Ancient and Medieval Studies

Page Contents:01.Major or Minor02.Concentration03.Additional Resources

Explore Ancient and Medieval Studies

Through a wide variety of subjects drawn from a number of disciplines, this program provides a curricular framework for exploring topics in ancient and medieval studies which range from the history of ideas and institutions to that of material artifacts, literature and certain of the original languages. The chronological span of the program includes some 6,500 years between 5000 B.C. and 1500 A.D.

In this interdisciplinary field, you can earn a major, minor, or concentration.

Mattei Athena,” located in the Louvre Museum; Roman copy of the Greek goddess of wisdom, from 1st century BC/AD, after a 4th century BC Greek original, attributed to Cephisodotos or Euphranor. Photograph by Jastrow (2006); public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Earning a major or minor

Ancient and Medieval Studies is designed for students who are seeking a fuller understanding of the forces which shaped the ancient and medieval world. The geographical and chronological scope of the program is broadly conceived and is intended to be comparative. Subjects range in content from Classical Greece and Rome, and the ancient societies of Asia and South America, to medieval Europe and Japan.

The goal of this program is to develop knowledge and understanding of the more distant past both for itself, in its uniqueness, and as an object of specifically modern questions and methods of inquiry. We are interested in the structure of institutions and social systems, and in relationships between the social order and learned traditions, values, ideologies and ideas. Ancient and medieval studies derive a special claim to our interest from the fact that the record is so full and multiform and that much of it is of exceptionally high quality at once in substance and form.

Major

Visit the Registrar’s page on Ancient and Medieval Studies to learn about major requirements and current subject offerings.

To declare or change your major, visit How to Apply.

Minor

Visit the Registrar’s page on Ancient Medieval Interdisciplinary Studies to learn about minor requirements and current subject offerings.

To declare or change your minor, visit How to Apply.

Earning a concentration

The concentration requirements consist of four subjects, at least one of which is to be taken in the medieval period by students whose focus is to be the Ancient World, or one in the ancient period by those whose focus is the Middle Ages.

“One of the most enjoyable parts of studying Ancient and Medieval studies here at MIT has been that AMS allows me to really dive into a passion of mine and find a community of students like me in the process!”
Isabella Carlo ’24
Major in Biology and Brain & Cognitive Science
Minor in Ancient and Medieval Studies

Additional resources

For more information, contact advisors Eric Goldberg or Stephanie Frampton or the SHASS academic administrator.

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