The Classics and Renaissance Studies joint degree program combines the rigor of the philology track with an interdisciplinary focus on the history and culture of the late medieval and early modern periods (circa 1300 -1700). Students maintain a strong focus on both strands of the degree, studying the ancient languages to a high level, which in turn allows them to read in depth and with relative ease the classical texts and their later receptions, transformations, and adaptations. Coursework provides an excellent opportunity to collaborate with other departments, including Music, Art History, History, English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, Philosophy, and Comparative Literature. Recently offered seminars include: The City of Rome, Renaissance Epic (Homer, Vergil, Ariosto, Tasso, and Milton), History and Historical Drama in the Age of Shakespeare, Medieval Lyric, and Medieval Towns. Regular offerings include Old Norse and Classical Arabic.Sixteen term courses, divided equally between Classics and Renaissance Studies: (i) eight courses in Classics; (ii) including two yearlong surveys (four courses) of Greek and Latin literature; (iii) at least three seminars; (iv) eight courses in Renaissance Studies; (v) two terms of the Renaissance Studies Core Course; (vi) six additional term courses to be taken in at least two disciplines (such as literature, history, history of art, music, religious studies, etc.); one of these courses should meet the normal Classics requirements of a course in classical art or archaeology; (vii) of these sixteen courses, fourteen must be taken in the first two years of study; the last two, which must be Classics 800-level seminars, are to be taken in the third year, normally one in each term. All students at the end of each term of dissertation research and writing will present their work in progress in a chapter colloquium, which will mimic the prospectus defense in format (i.e., a discussion with interested faculty of a pre-submitted chunk of written work). If no chapter or written work is presentable at the time of the colloquium, the student would have to justify this.
