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MEMS Minor

Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies

The Undergraduate Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies provides students with a broad, humanities-based approach to the rich and fascinating cultures that flourished globally from around 500 CE to 1800 CE. Choose from over 150 courses in more than twelve departments to create your own Minor!

Requirements

To minor in MEMS, students must complete at least one core course. Core courses include the following:

  • ARTH 264: Medieval Art in Western Europe
  • CMPL 120: Great Books I: Epic and Lyric Traditions
  • ENGL 120: British Literature, Medieval to 18th Century
  • GSLL 250 (HIST 250): Central Europe, Medieval to Modern
  • HIST 107: Introduction to Medieval History
  • HIST 138 (ASIA 138): Muslim Societies to 1500
  • HIST 158: Early Modern European History, 1450-1815
  • ITAL 359 – Medieval Frauds: Fake News, Counterfeits, and Forgeries
  • JAPN 231 (HIST 271) – Ancient and Medieval Japanese History and Culture
  • MUSC 251: Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Music
  • RELI 180 (ASIA 180): Islam and Muslim Life before 1500

Additionally, students must complete at least one 300-level or higher course and three additional electives at any level. These electives may include additional core courses if the student wishes. No more than three courses at the 100-level (including the core course) may be taken for the minor.

For a list of potential courses that would count towards the MEMS Minor, please click here.

For a sample advising worksheet, which is used to structure each student’s minor and is kept on file in the MEMS office, please click here.

Advising

Although students declare their minor with Academic Advising, the MEMS Director typically serves as their adviser. He or she corresponds with students individually at an initial stage, helps them formulate their minor curriculum, and then tracks their progress and needs until graduation. The most important role of the adviser is to work out a coherent theme and scheme of courses to be taken for the minor in conference with each student. To write to the current MEMS director, please click here.

Community

MEMS is more than just an academic concentration. It is a community! Undergraduates who minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies will be given sign-up priority for social events (including film screenings, lunches, and game nights) and for field trips and study abroad opportunities associated with the Program. They’ll also be added to the MEMS undergraduate and graduate listserv, which is a great way to stay connected with all things premodern at UNC. To sign up for the MEMS undergraduate listserv, please click here.