Medieval and Renaissance Studies (BA)
Program Description
The undergraduate program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (MARS) is part of the Medieval and Renaissance Center (MARC). It focuses on the history, institutions, languages, literatures, thought, faith, art, and music of Europe, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean world together with their global connections–-from Timbuktu to India to Mongolia and beyond–-from the collapse of the Roman empire to about 1700. Notably “other” from modern and contemporary societies, this important period invites us to engage its multifold diversity (cultural, linguistic, religious, philosophical, aesthetic) and also to grapple with the roots of questions that remain urgent today, ranging from humanitarian ideals (individual freedom, equality, social and environmental responsibility) to long-lasting systems that continue to counter those ideals (racism, colonialism, environmental exploitation). Studying the Middle Ages and the Renaissance is therefore a powerful tool for facing the complexity not only of the past, but also of our own present.
The MARS curriculum links undergraduates with NYU’s outstanding humanities faculty; with the superb libraries, museums, and collections in the New York area; and with musical and theatrical performances of works from this period that are given regularly in the city. It also enriches students’ experience in CAS study away programs. Students design their own programs in consultation with the program director and faculty, receiving individualized attention from a center of excellence situated within a great university and a vibrant city.
MARS majors have gone on to graduate work in medieval studies, early modern studies, archival and museum studies, religious studies, history, art history, music, and literature and language studies, as well as to professional schools (medicine, law, management) and careers in business and education.
Honors Program
To qualify for the honors program in the Medieval and Renaissance studies major, students must maintain at least a 3.65 cumulative average and a 3.65 major average. The honors track is a year-long program which requires students to write and orally defend a senior honors thesis. During the fall semester of their senior year, students who qualify for honors enroll in MEDI-UA 999 Senior Honors Seminar (4 credits), which replaces one of the three courses in a secondary concentration required for the major. In the spring semester they enroll in MEDI-UA 998 Independent Study(1 to 4 credits, which for some students may be in addition to the nine courses and 36 credits required for the major). The Senior Honors Seminar guides students through the research and writing of the thesis. In Honors Independent Study, students complete their honors theses under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students interested in honors must consult with the director of the program by the end of junior year.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.