Course Descriptions

HUM 120 Medieval Life in 12th-Century Europe (Medieval Connections)
This is the introductory course for medieval studies. It uses an interdisciplinary approach to study European culture during a period known as the High Middle Ages, roughly AD 1100 to 1300. It attempts to examine medieval culture as a complex system of thought and feeling, which includes history, religion, philosophy, literature, art, theater, music, and food. It also takes an experiential approach to this material, for example, by having students and faculty attend class in academic regalia, just as they did in medieval universities. (Humanities LAF, Spring)

HUM 490 Keystone, Medieval Studies Project
The final project in medieval studies functions like an independent study. Because medieval studies is an interdisciplinary major, the final project must be also be interdisciplinary. Students are free to choose any topic connected to the Middle Ages, but must examine it with professors from at least three different disciplines. The traditional disciplines that comprise medieval studies are art history, English, history, music history, philosophy, religion, and theater history, but students have also completed projects involving professors from other disciplines, such as sociology and psychology.

Experiential approaches are encouraged but not required. For example, past students have built medieval musical instruments, medieval suits of armor, and Renaissance commedia dell’arte masks, and then written about the process.
This course fulfills the Keystone requirement.

For other course descriptions, refer to the specific departments elsewhere in the catalog