Undergraduate Research

In keeping with the academic goals of the College, Medieval and Renaissance Studies faculty encourage students to pursue research in seminars and lecture classes, and through independent study and honors theses. Students may pursue a variety of research topics through the departments that contribute to the Med-Ren program, such as Art History, Classical Studies, English, History, Modern Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. It is important to note that the ability to read a foreign language and some advanced course work in the relevant discipline frequently are crucial to the success of a project. 

Honors theses are traditionally the culmination of an undergraduate’s research skills and interests, and Med-Ren’s many double majors and minors frequently write theses that pertain to a medieval or early modern topic. A list of completed Honors Projects is on the Charles Center’s website.

Undergraduates interested in Medieval and Renaissance topics often present their research at the Symposium for Undergraduate Research in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, which generally occurs during the spring semester.