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Medieval Studies
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Medieval Studies major at Penn State is an interdisciplinary program designed to give undergraduate students an integrated knowledge of medieval civilization. Medieval Studies at Penn State includes Europe, the Northern and Eastern Mediterranean Sea region, Scandinavian settlements in North America and Greenland, and the Northern Pacific region. The interdisciplinary breadth and academic rigor of Medieval Studies provides students with the opportunity to pursue advanced study in a number of fields.
The Medieval Studies program is flexible and allows students to design a course of study that reflects their particular areas of interest. Through the diversity of the cultures from which our own society developed, Medieval Studies majors will come to understand the various contributions of the Middle Ages to Western Civilization. From Arthurian Romances to the Crusades, from the Celts to Byzantine art, Medieval Studies offers insight into the range of achievement and development upon which modern Western societies are based.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
Medieval Studies students are encouraged to broaden their knowledge of medieval societies in a number of ways. They can enroll in relevant education abroad programs, undertake internships in museum curatorial work and archival preservation, and participate in societies dedicated to recreating aspects of medieval life. Penn State is host to an annual Medieval Studies Conference, now in its twentieth year, with speakers and scholars from throughout the world.
CAREER DIRECTIONS
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Medieval Studies prepares students for careers requiring a broad knowledge of the humanities, such as publishing, teaching, or museum curatorship, to list only a few examples. Many students combine a Medieval Studies major with another undergraduate major such as art history, broadcasting, art, or any of the liberal arts majors. Some occupations in which Medieval Studies graduates are employed include: archivist, attorney, fine arts, publishing, university professor, librarian, history teacher, and museum curator.
Graduate work is required for teaching at the college or university level. Former Penn State Medieval Studies majors have continued their studies at, among other institutions: Catholic University, Bryn Mawr University, the University of St. Andrews, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, and Trinity College, Dublin. Many students continue their work in Medieval Studies or related fields including art, art history, music, literature, philosophy, or theater.