Mediaeval Studies Program Requirements and Courses - University of St. Michael's College

Program Requirements and Courses

The term “mediaeval” is the name given to a period in the history between “antiquity” and “modernity,” or roughly the fifth through the fifteenth centuries. Its parameters are broad and boundaries are not clearly defined. The Mediaeval Studies program adopts an interdisciplinary approach to exploring this world through the study of subjects such as the Latin language, art, literature, law, gender roles, and religion. As well as examining the mediaeval foundations of modern culture, students also explore “mediaevalisms” that appear in our own culture through such media as film, literature, drama, and art, and introduce new approaches including digital humanities.

The Mediaeval Studies program is open to undergraduate students registered in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. Our courses are open to students registered at the University of Toronto.

Mediaeval Studies Program Overview

See Mediaeval Studies Program Overview

For more information

For any questions about our program or courses please contact smc.programs@utoronto.ca. Note that courses listed below are not offered every year. For current course details please see the Faculty of Arts and Science Timetable Builder.

Mediaeval Studies Specialist

An interdisciplinary treatment of the history, art, literature and thought of the Middle Ages.

Enrolment Requirements:

This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

Completion Requirements:

(12.0 credits, including at least 4.0 credits at the 300+ level, 1.0 of which must be at the 400-level)

1. 0.5 credit from the introductory courses: MST210H1/ MST212H1/ SMC165H1/ SMC176Y1.

2. 2.0 credits from the foundational courses which provide further introduction into more specific aspects of Mediaeval Studies: CHC200H1/ CHC307H1/ CHC327H1/ CHC367H1/ MST222H1/ MST230H1/ MST231H1/ MST232H1/ MST233H1/ MST234H1/ MST242H1/ MST323H1/ MST328H1/ MST358H1/ MST359H1/ MST361H1/ SMC176Y1.

3. 2.0 credits from the following Latin courses: LAT101H1/ LAT102H1/ LAT201H1/ LAT202H1/ MST222H1/ MST323H1/ MST328H1/ MST436H1/ SMC176Y1.

4. 6.0 credits from the following elective courses, with at least 2.0 credits from courses with an SMC/CHC/CLT/MST designator. Students can choose courses from all four groups.

History:
MST201H1/ MST202H1/ MST211H1/ MST230H1/ MST231H1/ MST232H1/ MST233H1/ MST234H1/ MST300H1/ MST301H1/ MST340H1/ MST401H1/ MST442H1/ CHC215H1/ CHC322H1/ CLA378H1/ CLT337H1/ CLT338H1/ CLT344Y1/ HIS208Y1/ HIS220Y1/ HIS251Y1/ HIS320H1/ HIS321H1/ HIS322H1/ HIS323H1/ HIS336H1/ HIS403H1/ HIS424H1/ HIS426H1/ HIS427H1/ HIS428H1/ HIS432H1/ HIS434Y1/ HIS438H1/ HPS201H1/ HPS430H1/ NMC270H1/ NMC273Y1/ NMC275H1/ NMC342H1/ NMC376H1/ NMC377Y1/ SLA253H1/ SMC165H1

Thought:
MST200Y1/ MST210H1/ MST212H1/ MST213H1/ MST242H1/ MST324H1/ MST341H1/ MST359H1/ MST361H1/ CHC307H1/ CHC327H1/ CHC368H1/ CHC383H1/ CLA336H1/ CLT350H1/ MAT390H1/ PHL200Y1/ PHL205H1/ PHL206H1/ PHL303H1/ PHL304H1/ PHL307H1/ PHL308H1/ PHL309H1/ PHL336H1/ RLG241H1/ SMC188H1/ SMC189H1

Literature:
MST222H1/ MST226H1/ MST323H1/ MST328H1/ MST436H1/ CLT250H1/ CLT343H1/ CLT373H1/ CLT440H1/ CLT441H1/ CLT445H1/ ENG240Y1/ ENG300Y1/ ENG311H1/ ENG330H1/ ENG385H1/ FRE318H1/ FRE471H1/ ITA311H1/ ITA312H1/ ITA320H1/ LAT101H1/ LAT102H1/ LAT201H1/ LAT202H1/ NMC255H1/ NMC350H1/ SLA330H1/ SLA400H1/ SMC176Y1/ SMC441Y1/ SPA450H1

