Unlike the vertical orientations of departmental disciplines, which follow one field of study from its beginnings to the present, the medieval and renaissance studies program at Purdue cuts horizontally across fifteen subject areas such as art, architecture, drama, history, music, vernacular and Latin literature, philosophy, and political science. The program presents a variety of ways to acquire perspectives concerning the nature and origins of the world in which we live.
Points of Pride
- Founded in 1970, the interdepartmental program coordinates a broad range of Purdue’s medieval-related activities: the undergraduate major and minor; two interdisciplinary courses; a mini-conference with visiting speakers; Medieval Mondays (lunch-time presentations by faculty and students); outreach activities; and cooperation with related activities, such as the Conference on Romance Languages, Literatures and Film; the Renaissance Consortium; the Chancel Players; and the Purdue Medieval Society.
- The medieval slide collection houses over 1,400 slide sets of medieval art and architecture. A special focus of the collection is manuscript illumination.
- Purdue is a member of the Newberry Library Consortium and the Medieval Academy of America's Committee on Centers and Regional Associations.
- Comitatus, a student organization, encourages fellowship and fosters dialog on a range of topics beyond the classroom.