Medieval Studies
Faculty
Program Coordinators: Dr. Patrick Wadden, Dr. Hannah Zdansky
Program Mission
The Medieval Studies minor is designed to help students appreciate the rich historical, theological, philosophical, literary, and linguistic heritage of the Middle Ages. The inter-disciplinary courses that comprise it reinforce the development of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition as dynamic, ageless, and deeply rooted in the classical tradition of the liberal arts and sciences. Students pursuing a Medieval Studies minor will gain an understanding of the history and development of ideas in the West from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance, enabling them to better appreciate their own intellectual tradition in the context of the Benedictine monastic heritage of Belmont Abbey College. By holding our students to the highest standards we prepare them to pursue advanced studies and careers with discipline, integrity, and virtue. We recognize that the qualities we want students to emulate are best taught by our setting the example through our own conduct. We strive to inculcate in students an understanding of the evolution of the concept of the common good in the Medieval period, so that they can better engage in public discourse and be responsible citizens in the modern world.