The Arts:
MST326H1/ MST358H1/ CHC200H1/ CHC367H1/ CLT344Y1/ FAH215H1/ FAH216H1/ FAH318H1/ FAH319H1/ FAH327H1/ FAH328H1/ FAH420H1/ FAH421H1/ FAH424H1/ FAH492H1

And from the intensive research courses with changing topics in the fourth year: MST406H1/ MST407Y1/ MST435H1/ SMC457H1

5. 0.5 credit from CHC232H1/ CHC370H1/ CHC371H1/ CHC383H1/ MST242H1/ MST341H1/ MST442H1/ SMC385H1 or 0.5 credit of 200+ level course from Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical and Mathematical Universes.

6. MST490Y1

Notes:

Effective Fall 2021, courses associated with St. Michael’s College’s Mediaeval Studies, Christianity and Culture, and Celtic Studies programs will have the new “MST,” “CHC,” and “CLT” designators respectively.
MST201H1, MST202H1, MST300H1 are offered through the Centre for Medieval Studies.

Mediaeval Studies Major

An interdisciplinary treatment of the history, art, literature and thought of the Middle Ages.

Enrolment Requirements:

This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

Completion Requirements:

(7.0 credits, including at least 2.0 credits at the 300+ level, 0.5 of which must be at the 400-level)

1. 0.5 credit from the introductory courses: MST210H1/ MST212H1/ SMC165H1/ SMC176Y1.

2. 1.0 credit from the foundational courses which provide further introduction into more specific aspects of Mediaeval Studies: CHC200H1/ CHC307H1/ CHC327H1/ CHC367H1/ MST222H1/ MST230H1/ MST231H1/ MST232H1/ MST233H1/ MST234H1/ MST242H1/ MST323H1/ MST328H1/ MST358H1/ MST359H1/ MST361H1/ SMC176Y1.

3. 4.5 credits from the following elective courses, with at least 1.5 credits from courses with an SMC/CHC/CLT/MST designator. Students can choose courses from all four groups.

The Arts:
MST326H1/ MST358H1/ CHC200H1/ CHC367H1/ CLT344Y1/ FAH215H1/ FAH216H1/ FAH318H1/ FAH319H1/ FAH327H1/ FAH328H1/ FAH420H1/ FAH421H1/ FAH424H1/ FAH492H1

And from the intensive research courses with changing topics in the fourth year: MST406H1, MST407Y1, MST435H1, SMC457H1.

4. 0.5 credit from CHC232H1/ CHC370H1/ CHC371H1/ CHC383H1/ MST242H1/ MST341H1/ MST442H1/ SMC385H1 or 0.5 credit of 200+ level course from Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical and Mathematical Universes.

5. 0.5 credit from the following: MST406H1/ MST407Y1/ MST435H1/ MST436H1/ SMC457H1/ MST490Y1.

Notes:

Effective Fall 2021, courses associated with St. Michael’s College’s Mediaeval Studies, Christianity and Culture, and Celtic Studies programs will have the new “MST,” “CHC,” and “CLT” designators respectively.
MST201H1, MST202H1, MST300H1 are offered through the Centre for Medieval Studies.

Mediaeval Studies Minor

An interdisciplinary treatment of the history, art, literature and thought of the Middle Ages.

Enrolment Requirements:

This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

Completion Requirements:

(4.0 credits including at least 1.0 credit at the 300+ level)

1. 0.5 credit from the introductory courses: MST210H1/ MST212H1/ SMC165H1/ SMC176Y1
2. 1.0 credit from the foundational courses: CHC200H1/ CHC307H1/ CHC327H1/ CHC367H1/ MST222H1/ MST230H1/ MST231H1/ MST232H1/ MST233H1/ MST234H1/ MST242H1/ MST323H1/ MST328H1/ MST358H1/ MST359H1/ MST361H1/ SMC176Y1
3. 2.5 credits from the foundational courses listed in requirement 2 above or from the elective courses listed in requirement 4 of the Specialist Program.

Notes:

Effective Fall 2021, courses associated with St. Michael’s College’s Mediaeval Studies, Christianity and Culture, and Celtic Studies programs will have the new “MST,” “CHC,” and “CLT” designators respectively.
MST201H1, MST202H1, MST300H1 are offered through the Centre for Medieval Studies.

