2015-2016 Undergraduate Calendar

Medieval and Renaissance Studies  
Director Ernesto Virgulti Professor Rosemary Hale Adjunct Professor André Basson (Campus Ministries) Participating Faculty Renee-Claude Breitenstein (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures), Michael J. Carter (Classics), Fanny Dolansky (Classics), Corrado Federici (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures), Leah Knight (English Language and Literature), Mathew Martin (English Language and Literature), R. Andrew McDonald (History), Elizabeth Neswald (History), Brian E.Power (Music), Virginia Reh (Dramatic Arts), Matthew Royal (Music), Felipe Ruan (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures), Elizabeth Sauer (English Language and Literature), David Schimmelpenninck (History), María del Carmen Suescún Pozas (History), Ernesto Virgulti (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures) Academic Adviser Alisa Cunnington  
General Information Go to top of document
Administrative Assistant Marija Gojmerac 905-688-5550, extension 5325 573 Glenridge 248 The Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies offers an opportunity to study medieval and Renaissance culture and society from an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural study of the history, literature, languages, philosophy, and art of a wide array of cultures across the globe from 400 CE to 1700 CE, with co-operating faculty from Digital Humanities, English Language and Literatures, History, Modern Languages, Literature and Cultures, Music, Dramatic Arts, Visual Arts, and Women's and Gender Studies. The Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies offers a combined major program leading to a BA (Honours or Pass) and Minor for students in other disciplines. Medieval and Renaissance Studies can be combined with any other program offering a combined major option. Medieval and Renaissance Studies core courses may also be taken as electives by students in other disciplines. Course offerings and faculty interests range from the last centuries of the Roman world to Renaissance Italy, from Byzantium to Iceland, and from the reading of Latin literature to the analysis of Chaucer, Dante and Shakespeare among many others, as well as the music and art of the period. The Middle Ages and Renaissance are instrumental in shaping the cultures in which we live. The interdisciplinary understanding of how Medieval and Renaissance cultures worked will illustrate their legacy to us, and their importance in shaping who and what we are. The program seeks to develop the skills and habits of critical inquiry, analysis, argument and expression needed for the rigorous treatment of these questions. The Centre advises students to have their programs reviewed each year by the Faculty of Humanities Undergraduate Adviser and/or the Director. Students planning to enter fourth year are required to have their programs approved by the Faculty of Humanities Undergraduate Adviser as well as the Director. Students considering graduate work in Medieval and/or Renaissance Studies should note that graduate programs normally require competence in Latin and other languages depending on the specific area of study.  
Program Notes Go to top of document
1.  It is strongly recommended that Medieval and Renaissance Studies students take 1.0 language credit as part of their degree program. Latin or modern European languages as appropriate to the program are suggested. Students contemplating Graduate Studies should consider taking at least one second language credit.  
2.  Approved MARS courses may be chosen within the student's co-major. However, students may not use the same course(s) to satisfy both the Medieval and Renaissance Studies and the co-major requirements.  
3.  Each student should meet with the Humanities Academic Adviser to ensure their choice of courses meets the criteria for the combined major degree.  
4.  Students may take only 2.0 credits numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99 from the list of MARS approved courses for major credit.  
5. 

In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.

In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.

In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.

 
Honours Program Go to top of document
Year 2
- Year 2 is now closed
Year 3
- MARS 3P96 and 3P97
- two credits from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses 3(alpha)00 or above (see program note 4)
- two elective credits (see program note 5)
Year 4
- MARS 4P00 and 4P01
- two credits from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses numbered 2(alpha)00 or above
- two elective credits (see program note 5)
 
Pass Program Go to top of document
Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the honours program entitles students to apply for a Pass degree.  
Combined Major Program Go to top of document
Students wishing to major in Medieval and Renaissance Studies must declare a second discipline for a combined major program. For requirements in the second discipline, the student should consult the relevant department/centre. It should be noted that not all departments/centres provide a combined major option. Year 1
- MARS 1F90
- one credit from co-major
- one Sciences context credit
- one Social Sciences context credit
- one elective credit (see program note 1)
Year 2
- MARS 2P89 and 2P95
- two credits from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses (see program note 4)
- two credits from co-major
Year 3
- MARS 3P92 and 3P97
- one credit numbered 3(alpha)00 or above from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses (see program note 5)
- two credits from co-major
- one elective credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
Year 4
- MARS 4P00 and 4P01
- one credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses
- two credits from co-major (see program note 5)
- one elective credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
 
Minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies Go to top of document
Students in other disciplines may obtain a Minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies by successfully completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
- MARS 1F90, 2P89 and 2P95
- one MARS credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above
- one MARS credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
 
Approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies Courses Offered by Other Departments/Centres Go to top of document
Note: As many of the courses listed below have prerequisites, students should plan their programs in advance. CLAS 1P92 Roman Civilization CLAS 1P93 Culture and Civilization of Central Europe: From the Prehistoric to the Carolingian Period (also offered as GERM 1P93) CLAS 1P95 Myths of the Greek and Roman World CLAS 1P97 Myths of the Heroic Age CLAS 3M20-3M29 Study in Mediterranean Lands (also offered as VISA 3M20-3M29) CLAS 3P06 History of the Early Roman Empire (also offered as HIST 3P06) CLAS 3P23 Art and Architecture of Rome in the Imperial Age (also offered as VISA 3P23) DART 3P91 Shakespeare in Performance ENGL 2P19 Chaucer: The Poetry ENGL 2P21 Sixteenth-Century Literature ENGL 2P24 Early 17th-Century Literature ENGL 2P80 Shakespeare 1590-1603 (also offered as LART 2P80) ENGL 2P81 Shakespeare 1603-1614 (also offered as LART 2P81) ENGL 2P82 Shakespeare's Comedies (also offered as LART 2P82) ENGL 2P83 Shakespeare's Tragedies (also offered as LART 2P83) ENGL 2P84 Non-Shakespearean Drama in England, 1576-1642 ENGL 3P20 Spenser and the Age of Elizabeth ENGL 3P22 The Literature of Milton's Time ENGL 3P95 Romance and Visionary Literature of the late Middle Ages ENGL 4P00 Literature of the English Revolution (also offered as HIST 4P00) FREN 2P65 Culture and Civilization of France to 1700 FREN 4P12 Medieval French Literature FREN 4P20 Sixteenth-Century Literature HIST 2P03 Early Medieval Britain 400-1000: Celts, Saxons and Vikings HIST 2P04 The Medieval British Isles, 1000-1485 HIST 2P25 Revolutions in Communication (also offered as IASC 2P25) HIST 2P70 The Middle East, 600-1800 (also offered as MARS 2P70) HIST 2P75 Western Science From Aristotle to Newton (also offered as LART 2P75) HIST 2P76 Making Modern Science (also offered as LART 2P76) HIST 2P91 Europe's Reformations, 1450-1650 HIST 2P96 Early Russia HIST 3P30 The Viking Age HIST 3P60 The World of Genghis Khan: Inner Asia since 500 BC (also offered as INTC 3P60) HIST 3Q93 The Crusades HIST 4P29 Wallace, Bruce and the Wars of Scotland HIST 4P35 Witchcraft Episodes in Britain and America, 1500-1700 LATI 1F00 Language (Introductory) LATI 2P01 Language and Literature I LATI 2P02 Language and Literature II MUSI 4P50 History of Music in the Middle Ages MUSI 4P51 History of Music in the Renaissance MUSI 4P55 History of Music and Liturgy to 1600 MUSI 4P96 Topics in the History of Theory: Renaissance and Baroque  
Description of Courses Go to top of document
Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details. # Indicates a cross listed course * Indicates primary offering of a cross listed course  
Prerequisites and Restrictions Go to top of document
Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. MARS 1F90 Medieval and Renaissance Civilizations Key themes, problems and topics in Medieval and Renaissance civilizations, including: the development of concepts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; notions of decline, renewal, rebirth and reformation in the West; sources and methods of inquiry. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. #MARS 2P08 Colonial Latin America (also offered as HIST 2P08) Introduction to the history of Latin America from pre-hispanic times through 1810 focusing on the clashes, alliances and negotiations among indigenous peoples, conquistadores, slaves and missionaries. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. #MARS 2P70 The Middle East, 600 - 1800 (also offered as HIST 2P70) Major themes in Middle Eastern history from the advent of Islam to 1800 AD art, culture, religions, migration, minorities, slavery and political developments. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. #MARS 2P75 Western Science from Aristotle to Newton (also offered as HIST 2P75 and LART 2P75) Western science from Greek natural philosophy through Arabic, Medieval and Renaissance science to the Scientific Revolution. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. Note: no background in science is required. *MARS 2P89 Medieval and Renaissance Art, Architecture and Society (also offered as VISA 2P89) Interdisciplinary study of the inter-relation and connectedness between the arts, architecture and society in medieval and Renaissance Europe. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. #MARS 2P92 Early to High Renaissance Art and Architecture (also offered as ITAL 2P92 and VISA 2P92) Major monuments, buildings and art works of the period from several critical perspectives including the humanist influence on the arts in Florence and Rome, the issue of patronage and the question of the artist's cultural status. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. Prerequisite(s): one of MARS 1F90, ITAL 1F90, VISA 1Q98 and 1Q99 or permission of the instructor. Note: given in English. *MARS 2P95 Reading the Middle Ages: the Heroic and the Chivalric (also offered as ENGL 2P95) Interdisciplinary examination of literature, music, arts and society of both the northern Germanic hero and the medieval and Renaissance court. Included are Beowulf and other Anglo-Saxon heroic literature, Eddic poetry, Old Norse sagas, the Niebelungenlied, the lais of Marie de France, Arthurian-related narratives, troubadours, and religious and secular music. