Degree Requirements

MDEM Major

This interdisciplinary major enables students to study medieval and early modern cultures in the period between 500 and 1700 C.E.  The program combines a broad background in various aspects of medieval and early modern culture with more specialized study in a selected field.

These fields of emphasis include medieval and early modern art history, anthropology, classics, history, literature (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish), music history, philosophy, and religion.

Degree Requirements for the BA in Medieval and Early Modern Studies

For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements in the current General Announcements. Students majoring in Medieval and Early Modern Studies must complete at least 30 semester hours (10 courses). A minimum or 5 courses (15 credit hours) must be at the 300 or 400 level. These courses must come from at least three (3) different departments.

  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Asian Studies
  • Classical Studies
  • English
  • French Studies
  • History
  • Jewish Studies
  • Music History
  • Philosophy
  • Religion
  • Spanish

It is recommended, but not required, that students take two semesters at the college level in an appropriate language (or languages), specially if they intend to pursue graduate studies. 

Please see the Undergraduate Requirements tab in the General Announcements for details.

MDEM Minor

The MDEM minor is ideal for students who want to enrich their major studies at the University with an interest in interdisciplinary studies in the medieval and early modern period, and to explore how this body of knowledge might apply to their own specific academic or professional goals. The program combines a broad background in various aspects of medieval and early modern culture with more specialized study in a selected field.

These fields of emphasis include medieval and early modern art history, anthropology, classics, history, literature (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish), music history, philosophy, and religion.

Degree Requirements for the Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies

For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements in the current General Announcements. Students minoring in Medieval and Early Modern Studies must complete at least 18 semester hours (6 courses). These courses must come from at least two (2) different departments (see list above under major requirements). A minimum of 3 courses (9 credit hours) must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Distribution Credit

For a full listing of all courses that count for distribution credit, please click here. The description of Group 1 distribution is so general as to encompass all of the courses that we teach in MDEM. We do not, however, consider all of our courses appropriate for D1 credit. We leave it to the discretion of individual professors to decide whether to request distribution credit for their courses.

Go Medieval at Rice