Study Details: MA 1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
As part of the MA in Medieval Studies, we offer a Medieval Islamic Cultures pathway so you can choose to focus your studies in this specialist area.
The Centre for Medieval Studies (CMS) is the UK’s oldest and largest centre for the interdisciplinary study and research into the Middle Ages. Our expertise spans over 1,000 years and multiple disciplines and faculties, offering dedicated skills training in palaeography, diplomatic and medieval languages.
New disciplines will complement your existing experience, offering you bespoke interdisciplinary modules as well as world-class teaching in the subjects of Archaeology, Literature and Language, History, History of Art and History of Science. You’ll learn to recognise how geographies, chronologies and sources of evidence are interrelated, while exploring the fields of study that most interest you. Our global range of research and teaching extends across medieval Britain, Scandinavia, Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa and Islamic Cultures, from 500-1500.
Our new interdisciplinary pathway examines the cultures of the Islamic world through the prism of literature, history, archaeology, art and architecture. Drawing on the wide-ranging experience of our staff, you can create a bespoke programme that demonstrates the close connections across the medieval Mediterranean and beyond into Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Anatolia, Central Asia and East Africa.
In the medieval city of York, inspiration is everywhere, and you’ll have access to some of the UK’s most important medieval archives and museums, including York Minster Library and Archives, the Borthwick Institute for Archives, the Yorkshire Museum, and Jorvik Viking Centre.
Our graduates go on to work in a wide range of professions, including academic teaching and research, archives, libraries, museums, galleries, publishing companies and the heritage sector.
2:2 or equivalent in a relevant subject.
For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more
As part of the MA in Medieval Studies, we offer a Medieval Islamic Cultures pathway so you can choose to focus your studies in this specialist area.
This course has successfully launched students into careers with a huge range of organisations involved in investigating and interpreting the Middle Ages, including English Heritage, the National Trust, archives, libraries, museums, galleries, publishing companies, television companies and the media.
Core module
Approaches to an Interdisciplinary Methodology
Option modules
At least one option module must be a CMS interdisciplinary module, one a 'Reading the Middle Ages' skills option, and those remaining must be from different disciplines. If you are on the Islamic Cultures pathway, you take The Global Middle Ages and at least one other Islamic-related option module, in addition to the Arabic for Research skills option.
You will study four option modules, one of them a 'Reading the Middle Ages' skills option, from example including:
CMS Interdisciplinary modules
Interdisciplinary modules are team-taught by a number of staff from our parent departments.
The Global Middle Ages
Punishing the Body
The Vikings in Northumbria
Islamic-related option modules:
Ceramic Arts of the Islamic World: Curating Histories - History of Art
Trans-Asian Trade along the Silk Roads, 1000-1200 - History
Chaucer, Arabic Learning and the East - English
Single-discipline option modules
Art and Imagery in York Minster - History of Art
Fictions of Audacity: Middle English Romance - English
Medieval Settlement and Communities - Archaeology
Painting on Light: Stained Glass in the Medieval Tradition - History of Art
Reading Dante's Comedy - English
The Viking Age: People, Places and Things - Archaeology
Uses of Writing in the Dark Ages - History
Viking Poetry - English
Death, Commemoration & Memory in the Viking World - History
Extreme States: Religion & The Self in the High Middle Ages - History
Art, Magic and the Miraculous in Renaissance Italy - History of Art
Who Owns Antiquities? The Politics of Museology and Archaeology - History of Art
Medieval Jewish Philosophy - Philosophy
Reading the Middle Ages skills options
Skills options will see you working closely with two medieval languages, or with a language and palaeography. Those on the Islamic Cultures pathway choose the Arabic for Research option.
Either: Multilingual Middle Ages (20 credits)
Or: Reading Medieval Texts (20 credits)
Or: Arabic for Research (20 credits)
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
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