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. #MARS 3M20-3M29 Study in Mediterranean Lands (also offered as CLAS 3M20-3M29 and VISA 3M20-3M29) Topographical investigations of ancient sites and monuments. Study tours of the great cities and museums of the Mediterranean world emphasizing the art and architecture of the Prehistoric, Classical and later periods. Restriction: permission of the Department of Classics. Note: offered in the Spring or Summer Session for three or four weeks of intensive study abroad. Students are expected to pay their own expenses. #MARS 3M24 2015-2016: Study Tour to Turkey (also offered as CLAS 3M24 and VISA 3M24) Major monuments of Turkey in Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, focusing on Greco-Roman antiquity, the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Restriction: permission of the Department of Classics. Note: offered in the Spring or Summer Session for three or four weeks of intensive study abroad. Students are expected to pay their own expenses. MARS 3M50-3M59 Medieval and Renaissance Studies Abroad Study of the Medieval and/or Renaissance history and culture of a country, region or theme in its geographic context. Restriction: students must have a minimum of 10.0 overall credits and permission of the instructor. Note: students are responsible for travel, accommodation and other expenses. Usually offered in the Spring/Summer session. #MARS 3P19 The Rise of Christian Philosophy (also offered as PHIL 3P19) Philosophy from the patristic period through Erigena and Anselm up to and including the 12th-century Renaissance. Lectures, 3 hours per week. Prerequisite(s): one PHIL credit or permission of the instructor. #MARS 3P92 Petrarch and Boccaccio (also offered as ITAL 3P92) Literature, arts and culture of the Middle Ages, emphasizing Petrarch's Canzoniere (Song Book) and Boccaccio's Decameron. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. Prerequisite(s): one MARS credit, one ITAL credit or permission of the instructor. Note: given in English. No knowledge of Italian is required. #MARS 3P93 Dante and The Divine Comedy (also offered as ITAL 3P93) Dante's Divine Comedy and the world it created and reflected. References to relevant visual arts (illustrations of the Divine Comedy and works depicting the Last Judgement) as well as to Dante's The New Life and the Monarchy. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. Prerequisite(s): one MARS credit, one ITAL credit or permission of the instructor. Note: given in English. No knowledge of Italian is required. *MARS 3P96 Medieval and Early Modern Christianity (also offered as HIST 3P96) Interdisciplinary study of the continuities and discontinuities in the history of the Christian Church from the onset of the Middle Ages to the eve of the Protestant reformations. Examination of ecclesiastical authority, Christianity's interactions with Judaism and Islam, changing social structures, monastic reforms, the Crusades, magic, science, religion, the papacy, and the cult of saints and devotion to relics. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. *MARS 3P97 The World of the Renaissance and Beyond (also offered as HIST 3P97) Interdisciplinary study of the primary texts relative to the European Renaissance and global questions that reshape the world, emphasizing the historical, cultural and intellectual legacies of the Renaissance, including literature, religion, philosophy, science, medicine and the history of exploration. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. MARS 4P00 Directed Studies Program of study designed in consultation with a faculty member. Restriction: open to MARS majors with approval to year 4 (honours). Note: topic for a major piece of written work or the equivalent must be submitted by the student by April 1 of year 3 and approved by Director and the appropriate instructor. MARS 4P01 Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Studies Critical approaches to Medieval and Renaissance Studies from a variety of disciplines. Seminar, 3 hours per week. Restriction: open to MARS majors with approval to year 4 (honours). Note: students in other disciplines may register with permission of the instructor and Director. Students will be encouraged to share their research projects from MARS 4P00 in the discussions. #MARS 4P06 Medieval Literature and Social Control (also offered as ENGL 4P06) Medieval English literature in relation to the management of different populations in Britain in the late Middle Ages. Topics include the English Rising of 1381, punishment systems, sexuality, literacies and class, the disciplining of bodies to conform to etiquette, the regulation of female speech, and colonization and civility. Seminar, 3 hours per week. Restriction: open to MARS (single or combined), ECUL, ENCW, ENGL (single or combined) and ENGL (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) majors with approval to year 4 (honours), and to RWRT majors with a minimum of 14.0 overall credits and a minimum 60 percent major average or permission of the instructor and Chair. Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in MARS (ENGL) 4V06. #MARS 4P55 The Later Roman Empire (also offered as CLAS 4P55) History of the Roman Empire from the death of Marcus Aurelius to Late Antiquity. Lectures, 3 hours per week. Prerequisite(s): one CLAS credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above. MARS 4V70-4V75 Selected Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Studies Issues in Medieval and Renaissance Studies.  
Last updated: July 17, 2015 @ 04:35PM