Medieval Studies addresses Europe and to some extent North Africa and the Middle East from late Antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages (approximately 350 to 1500 C.E.). Nearly twenty faculty members at Western specialize in the study of the Middle Ages, focusing on such questions as the origin of scholastic philosophy, the farce in France and the origins of modern drama, the development of Gregorian chant in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, Christine de Pisan, the Gothic cathedral and its later imitation, the legal history of late medieval England, the psalms in Anglo-Saxon England, exemplary literature in Spain, food in medieval Germany, heraldry in Anglo-Norman England, the reception of the story of El Cid in later Spain, Chaucer, fourteenth-century village life in rural England, and much more. Western's new program in Medieval Studies will, beginning with a Minor, offer students the chance to learn about the people, places and events from which developed the cultures of modern Europe, North American and to a large extent Australasia and parts of Asia.
Completion of first-year requirements, including 1.0 course from Medieval Studies 1022 or both of 1025F/G and 1026F/G, with a mark of at least 60%. Students should consult with the Academic Counselling Office of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities prior to admission.
1.0 course from: History 2405E, 2606E, 2607F/G, 2809E, 2173, 2401E, 3605E; Music 3700A/B; Philosophy 2006, 2201F/G, 2205W/X, 3012F/G, 3014F/G; Religious Studies 2204F/G, Visual Arts History 2251E, 2253E, 2254F/G, 2255F/G
1.0 course from: Comparative Literature and Culture 2236F/G (or German 3300F/G), 2285F/G, 3333F/G, 3334F/G, 3335F/G, 3380F/G; English 2420E, 3012, 3114E; French 3540F/G, 3541F/G, 3542F/G; Spanish 3320F/G
2.0 courses from: Additional courses from those listed above or senior-level courses in Medieval Studies on an approved list*, or Latin 2000** (1.0 of these 2.0 courses may also be taken through study abroad, e.g., at Poitiers for an intensive Latin course, or engaging in a relevant archaeological dig in Europe or the Middle East.)
* The approved list may be found in the Academic Counselling Office in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
** Students considering any graduate program in Medieval Studies are encouraged to take at least Latin 2000 as part of their undergraduate degree.
Note: Maximum of 1.0 course may be taken in one subject. Some courses in this module may require prerequisites not required for admission; students are advised to check course prerequisites carefully.