www.smu.edu/medievalstudies
Associate Professor Bonnie Wheeler, Director
The Medieval Studies Program affords the student an opportunity for a classically liberal education within a broad subset of Western (Celtic, Franconic, Italic, Germanic, Visigothic) and non-Western (Byzantine, Islamic, Persian) contexts. Studies reveal how the historical shapes, institutional structures, literary visions and artistic forms that emerged from the Middle Ages have colored our concepts of God, society, self, love, individualism and success. It is appropriate for preprofessional training in multiple fields such as business, religious studies, biology, music theory, and world languages and literatures. The major can also lead to graduate work in medieval studies or, more usually, in such disciplines as literature, history, and art and music history. The Dallas Medieval Consortium makes it possible for students at SMU, the University of Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas to enroll in selected medieval studies courses on the other campuses. Through the consortium, SMU students can elect no more than 15 hours in medieval subject courses at any other consortium university.
Medieval studies is an interdisciplinary major of 30 hours in medieval subjects, and advanced Latin language and literature, distributed over at least three broad subject areas in medieval studies: 1) history, 2) literature, and 3) music and visual arts (art/music history), with no fewer than six hours in each area. Latin language and literature courses after the second year may, with the approval of the director, count toward hours for the medieval studies major. Students are encouraged to take courses in medieval philosophy, religious studies and church history when they are available. Individual student programs are approved by the director and a committee of two other members of the Medieval Studies Program faculty.
Many departmental courses in the field of medieval studies are offered each year; courses listed as “MDVL” are interdisciplinary. Students should consult with the director about offerings and frequency.