Medieval Studies (Adv Cert)

• Four graduate-level courses selected from among the medieval course offerings of the Medieval Studies program and the Center's participating departments. The courses should be chosen to create two minor fields (two courses in each field), both of which must be outside the student's own doctoral department. See the M.A. page for guidance on selecting concentrations.
• A course in Latin Paleography.
• A reading knowledge of Latin (or Greek where appropriate).
• A reading knowledge of two vernacular languages (other than English).
• Upon completion of all course and language requirements, the student must pass comprehensive exams in the two minor fields.

The assessment of reading knowledge in a foreign language follows the guidelines set out by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The comprehensive exams in the minor fields generally consist of a three-hour written exam for each field, with questions set and marked by the student's instructors in the minor field courses. In doctoral departments which allow students to choose a minor field outside the department, candidates for the doctoral-level advanced certificate may opt to take one of the minor fields according to the guidelines of the home department (for example, an oral exam if the student is doing a Ph.D. in History). Minor field exams will normally be graded high pass, pass, or fail. Students who fail one or more of the minor field exams are allowed to retake each exam once, normally within one calendar year of the first attempt.

Upon the successful completion of these requirements and a successful defense of a dissertation written under a mentor from the major department, the student will receive the doctoral-level Advanced Certificate in Medieval Studies at Commencement ceremonies when the Ph.D. is awarded.