For the most up-to-date course listings please see the Faculty of Arts and Science Timetable.

As of the 2021/2022 academic year all Mediaeval Studies courses will have new course codes. Both the old SMC program courses and new MST courses will count toward your Mediaeval Studies program requirements. If you notice a course not being counted in Degree Explorer please contact us at smc.programs@utoronto.ca.

The course re-coding is taking place across all St. Michael’s College courses. As of Fall 2021, Mediaeval Studies courses will be coded as MST courses, Celtic courses will be CLT courses, and Christianity and Culture courses will be CHC courses.

Mediaeval Studies All Course Offerings

200 Level

MST210H1 – The Early Mediaeval Tradition

Previous Course Number: SMC210H1
Hours: 24L/12T

An introduction to the thought and culture of early mediaeval Europe. Students are introduced to important monuments of early mediaeval History, Thought, Literature, and Art. They follow some of the common threads that run through these disciplines and explore chief expressions of early mediaeval life and thought.

Exclusion: SMC210H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

MST211H1 – The Middle Ages and the Movies

Previous Course Number: SMC211H1
Hours: 24L/12T

This course examines the ways mediaeval themes have been presented in the cinema over the last century by taking exemplary films from different countries and epochs. The purpose is to explore each on three levels: the mediaeval reality, the subsequent legendary or literary elaboration, and the twentieth-century film rendition, regarded equally as work of art, ideology and economic product.

Exclusion: SMC211H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST212H1 – The Later Mediaeval Tradition

Previous Course Number: SMC212H1
Hours: 24L/12T

An introduction to the thought and culture of later mediaeval Europe. Students are introduced to important monuments of later mediaeval History, Thought, Literature, and Art. They follow some of the common threads that run through these disciplines and explore chief expressions of later mediaeval life and thought.

Exclusion: SMC212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

MST213H1 – Dante and the Christian Imagination

Previous Course Number: SMC213H1
Hours: 24L

A study of selections from various works by Dante as an expression of the medieval imagination, viewed against the background of medieval Christian doctrine and psychology and in relation to various contemporary approaches to the study of medieval Christian culture.

Exclusion: SMC213H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

MST222H1 – Mediaeval Latin Literature

Previous Course Number: SMC222H1
Hours: 48S

This course studies a selection of Mediaeval Latin prose and poetry. Emphasis is on the linguistic differences between Mediaeval Latin and its classical antecedent, especially in regard to vocabulary, grammar and orthography. A review of Latin grammar is part of the course.

Prerequisite: SMC176Y1/LAT102H1
Exclusion: SMC222H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST226H1 – King Arthur

Previous Course Number: SMC226H1
Hours: 24L

A survey of the Arthurian legends from the earliest Latin histories through selected Welsh, French and German Romances to the English-language classic, Morte d’Arthur of Malory. Emphasis will be on reading the primary sources (in translation).

Prerequisite: 5.0 credits
Exclusion: SMC226H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST230H1 – The Middle Ages in Modern Life: Games, Television, and the Popular Imagination

Hours: 24L

Modern culture retains a fascination with the middle ages. In many cases, the Mediaeval world or more often ideas about the Mediaeval world, feature in modern entertainment, politics, or literature. This course explores the ways the middle ages have been interpreted and reinterpreted in various aspects of modern culture such as role playing games, videogames, television, literature, and iconography.

Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST231H1 – On the Move in Mediaeval Eurasia

Hours: 24L

In this age of constant global travel, it is easy both to forget how much more complicated travel was in earlier periods, and to assume that there was very little of it. In the Mediaeval world, people travelled for work as traders, craftsmen and warriors; they travelled for their spirit as pilgrims; they travelled as migrants and refugees. This course will introduce students to the variety of people on the move in Mediaeval Eurasia, their motives, and the means they used to travel.

Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST232H1 – How to Be a Barbarian: Beard, Battles and Belief at the Dawn of the Middle Ages

Hours: 24L

Barbarians have caught the modern popular imagination, and they appear to be much the same: hairy warriors who destroyed civilization. The late antique period (c.300–c.600) was a time of transition and the meetings of several cultures. This course examines the so-called barbarians who entered and soon came to rule the former Roman provinces of western Europe in this period. Our particular focus is the cultural, religious, artistic, and socio-economic aspects of barbarian peoples, and how these intersected with the civilization of Rome.

Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

MST233H1 – Viking Cultures

Hours: 24L

Everyone thinks they know who the Vikings were. Like many aspects of the middle ages popular in modern life, there is much that is inaccurate about this picture of the Vikings. This course explores how Vikings lived—what sorts of things they did for a living, how they amused and entertained themselves, and what they thought—and moves on to consider their rituals of death and their notions of the afterlife. It will be based both on reading a variety of texts produced by and about the Vikings, as well as looking at various objects they produced that have survived.

Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST234H1 – Women’s Lives in Mediaeval Europe

Hours: 24L

Using an interdisciplinary lens, this course explores the experiences of Mediaeval women. Some attention will be given to subjects such as the idea of the Mediaeval feminine, holiness and femininity, and appropriate feminine behaviour. At the same time, we will look at the social and cultural roles of women in society for instance the gendered ideals of marriage, guild structures, and child rearing.

Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

MST242H1 – Mediaeval Mythologies and Methodologies

Hours: 24L

The idea of the ‘middle ages’ is pervasive in Western thought, but only some of what is ‘traditional’ actually happened. This course introduces various interpretations, constrictions, and re-creations. Our analysis will draw on literary texts and their various interdisciplinary interpretations and applications.

Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

300 Level

MST301H1 – Special Topics in Mediaeval Studies

Hours: 24L

A senior-level special topics seminar in Mediaeval Studies as determined by the instructor.Prerequisite: Completion of 9.0 credits
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1, MST212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities

MST323H1 – Mediaeval Latin Prose

Previous Course Number: SMC323H1
Hours: 48S

Comprising an immersion in Mediaeval Latin prose texts, this course gives students a deepened acquaintance with the linguistic features of Mediaeval Latin, as well as with its literature, and generic and stylistic conventions. A solid foundation in basic Latin morphology, syntax and vocabulary is assumed.

Prerequisite: LAT202H1/MST222H1
Exclusion: SMC323H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST324H1 – The Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages

Previous Course Number: SMC324H1
Hours: 24L/12T

This course explores mediaeval biblical commentary and the various approaches taken by the exegetes to uncover the secrets of the sacred page, for instance through the four senses of Scripture: history, allegory, tropology, and anagogy.

Exclusion: SMC324H1
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1/MST212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

MST326H1 – Mediaeval Music: thought and practice

Previous Course Number: SMC326H1
Hours: 24L

An introduction to musical theory and practice in the middle ages: sacred and secular music, monophony and polyphony, performers and patrons, notation and orality. No prior background in music or ability to read music is required.

Prerequisite: CHC203Y1/SMC206H1/MST210H1/MST212H1/MUS111H1
Exclusion: SMC326H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST328H1 – Mediaeval Latin Poetry

Previous Course Number: SMC328H1
Hours: 48L

This course studies selections from the rich variety of Mediaeval Latin poetry, rhymed as well as rhythmic, and provides a survey of prosody and metrics. A solid foundation in basic Latin morphology, syntax and vocabulary is assumed.

Prerequisite: MST222H1/LAT202H1
Exclusion: SMC328H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST340H1 – Mediaeval Genders and Sexualities

Hours: 24L

This course explores ideas of gender and sexuality in the mediaeval world. In particular it examines the links between the two throughout history, the social religious, and literary ideas of marriage and reproduction. Through close readings of primary sources including literature, canon law, penitentials, sermons, and medical treatises, students will explore the boundaries between the worlds of biology and culture.

Prerequisite: Completion of 9.0 credits
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1, MST212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

MST341H1 – Middle Ages by the Numbers

Hours: 24L

Numbers and their uses often appear to be absolute fact: a thousand dollars is exactly that, not more or less; and if you weigh fifty kilos, that’s what you weigh. But the use and meaning of numbers—for recording and counting dates, money, weights, distances, and myriad other functions—is not, in fact, devoid of cultural, historical, and political context. Mediaeval Europe provided a bewildering range of calendric systems, currencies, systems of measurement, and numerical symbolism was much used in art, music, religious thought, and literature. This course provides an introduction to the various uses of numbers in this period across different regions and cultural contexts.

Prerequisite: Completion of 9.0 credits
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1, MST212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

MST358H1 – The Mediaeval Book

Previous Course Number: SMC358H1
Hours: 24S

This course examines the most salient aspects of mediaeval manuscript culture. We will study, first, how the parchment for books was folded, pricked, ruled and bound, and second, what scripts were employed in the different codices. We will also examine the various types of books made in the Middle Ages and the challenges they pose to modern scholars.

Exclusion: SMC358H1
Recommended Preparation: LAT102H1, MST210H1/MST212H1 or a course in mediaeval history.
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST359H1 – Mediaeval Theology

Previous Course Number: SMC359H1
Hours: 24L

An introduction to the discipline of theology as taught in the mediaeval schools. Building on a basic knowledge of Christian scriptures and of philosophical argument, this course will offer an organic exposition of mediaeval theology, together with an introduction into the scientific method of theological investigation as practised in the Middle ages.

Exclusion: SMC359H1
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1/MST212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

MST361H1 – Mediaeval Law

Previous Course Number: SMC361H1
Hours: 24S

Mediaeval jurisprudence combines the high technical quality of Roman law with the requirements of Christianity. The seminar provides an overview of the development of mediaeval learned jurisprudence; select texts from Roman and canon law, with their glosses, are read in order to explore more specifically the methods and concerns of mediaeval jurists.

Exclusion: SMC361H1
Recommended Preparation: HIS220Y1/MST210H1/MST212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

400 Level

MST401H1 – Advanced Topics in Mediaeval Studies

Hours: 24L

In this course, students will have an opportunity to take a graduate seminar at the Centre for Medieval Studies, one of the world’s premier research institutions in the field. Depending on the nature of the seminar, the instructor, the SMC program coordinator, and the student will determine a method of assessment appropriate for an undergraduate student while still pushing the student’s boundaries to be able to participate in weekly discussions in a graduate seminar along with MA and PhD students. Course forms are available from the SMC Principal’s Office.

Prerequisite: MST210H1, MST212H1, 9.0 credits
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

MST406H1 – Mediaeval Seminar II

Previous Course Number: SMC406H1
Hours: 12T/24S

A fourth-year seminar on a topic to be determined annually. Refer to the St. Michael’s College website for more information.

Prerequisite: 1.0 credit in MST courses
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1/MST212H1 or other mediaeval courses
Distribution Requirements: Humanities

MST407Y1 – Mediaeval Seminar I

Previous Course Number: SMC407Y1
Hours: 24T/48S

A fourth-year seminar on a topic to be determined annually. Refer to the St. Michael’s College website for more information.

Prerequisite: 1.0 credit in MST courses
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1/MST212H1 or other mediaeval courses
Distribution Requirements: Humanities

MST435H1 – Independent Studies in Mediaeval Studies

Previous Course Number: SMC435H1

An independent research project to be proposed by the student and supervised by a member of faculty affiliated with the Mediaeval Studies Program. Application forms are available from the SMC Principal’s Office. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: Completion of 10.0 credits and written approval of the Program Coordinator and Program Director
Distribution Requirements: Humanities

MST436H1 – Advanced Latin Seminar

Previous Course Number: SMC436H1
Hours: 24S

This seminar is devoted to the in-depth study of one or a number of related Mediaeval Latin text(s) in their linguistic, historical, and intellectual context. Readings in the original Latin will be discussed and commented upon by students.

Prerequisite: MST323H1/MST328H1
Recommended Preparation: MST210H1/MST212H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

MST442H1 – Mediaeval Skills and Methodologies

Hours: 24L

This course focuses on the skills and tools necessary for graduate research in mediaeval studies. It introduces palaeography, codicology, and diplomatics, as well as other lexical and conceptual tools needed for dealing with mediaeval primary sources.

Prerequisite: MST210H1, MST212H1, 9.0 credits
Recommended Preparation: MST242H1
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

MST490Y1 – Senior Essay in Mediaeval Studies

Previous Course Number: SMC490Y1
Hours: 24S

A scholarly project chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty member and approved by the Program Coordinator. Arrangements for the choice of topic and supervisor must be completed by the student before registration. The project will be accompanied by a research seminar component. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: Completion of 10.0 credits and written approval of the Program Coordinator and Program Director
Distribution Requirements: Humanities
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1), Society and its Institutions (3)