MA in Culture of the European Renaissance
This taught MA is especially designed for students wishing to explore the cultural and intellectual history of Europe between c. 1350 and c. 1650 in an interdisciplinary and international setting. It gives particular emphasis to developments in Italy, France, German-speaking territories, the Low Countries, Spain, and England and models a variety of approaches. Students become familiar with the considerable diversity of methodologies in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, from microhistory to intellectual history to recent developments in literature and art history. This grounding provides an excellent foundation for doctoral study, but the critical skills developed are also important for careers in professional services (e.g., universities, libraries, the heritage sector, journalism ...) and positions in government and in school teaching. Part-fees scholarship support is available (see here).
Students take modules in the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance (CSR) as well as in allied departments (Classics, English, History, History of Art, School of Modern Languages and Cultures) and are based in Warwick's new Faculty of Arts building (see photo right). They have opportunities to learn (or strengthen their knowledge of) classical and modern languages as well as English, Italian, or Latin palaeography. They form a tight-knit community with the CSR’s PhD students and become part of one of the UK’s most prominent and lively centres of its kind, with strong connections to institutions of higher education throughout North America and Europe. Many of the forty or so members of Warwick’s CSR are recognized as leading scholars in their fields. All offer highly personalized teaching and mentorship. The Library’s holdings are strong (particularly for electronic sources such as Early European Books), and an efficient programme of interlibrary loan is in place. The libraries of London, Oxford, and Birmingham are no more than an hour away.
The Warwick Faculty of Arts Building (FAB)
In term one, full time students will be based at Warwick and take two optional modules from a pre-defined list offered by the CSR and other departments;
(part time students will take one module option). In term two, all students will take the Centre’s core, team-taught module, 'Renaissance Culture and Society', as well as one other option module.
Over the summer, students will research and write their dissertations, under the guidance of an appropriate supervisor. Warwick has a long-standing presence in Venice and as such we can offer our students the opportunity to spend time there during term 3, especially useful if your dissertation topic is (even remotely) connected with Venice. This represents an unusual opportunity to experience directly one of the Mediterranean’s great cultural crossroads and take (not for credit) modules, taught in English, in our partner institution, Ca' Foscari. Other destinations may become available in the near future, including Tours, in France. More detail about the Warwick in Venice campus HERE. Please note that students can choose to spend all of their study time at our Warwick campus, and not go to Venice at all, should this be preferable.
Throughout their MA, students have the opportunity to participate in many activities organized by their peers (reading groups for example), by the Centre (the STVDIO seminar series), and the constituent departments. Those wishing to prepare for doctoral study may wish to take advantage of the regular summer schools co-organized with the CSR’s numerous international partners. (e.g. the Newberry Library in Chicago, and Johns Hopkins University)
Note that this MA is different from the MA by Research in Renaissance Studies.
