Medieval and Renaissance Collegium (MARC)

3405-3407 MLB
763-2066

Professor Guy Mermier, Director

May be elected as an interdepartmental concentration program

The Medieval and Renaissance Collegium (MARC) administers an undergraduate program in Medieval and Renaissance studies, focusing on the history, civilization, and culture of these ages. Interested students may participate in the MARC program as concentrators or by electing MARC courses as electives in their liberal arts education. The emphasis of the MARC program is multidisciplinary. It allows students to focus on a specific area of study such as the Middle Ages and/or the Renaissance by electing not only the basic Core courses offered by MARC, but courses offered by a variety of departments throughout the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and the University. By breaking through departmental barriers, MARC students acquire a more integrated understanding of early European civilization. Diversity is implicit in the very notion of the MARC program. In fact, MARC joins together such different academic disciplines and areas as archaeology, architecture, classical studies, English, Germanic languages and literatures, history, history of art, law, music, Near Eastern studies, philosophy, religion, Romance languages and literatures, Slavic languages and literatures, and theatre. MARC students are provided the opportunity, therefore, to become true "Renaissance persons" by electing courses in a large variety of departments and drawing upon the talents of faculty representing a wide variety of interests and subjects.

The Future and Careers: MARC concentrators traditionally elect to pursue graduate studies in such areas as languages and literatures, history, or history of art or music, in order to teach in colleges and universities. Many others elect to go into business, government, law, library science, museum practice, and even medicine. MARC is a very good example of a true humanities program, preparing the student not for a specific job, but for a variety of jobs and careers. The MARC program, by not binding students into one small area of study, prepares them to face the broad demands of life. The MARC program therefore is not only an excellent example of a working humanities program, but also one of the best examples of the validity in practice of a humanistic education.

Prerequisites to Concentration. Students who are interested in concentrating in the MARC program are subject to three prerequisites:

Fourth term college-level proficiency in one of the Classical or Western European languages (to be completed by the beginning of the senior year). Exceptions, when appropriate, are made by the Director of the MARC program.
At least one year of high school Latin or one term of college Latin, if Latin is not the language used in meeting the first prerequisite. This requirement must be completed at least by the beginning of the senior year.
Successful completion of two courses from among Anthropology 222; Classical Archaeology 221, 222; Classical Civilization 101, 102; Great Books 191, 192, 201, 202; History 110, 111, 180, 200, 201, 210, 211, 380, 381; History of Art 101, 102; any of the MARC courses numbered 200 and above. For other courses which may satisfy the prerequisites, please see the Director of the MARC program. Prospective concentrators are encouraged to elect at least one course focusing on the ancient world and one course on the Middle Ages or Renaissance.

Concentration Program. The concentration program requires a minimum of thirty upper-level credits (courses number 300 and above). 120 credits are required for the A.B. or B.S. degree. A typical MARC concentration is broadly conceived, with students distributing their efforts among various areas and disciplines representing a coherent acquisition of knowledge for a program of study focusing on Medieval and Renaissance history, civilization and culture. MARC concentrators work closely with the program Director who helps them in selecting the most appropriate courses each term.

Specific requirements:

The four MARC Core courses (MARC 401, 402, 403, and 404). These unifying courses cover the major periods of the MARC program: the early Medieval period, the later Medieval period, the Mediterranean Renaissance, and the northern Renaissance. These Core courses, taught by senior faculty, are designed to inspire reflection and to broaden the cultural horizons of students.
In addition to the four Core courses, MARC concentrators elect at least eighteen additional upper-level credits chosen from at least three other departments and distributed as follows:
1. Nine of these eighteen credits must be elected in a single department and must focus on the Medieval or Renaissance periods.
2. Three of these eighteen credits must be represented by an upper-level literature course in one of the foreign languages (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Old French, Latin, or Old/Middle English). (In the case of Latin, this course must be in addition to the Latin prerequisite and cannot satisfy the prerequisite.)
3. Six of these eighteen credits may be taken outside of the Medieval or Renaissance periods. That is, these six credits need not focus on the area or periods chosen for the MARC concentration.
4. A MARC concentration also requires a substantial research paper (35-50 pages) written under the direction of an appropriate faculty member. The Director of MARC serves as second reader. If the MARC Director is the main reader, another faculty member will be appointed to serve as second reader.

