Medieval and Renaissance Studies (MRST)

HONORS: An Honors Program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies is offered for qualified students; see the program head for details.

Program Head: Domnica Radulescu

Core Faculty

First date is the year in which the faculty member began service as regular faculty at the University. Second date is the year of appointment to the present rank.

Matthew Bailey, Ph.D.—(2008)-2008
Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., Tulane University

Rebecca R. Benefiel, Ph.D.—(2005)-2011
Associate Professor of Classics
Ph.D., Harvard University

George R. Bent, Ph.D.—(1993)-2007
Sidney Gause Childress Professor of Art History
Ph.D., Stanford University

Joel Blecher, Ph.D.—(2013)-2013
Assistant Professor of Religion
Ph.D., Princeton University

Michelle D. Brock, Ph.D.—(2014)-2014
Assistant Professor of British History
Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin

Alexandra R. Brown, Ph.D.—(1987)-2001
Jessie Ball DuPont Professor of Religion
Ph.D., Columbia University

Gwyn E. Campbell, Ph.D.—(1985)-1999
Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., Princeton University

Roger A. Crockett, Ph.D.—(1991)-1991
Professor of German
Ph.D., University of Illinois

Howard N. (Hank) Dobin, Ph.D.—(2005)-2005
Professor of English
Ph.D., Stanford University

Françoise Frégnac-Clave, Ph.D.—(1996)-2011
Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., University of North Carolina

Genelle C. Gertz, Ph.D.—(2003)-2010
Associate Professor of English
Ph.D., Princeton University

Wan-Chuan Kao, Ph.D.—(2013)-2013
Assistant Professor of English
Ph.D., City University of New York

Jeffrey L. Kosky, Ph.D.—(2003)-2013
Professor of Religion
Ph.D., University of Chicago Divinity School

Stephen P. McCormick, Ph.D.—(2014)-2014
Assistant Professor of French
Ph.D., University of Oregon

David S. Peterson, Ph.D.—(1999)-2009
Professor of History
Ph.D., Cornell University

Holly C. Pickett, Ph.D.—(2005)-2011
Associate Professor of English
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Debra Prager, Ph.D.—(2005)-2013
Associate Professor of German
Ph.D., Harvard University

Domnica V. Radulescu, Ph.D.—(1992)-2003
Edwin A. Morris Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., University of Chicago

Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses are as follows; for course descriptions.

The following courses may also meet major requirements when the topic is appropriate:

Degrees/Majors/Minors

Major

• Medieval and Renaissance Studies major leading to BA degree

Courses

MRST 110 - Medieval and Renaissance Culture

FDR: Offered as 110A when HL; or as 110 when HU; depending on topic.
Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Winter

An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the Medieval and Renaissance periods through the study of a particular topic. Recent studies: The Crusades, Monasticism, Chivalry, Elizabethan England, the Birth of Italian Literature, Pilgrimage, and European Encounters with Islam.

Winter 2015 topic:

MRST 110A: Dreaming in the Middle Ages (3). This course explores a broad range of medieval dream theories and literature of dreaming by authors such as Boethius, Chaucer, Langland, Julian of Norwich, and Shakespeare. Student consider how dream vision functions as a vehicle for understanding the human, the divine, the demonic, and the cosmic. We consider how medieval dream literature engages with romance, epic, devotion and theology, philosophy, allegory, travel narrative, and early science fiction. At the same time. we examine how modern cognitive science and psychoanalysis differ from medieval concepts, and how they might be useful in the reading of medieval texts. (HL) Kao. Winter 2015

MRST 395 - Seminar in Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit.

Prerequisite: Instructor consent. A seminar concentrating on topics or concepts relevant to Medieval and Renaissance studies. Topics are offered according to the interests of participating faculty. This course may be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different. Staff.

MRST 403 - Directed Individual Study

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Individual study of selected topics in Medieval and Renaissance studies. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different. Staff.

MRST 473 - Senior Thesis

Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Fall or Winter

Prerequisites: Senior standing, consent of the program head and the major adviser. Individual research devoted to an original topic dealing with issues pertinent to Medieval and Renaissance studies. The focus of this thesis should coincide with the area of study in which the student has done the most work and should be grounded in interdisciplinary themes. Projects should be approved no later than September 30 of the senior year. Staff.

MRST 493 - Honors Thesis

Credits: 3-3
Planned Offering: Fall-Winter

Prerequisites: Senior standing, cumulative grade-point average of 3.300, and consent of the MRST head. Honors thesis devoted to a specialized topic in Medieval and Renaissance studies. Applications for honors should be submitted to the program head no later than March 1 of the junior year. Staff.

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