New multidisciplinary minor offered

BY ASHLEY ACOSTA
Feature Editor

Next semester, Saint Mary’s University students will be able to experience a new way of learning. The Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor consists of 21 credits obtained through seven courses. Of these courses, students must take two upper-level philosophy, literature and history courses from a selected curriculum. A one-credit minor integration course is also required. SMU will introduce its new multidisciplinary minor that will combine the perspectives of history, literature, philosophy and Spanish.

“This minor gives students a choice to study something that (is) not traditional,” said Richard Tristano, professor of history. “Disciplines are different ways of thinking,” said Tristano. “Biology students think differently than literary students, and this helps relate those different ways.”

In the minor integration course, students are asked to research and write a paper that is based on a common feature that relates to the medieval Renaissance culture confronted during coursework. Students must also present the outcome of their paper to faculty and peers.

In order to obtain the minor, the attendance of three seminars is also needed. Over the course of the semester, multiple seminars led by faculty that focus on any of the four perspectives will be held in the evenings and are open to all students. Students will then complete a form afterward summarizing the presentation and must identify disciplinary aspects.

Tristano said the university added the new minor for a number of reasons. Last year, the set-up for a multidisciplinary minor was approved.

As a Catholic university, SMU has very strong connections with medieval studies, and much of the historical happenings occurred during this era. The collaboration of the humanities faculty, Tristano said, also was a contributing factor for introducing the new minor.

The curriculum complements students who are studying the humanities, which include the major areas of philosophy, literature, history and Spanish.

According to Tristano, students will develop unique skills. “Students notice different disciplines and different ways of thinking and how to identify those disciplines and understand how they relate, even integrate,” said Tristano.

Students will be allowed to include two courses toward both their major and the Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor.