Loyola University Chicago

Medieval Studies

The Minor

The Minor

The minor in Medieval Studies is designed for students who want to learn more about the Middle Ages in all its multifaceted splendor, without limiting themselves to a single department. This program encourages students to explore the medieval world through a variety of courses taught in our four core departments of History, Theology, English and Philosophy, plus course offerings in Classical Studies, Modern Languages and the various areas of Fine Arts. The Medieval Seminar (MSTU 300 & 301), taught over two semesters, is an exciting opportunity to meet medievalists from other institutions, and to work closely with medievalist faculty here at Loyola on an interdisciplinary project of your own design.

The centerpiece of the Medieval Studies Minor is the lecture series. Since 1990, this series of three lectures per semester has introduced students, faculty and visitors to some of the most prominent and innovative medieval scholars in the country (and beyond). The theme of the lecture series changes each year: past themes include "Magic and Medicine," "Popular Piety: Prayer, Devotion and Cult," "Medieval Gardens, Real and Imagined," and "To Hell and Back: Visions, Dreams, Prophecies."

The lecture series, while open to all students as well as the public, is an integral part of MSTU 300 & 301. Students who take this two-part seminar attend all the lectures and meet with the speakers, while pursuing a research project of their own, linked to the theme of the course. The seminar not only allows students an opportunity to integrate methods and materials they have learned in other disciplines, it also provides skills and experience that will be useful as they apply to graduate school.


This page updated 19 February 2013 by jlong1@luc.edu