Medieval and Renaissance Studies Minor — Chico State Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico

Medieval and Renaissance Studies Minor

Student sitting and studying in the grass of Kendall Hall lawn.
  • Program Type

    Undergraduate Minor

  • Delivery Type

    On Campus

From knights and castles to the transformative ideas of the Renaissance, this program offers a deep dive into the innovations, art, and ideas that shaped the modern world. You’ll focus on the art, architecture, literature, philosophy, religion, and history of Europe during the critical 1,000-year period between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the early modern era—a time marked by violence in which some traditions were abandoned while others were carried on.

Whether you're aiming for careers in education, museum work, writing, or cultural preservation, this minor adds depth and perspective to your studies and is a natural complement to majors in art, history, English, and foreign languages.

Students learning on the computer about Ancient and Medieval Art and Literature.

A Well-Rounded Education

Strengthen your foundational knowledge of language, linguistics, politics, economics, and religion while sharpening your aesthetic sensibilities and critical thinking and writing skills. Choose your areas of interest from among a wide variety of course options along the way.

Students studying for finals on their laptops.

Skills Suited for What’s Next

The skills required to succeed in this major mirror those desired in any high-level work environment. You will become a better researcher, a stronger writer, think more critically, and approach challenges with a more open mind.

The study of art, religion, economics, and more will develop skills that enrich your understanding of human history and culture, including:

  • Analytical thinking and historical interpretation
  • Contextual analysis of cultural and political movements
  • Cross-disciplinary understanding of art, literature, and history
  • Enhanced appreciation of global heritage
  • Research and academic writing

Student writing in a journal underneath the changing colors of the fall season by the creek.

A Perfect Pairing for Your Major

While this minor complements any major on campus, it is often paired with other majors in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

Some of the majors that pair well with this minor include:

Learn more about the subjects you love while enhancing your skills.

Students studying together using their laptops and textbooks.

Pursing Your Interests with Like-Minded Peers

Join the Comparative Religion and Humanities Student Society and take an enlightening road trip to a Chinese temple, a Trappist monastery, or a majestic museum while bonding with your classmates.