of History and Anthropology; Literature; the Arts; and Philosophy or Religion. Although study of medieval languages is not a requirement, students who intend to pursue graduate study should complete at least two courses in an appropriate language; up to twelve hours of appropriate language study can be applied to the Additional Medieval Studies Coursework.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Interdisciplinary Studies, Medieval Studies Concentration
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor.
Substitution for specific courses listed below will be approved by the concentration advisor only in exceptional cases.
Departmental distinction: To be eligible for graduation with distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a major concentration grade point average of 3.5, completion of HUM 498 with a grade of A, and completion of a semester paper in HUM 498 that is judged to be deserving of "distinction" by a committee of at least two faculty members.
High distinction: To be eligible for graduation with high distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a major concentration grade point average of 3.7, and must have completed HUM 492 (instead of HUM 498) with a grade of A and a thesis in HUM 492 that is judged to be deserving of "high distinction" by a committee of at least two faculty members.
Medieval Studies Concentration Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours. Minimum hours of required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 45 or 49 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The University and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
Orientation and Professional Development | ||
| LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
OR | ||
| LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
OR | ||
| LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 or 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
Major Core Requirements and Electives | ||
| Introduction to Medieval Studies | 3 | |
| Medieval Literature and Culture | ||
| Geographical Distribution Coursework | ||
(A student may substitute up to 6 hours in geographical distribution coursework with courses on the medieval civilizations of Oceania or the Americas, including ANTH 278. However, at least one course must still be taken from each of the three regional areas.) | ||
| Select two of the following (Medieval Europe): | 6 | |
| Ancient to Medieval Art | ||
| Medieval Art | ||
| Northern Renaissance Art | ||
| Western Worlds: Ancient and Medieval Societies from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe | ||
| Wives, Workers and Witches in Pre-Modern Europe | ||
| Medieval Europe | ||
| British Isles to 1688 | ||
| Medieval Civilization | ||
| Medieval England | ||
| Italy Middle Ages & Renaiss | ||
| Viking Mythology | ||
| Viking Sagas in Translation | ||
| Medieval Architecture | ||
| Select two of the following (Classical and Medieval East Asia): | 6 | |
| Chinese Civilization | ||
| Masterpieces of East Asian Lit | ||
| Japan Lit in Translation I | ||
| Sacred Sites in Japan | ||
| Traditional China | ||
| Premodern Japanese History | ||
| Classical Chinese Thought | ||
| Early Modern Japan | ||
| Introduction to Buddhism | ||
| Select two of the following (Medieval Central Asia, South Asia, the Mediterranean region, or Africa): | 6 | |
| Cultures & Literatures of South Asia | ||
| History of Africa to 1800 | ||
| History of South Asia | ||
| History of Islamic Middle East | ||
| History of Early Judaism | ||
| Byzantine Empire AD 284-717 | ||
| Islamic Gardens & Architecture | ||
| Archaeology and the Bible | ||
| Introduction to Islam | ||
| The Qur'an (Koran) | ||
| Mystics and Saints in Islam | ||
| Jewish Sacred Literature | ||
| Jewish Intellectual History: Encounters with Islam and Christianity | ||
| Additional Medieval Studies Coursework | ||
| Medieval-related coursework from participating departments selected in consultation with the concentration advisor. At least 12 hours must be at the 300- or 400-level. Up to 12 hours of appropriate language study can be applied to meet this requirement with approval of a Medieval Studies faculty advisor. | 21 | |
| Capstone Experience | ||
| A capstone experience (normally in the student’s senior year) involving intensive interdisciplinary research and writing on a medieval topic. Any 400-level MDVL course (or medieval-related course not cross-listed with MDVL, with the approval of a Medieval Studies faculty advisor) can be designated as a capstone experience with approval of the instructor. For the course to qualify as a capstone experience, the student must undertake a substantial research project that supplements the standard course requirements, in the form either of an additional project or of a longer and more research-intensive version of an existing course project. The project must involve both primary and secondary research using advanced disciplinary methodologies and resources. | 3 | |
(A student may also petition to satisfy the capstone experience by enrolling in MDVL 500, Seminar in Medieval Studies) | ||
| Total Hours | 45 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Interdisciplinary Studies, Medieval Studies Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free elective course | 1 | Medieval Studies coursework | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course or Composition 1 | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ENGL 202 (or MDVL 201) | 3 | Medieval Europe distribution course | 3 |
| Medieval Studies coursework | 3 | Medieval Studies coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Medieval Europe distribution course | 3 | Classical and Medieval East Asia distribution course | 3 |
| Medieval Studies coursework | 3 | Medieval Studies 300-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Medieval Studies 300-400 level course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Classical and Medieval East Asia distribution course | 3 | Medieval Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East distribution course | 3 |
| Medieval Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East distribution course | 3 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Medieval Studies 300-400 level course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Medieval Studies 300-400 level course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 2 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Interdisciplinary Studies, Medieval Studies Concentration
- Acquire broad and deep knowledge of medieval cultures across the world during the long millennium between circa 400 and 1500.
- Acquire an understanding of periods and movements, institutions, environments, materials, ideas, beliefs, and values of the diverse societies that shared the medieval globe.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Interdisciplinary Studies, Medieval Studies Concentration
Professor Carol Symes, Director: symes@illinois.edu
Medieval Studies website
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences