Academic Programs: Certificates

Certificate in Medieval/
Renaissance Studies

In order to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the field, ACMRS has established certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students in medieval and/or Renaissance studies to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the field. The program provides students the opportunity to take classes from several disciplines, as well as to receive training in both Latin, the international language of the periods, and paleography, the study of the physical medium through which Latin and other languages were transmitted. It is open to students attending Arizona State University. Obtaining the certificate prepares undergraduate students for advanced study, and it augments the skills and knowledge necessary for graduates to succeed in academic positions in their field.

Admission Procedures: students admitted to degree programs in any field are eligible for these certificate programs. Once you have been accepted into an appropriate degree program at ASU, you may apply directly to ACMRS for admission into the certificate program. To obtain an application, click here, stop by the ACMRS office located in the Social Sciences building, Room 224, on the ASU Main Campus, or request one in writing from ACMRS, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402.

Advising: your advisor in your home department, in consultation with the Director of ACMRS, will advise you as you work through the program.

Undergraduate Certificate in Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Requirements: in addition to the course-work and examinations required in your major field of interest, you are responsible for fulfilling the following minimum requirements to earn a certificate:

Two semesters (6 to 8 credit hours) of Classical Latin and 2 semesters of Latin (Classical and/or Medieval--6 to 8 credit hours) or of a vernacular language of the period (e.g., Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Renaissance Italian).
Two semesters (6 credit hours) of course work in Medieval and Renaissance Studies outside the major discipline.
A thesis written within the major discipline on a topic concerning the Middle Ages or Renaissance. Students may earn one semester's worth (3 credit hours) of course credit (e.g., English 499 at ASU) for the thesis, and the thesis may be used to fulfill the Honors College thesis requirement for students enrolled in the Honors College.
A minimum of a "C" average in all course work leading to the certificate.

Graduate Certificate in Medieval Studies for M.A. and Ph.D. Students

Requirements: in addition to the course-work and examinations required in your major field of interest, you are responsible for fulfilling the following minumum requirements to earn a certificate:

One semester (3 to 4 credit hours) of medieval Latin for M.A. students, two semesters (6 to 8 credit hours) for Ph.D. students, with proficiency attested either by achieving a grade of 'B' or better in the medieval Latin course (or courses) or by satisfactory performance on the medieval/Renaissance Latin examinations offered by the Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto. (This requirement presupposes two years or 12 to 16 credit hours or equivalent of undergraduate training in Latin)
Two semesters or 6 credit hours (M.A.), 3 semesters or 9 credit hours (Ph.D.) of a medieval vernacular language (e.g., Old English, Old Norse, Old French).
One semester (3 credit hours) of paleography.
Two semesters (6 credit hours) of course work outside the major discipline (M.A.), three semesters or 9 credit hours for Ph.D.
A thesis or dissertation in the area of Medieval Studies (3 to 6 credit hours) for students not concentrating in the area for their degree. Students in the area fulfill the thesis requirement by writing a thesis or dissertation in the field.

Graduate Certificate in Renaissance Studies
for M.A. and Ph.D. Students

One semester (3 to 4 credit hours) of medieval/Renaissance Latin for M.A. students, two semesters (6 to 8 credit hours) for Ph.D. students, with proficiency attested either by achieving a grade of 'B' or better in the medieval Latin course (or courses) or by satisfactory performance on the medieval/Renaissance Latin examination offered by the Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto. (This requirement presupposes two years or 12 to 16 credit hours or equivalent of undergraduate training in Latin).
Two semesters or 6 credit hours (M.A.), three semesters or 9 credit hours (Ph.D.) of a modern language at the upper division level.
One semester (3 credit hours) of paleography.
Two semesters (6 credit hours) of course work outside the major discipline (M.A.), or three semesters (9 credit hours) for Ph.D.
A thesis or dissertation in the area of Renaissance Studies (3 to 6 credit hours) for students not concentrating in the area for their degree. Students in the area fulfill the thesis requirement by writing a thesis or dissertation in the field.

Credit in medieval and Renaissance Latin may be obtained through regular course work or independent study at the university from which you will earn a degree. At ASU it may also be earned through independent study in connection with weekly meetings of the ACMRS Latin Study Group (the core consisting of Professors Robert Bjork (Director, ACMRS), and Taylor Corse (English). Credit in paleography may be obtained by enrolling in classes in the subject at the respective universities or in one of two paleography courses offered online by ACMRS.

Credit in medieval Latin and paleography may also be obtained through other institutions, such as the Institute of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame, which offers annual summer school courses in both subjects, or the University of Wisconsin, which offers a correspondence course in medieval Latin. If students take medieval Latin and paleography from other institutions, M.A. students can transfer the two-semesters' worth of credit (6 credit hours) without it affecting the length of their program; Ph.D. students who have already transferred 30 hours of M.A. credit, however, will have to have as many as 9 credit hours (3 semesters) above and beyond the 54 additional ones required for the degree.