Medieval Studies, B.A.

Program Code: MEDVL_BA

Program Description

This is an interdisciplinary program of study designed to give students an integrated knowledge of medieval civilization. While the main area of study is the fifth to sixteenth centuries in Europe, a global perspective is offered with particular attention to the Near East and the Pacific Rim.

What is Medieval Studies?

Medieval Studies is an interdisciplinary field that ranges widely across periods and geographies. We usually imagine the Middle Ages as the millennium between the end of classical antiquity and the start of the Renaissance. But concepts and institutions that we take as distinctively modern—the individual, companionate marriage, the state, vernacular languages as expressions of national identity—begin in the Middle Ages. And the Middle Ages return as a powerful source for imaginative expression in the art and literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and in digital culture in the twenty-first century.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • You want to grow as an analytical thinker with good writing skills, the ability to synthesize disparate materials, and a deep sense of context.
  • You have an interest in studying a rich and dynamic period, and wish to further understand the time through its history, literature, philosophy, and culture.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

  1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
  2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Medieval Studies, a minimum of 123 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 24
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements 24
Requirements for the Major 30

3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if foreign language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Requirements for the Major

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
MEDVL 107Medieval Europe Keystone/General Education Course3
or HIST 107 Medieval Europe Keystone/General Education Course
MEDVL 108Medieval Civilization Keystone/General Education Course3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 24 credits (at least 12 credits at the 400-level) from the program list of courses dealing with the Middle Ages from no less than three of the following areas:24
Art
Ancient to Medieval Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
Romanesque and Gothic Art Keystone/General Education Course
The Illuminated Manuscript
The Gothic Cathedral
Studies in Medieval Sculpture
Late Antique and Early Christian Art
Byzantine Art
History
The Byzantine Empire Keystone/General Education Course
Crusades: Holy War in the Middle Ages Keystone/General Education Course
Medieval and Modern Russia Keystone/General Education Course
Islamic States, Societies and Cultures c. 600-1500 Keystone/General Education Course
Early Medieval Society
Church and State in the High Middle Ages
Medieval Britain
Innovation in Medieval Europe
Medieval Celtic Studies
Classical Islamic Civilization, 600-1258
Japan in the Age of Warriors
Literature and Language
Introduction to Western Literatures Through the Renaissance Keystone/General Education Course
The Arthurian Legend Keystone/General Education Course
CMLIT 401Y
Heroic Literature
British Literature to 1798 Keystone/General Education Course
Chaucer
Medieval English Literature
French and Francophone Literature I
Germanic Heroic and Medieval Literature in English Translation Keystone/General Education Course
History of the German Language
History of German Literature and Culture I
Jewish Civilization Keystone/General Education Course
Dante
Dante in Translation
Iberian Civilization Keystone/General Education Course
Topics in the Cultures of Spain
The Evolution of Spanish
Medieval Studies
Special Topics
Foreign Studies
Research Project
Foreign Studies
Internship
Foreign Studies
Medieval Britain
Medieval Celtic Studies
Research Project
Independent Studies
Special Topics
Foreign Studies
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Medieval Philosophy Keystone/General Education Course
New Testament Keystone/General Education Course
Major Christian Thinkers (upon advising)

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

  • Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

  • GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

Foreign Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one foreign language. See the Placement Policy for Penn State Foreign Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; foreign language credits in this category must be in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language)

Other Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the General Education US/IL requirement.​

Program Learning Objectives

  • Communication and rhetorical skills: Demonstrate analytical and writing skills conducive to the study of different cultural, religious, social, and intellectual traditions and developments, medieval and modern.
  • Critical and cultural analysis: Analyze a range of medieval texts, traditions, objects, institutions, and technologies, with critical consideration of historical, cultural, and linguistic frameworks.
  • Historical and cultural analysis: Analyze different instances and influences of cultural contact during the medieval past, along with modern outcomes and implications of that contact.
  • Research and methodology: Assess and apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to the study and analysis of medieval cultures and their reception and influence in different modern discourses and contexts.
  • Research practices: Gather, evaluate, and synthesize a range of research materials to facilitate the study of diverse perspectives from the medieval past.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2023-24 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contains suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).

Medieval Studies, B.A. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MEDVL 107*3MEDVL 108*3
General Education Course (GWS)3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course (GQ)3General Education Course (GQ)3
World Language Level 14World Language Level 24
 16 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
General Education Course (GWS)3Course at Any Level in Related Area*3
Course at Any Level in Related Area*3Course at Any Level in Related Area*3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
World Language Level 34B.A. Knowledge Domains3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3General Education Course (GWS)3
Course at Any Level in Related Area*3400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
B.A. Knowledge Domains3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3
Other Cultures3General Education Course (GHW)1.5
B.A. Knowledge Domains3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
General Education Course (GHW)1.5 
 16.5 13.5
Total Credits 123
*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.

Medieval Studies, B.A. at Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
General Education Course (GWS)3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course (GQ)3General Education Course (GQ)3
World Language Level 14World Language Level 24
Elective3Elective3
 16 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
General Education Course (GWS)3Course at Any Level in Related Area*3
Course at Any Level in Related Area*3Course at Any Level in Related Area*3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
World Language Level 34B.A. Knowledge Domains3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MEDVL 107*3MEDVL 108*3
400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3General Education Course (GWS)3
Course at Any Level in Related Area*3400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
B.A. Knowledge Domains3Elective3
 Elective3
 15 18
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3400-Level Course in MEDVL or Related Area*3
Other Cultures3General Education Course (GHW)1.5
B.A. Knowledge Domains3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
General Education Course (GHW)1.5 
 16.5 13.5
Total Credits 126
*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.

Career Paths

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Medieval Studies prepares students for those careers which require a broad knowledge of the humanities. Many students combine a Medieval Studies major with a major such as art history, broadcasting, art, language and literature, political science or any of the liberal arts majors, or students may take courses in areas like economics, speech communication, and sociology.

Careers

  • Publishing
  • Teaching
  • Museum Curatorship
  • Archiving
  • Business
  • Medicine

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Graduate work is required for teaching at the college or university level. Former students in the Penn State major have continued their studies at universities such as Oxford, Catholic University, Bryn Mawr, St. Andrews, and Dublin. Many students continue their work in medieval studies or related fields like art, music, theatre, literature, history, or philosophy at the graduate level.

Contact

University Park

MEDIEVAL STUDIES
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-1367
bdw150@psu.edu

https://medieval.la.psu.edu/