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Global Medieval and Early Modern Studies

This program is pending approval by the UBC Board of Governors.

Interdisciplinary undergraduate program that includes a major and minor. It offers students an opportunity to study multiple interdisciplinary approaches to global medieval and early modern societies from 500 to 1800 CE, enabling them to study pre-1800 societies from different regions, historical periods, and disciplinary perspectives.  

Major in Global Medieval and Early Modern Studies 

The interdisciplinary major program consists of 42 credits and is composed of the core course MDVL_V 200 (3), and approved courses in three areas as follows: 9 credits of Area A (see below), 12 credits of Area B (see below), 15 credits of Area C (see below) and 3 credits of MDVL_V 490 (or an approved capstone research seminar in another unit) or an approved “Past in Present” course. The major consists of 12 lower-level credits (including MDVL_V 200) and at least 30 upper-level credits.

Lower Level Requirements

Students must complete:

  • 3 credits of MDVL_V 200
  • 9 credits of courses chosen from the Areas of Study below 

Upper Level Requirements

Students must complete:

  • 27 credits of courses chosen from the Areas of Study below  
  • 3 credits of MDVL_V 490 (or an approved capstone research seminar in another unit) or an approved “Past in Present” course

For a list of approved courses in each of the Areas of Study, please visit the Medieval Studies website at https://medieval.arts.ubc.ca/.

Areas of Study

(Please note that course categorization is based on the list of current course offerings provided by each consulted unit. New courses which complete the approval process may be added to the categories below.)  

A. Geographical fields (9 credits): 

Three (3 credit) courses must be completed in three of the following geographic fields:

  • Africa
  • East Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • South and Southeast Asia

B. Disciplinary fields (12 credits): 

Four (3 credit) courses must be completed in four of the following fields:

  • Asian Studies  
  • Art History, Visual Art, and Theory
  • Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies  
  • Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies  
  • English Language & Literatures  
  • French, Hispanic and Italian Studies
  • History
  • Global Medieval & Early Modern Studies
  • Music  
  • Philosophy  

C. Electives (15 credits): 

Any additional coursework in the list of approved courses (or courses individually approved by the program chair) may be taken for elective credit. Up to two language courses may also count for the elective requirement.  

For advice on selecting courses applicable to each of the Areas of Study, please contact the program Chair at https://medieval.arts.ubc.ca/about/contact/

Minor in Global Medieval and Early Modern Studies

The interdisciplinary minor program consists of 30 credits and is composed of the core course MDVL_V 200 (3), 6 credits of Area A (see below), 9 credits of Area B (see below), and 12 credits of Area C (see below).  

Lower Level Requirements

Students must complete:

  • 3 credits of MDVL_V 200
  • 6 credits of courses chosen from the Areas of Study  

Upper Level Requirements

Students must complete:

  • 21 credits of courses chosen form the Areas of Study  

Areas of Study:

(Please note that course categorization is based on the list of current course offerings provided by each consulted unit. New courses which complete the approval process may be added to the categories below.)

A. Geographical fields (6 credits):  

Two (3 credit) courses must be completed in two of the following geographic fields:

See Major.

B. Disciplinary fields (9 credits):

Three (3 credit) courses must be completed in three of the following fields:

See Major.

C. Electives (12 credits): 

Any additional coursework in the list of approved courses (or courses individually approved by the program chair) may be taken for elective credit. Up to two language courses may also count for the elective requirement.  

For advice on selecting courses applicable to each of the Areas of Study, please contact the program Chair at https://medieval.arts.ubc.ca/about/contact/


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