Double Concentration. Students may elect to meet the requirements of a second concentration program along with completing their MARC program. This might be easily arranged with any one of the various programs and departments referred to above. Students interested in doing a double concentration, however, should talk with the MARC Director as early in their undergraduate careers as possible.

Honors Concentration. Ideally all MARC concentrators are Honor students. The four MARC Core courses are the basic Honors courses for the concentration.

Advising. Students interested in the courses or program of the Medieval and Renaissance Collegium are invited to discuss their interests with the MARC Director during the working hours of the office. Students will be referred to appropriate faculty members in the various departments according to their area of interest.

MARC Courses. Following is a listing of a selection of courses which may be elected for a MARC concentration or by students interested in taking occasional courses in Medieval and/or Renaissance studies. For more detailed information, please consult the MARC Program Office, 3405-3407 Modern Languages Building, 763-2066.

Courses in Medieval and Renaissance Collegium (MARC) (Division 430) 210/Hist. 210. Early Middle Ages, 300-1100. (4; 3 in the half-term). (SS).

211/Hist. 211. Later Middle Ages, 1100-1500. (4). (SS).

213/Hist. 213. The Reformation. (3). (HU).

240/Hist. of Art 240. The Visual Arts in Medieval Society. (3). (HU).

250/Hist. of Art 250. Italian Renaissance Art, I. (4). (HU).

251/Hist. of Art 251. Italian Renaissance Art, II. (4). (HU).

323/Hist. of Art 305. The Themes and Symbols of Western Art. (3). (Excl). May be repeated for a total of 12 credits.

375/Germ. 375/Rel. 375. Celtic and Nordic Mythology. (3). (Excl).

386/French 366. Medieval Literature, History, and Culture. French 232, and 8 credits in courses numbered between French 250 and 299. (3). (HU). May be repeated for a total of 6 credits.

401. Early Medieval Period. (3). (Excl).

402. Late Medieval Period. (3). (Excl).

403. Mediterranean Renaissance. (3). (Excl).

404. The Northern Renaissance. (3). (Excl).

411. Special Topics. (1-3). (Excl).

413/Hist. 413. Intellectual History of the Italian Renaissance. (3). (Excl).

414/Hist. 412. Social and Intellectual History of the Florentine Renaissance. I or II. (3). (Excl).

417/RC Hums. 417. Epic and Saga. (4). (Excl).

420. Comparative and Thematic Studies of Medieval Culture III. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit more than once.

422. Early and High Middle Ages: Thematic Studies II. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit more than once.

423. Early and High Middle Ages: Thematic Studies III. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit more than once.

424. Early and High Middle Ages: Thematic Studies IV. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit more than once.

425. Renaissance Italy: Thematic Studies I. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit more than once.

427. Renaissance Italy: Thematic Studies III. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit more than once.

428/Hist. 414. Northern Renaissance and Reformation. (3). (Excl).

430. The Northern Renaissance and Reformation: Thematic Studies III. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit more than once.

439/Italian 433. Dante in Translation. A knowledge of Italian is not required. May not be included in a concentration plan in Italian. (3). (HU).

440/Latin 435. Medieval Latin I, 500-900 A.D. Two years of college Latin. (3). (Excl).

441/Latin 436. Medieval Latin II, 900-1350 A.D. Two years of college Latin. (3). (Excl).

443/German 444. Medieval German Literature in English Translation. (3; 2 in the half-term). (Excl).

444/French 461. Reading of Old French Texts. Two of French 366, 367, 368, 369. (3). (Excl).

455/English 455. Medieval English Literature. (3). (HU).

457/English 457. Renaissance English Literature. (3). (HU).

465/English 465. Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales. (3). (Excl).

490. Directed Reading. Permission of instructor. (1-4). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT). May be repeated for credit.

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