BA Ancient and Medieval Studies

This is a degree guide about the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Ancient & Medieval History at the University of Alberta Faculty of Arts.

 

Overview

A&MH explores the lives of peoples who existed 500, 1000, and even 3000 years ago. Study ancient Greeks and Romans, early Christianity, ancient and medieval Africa, Europe, and Asia, and the golden age of Islam.

This program offers courses in

  • Mythology
  • Archaeology
  • Warfare and conflict
  • Gender and sexuality
  • Ancient religion and magic
  • Late antiquity
  • Alchemy
  • History of yoga
  • Popular culture
  • Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, St. Patrick, King Arthur, Charlemagne

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR MAJOR

Complete your major requirements and test out different classes. Design your academic plan. Remember: you’re in control!

A&MH MAJOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You need to take between 10 and 16 courses at the 200-level or above that fall under
Ancient and Medieval Studies, including:

• INT D 205: Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Studies
• Two courses in Arabic, Classical Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Old Norse, or Sanskrit
• Two Ancient and Medieval Studies courses at the 400-level

To verify your Major and BA Common Requirements, check the University Calendar and speak to an advisor

 What Can I Do With an A&MH Degree?

Cultural advocacy:  You could work as a librarian, archivist, archaeologist, or as

a researcher, educator, or administrator at a museum, art gallery, or historical site.

Education: You could work in primary or secondary education or even become a professor.

Top 4 Reasons to Study A&MH

  1. History gives insight! As humans, we can understand our current situation by studying the conflicts, ideas, and relationships that shaped global societies over time.

  2. Our department houses the W.G. Hardy Museum, with its collection of Near Eastern and Classical Antiquities. Our graduates are particularly well-equipped to pursue careers in museums, and our museum offers you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience as a student volunteer.

  3. Employers are keen to hire folks able to uncover hidden information, draw connections between different kinds of evidence, and communicate those discoveries. Those are precisely the skills you develop in Ancient and Medieval History courses.

  4. Our Ancient and Medieval History professors are passionate and creative teachers, eager to help you explore and understand the past and develop your skills as researchers, thinkers, and communicators.

ENHANCE YOUR DEGREE

CONSIDER MINOR OPTIONS:

You can combine your Ancient and Medieval History major with a double major or minor in Classics or History.

CONNECT TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING:

Do a semester abroad or a summer program in Europe, Africa, Latin America, or Asia.

The following suggested opportunities are organized in four themes (Gain Experience, Global Perspective, Navigate Courses, Seek Out Connections) and by early, mid, and late stages of your degree. Learn more about Indigenous peoples, perspectives, and worldviews throughout your degree.

Early degree

  • Expand your career options, be proactive, and test possibilities. Join a student group.
  • Gain experience: Volunteer, travel, get a summer job, read! Reflect on what you're learning and practise self-care.
  • Global perspective: explore study abroad options, including the archaeological field school.
  • Navigate courses: talk to your History and Classics Undergraduate advisor, and the Ancient and Medieval History program advisor! They really want to meet you.
  • Seek out connections: join the History and Classics Undergraduate Society.

 

Mid-degree

  • Take risks, try new things, ask for and offer help to people you know and people you meet.
  • Gain experience: apply to Arts Work Experience to strengthen your technical and transferable skills and gain paid, professional experience before you graduate.
  • Global perspective: add a Certificate in International Learning or in Archaeology to your degree.
  • Navigate courses: design your own research project through the Undergraduate Research Initiative, the Roger S. Smith award, or by applying to the Honors program.
  • Seek out connections: become a student editor with Constellations, the undergraduate History and Classics journal.

Late degree:

  • Develop and revise your career story based on your values, interests, and what you learn.
  • Gain experience: let the Career Centre support you in communicating your skills and experience to prepare for your next steps.
  • Global perspective: do an internship or a semester abroad to gain experience and broaden your horizons.
  • Navigate courses: stay on track to graduate: Complete a Program Check on Bear Tracks.
  • Seek out connections: ask two or three professors to be academic references.

 Student Supports

These are services that enable you to pursue academic and personal success:

  • Academic advising.
  • Student ombuds.
  • Indigenous student supports.
  • Academic support.
  • Health and wellness.
  • Campus food bank.
  • International student supports.
  • Accessibility resources.
  • Financial aid and awards.
  • Professional and career development.
  • Mental health supports.

Department Contact Information
Office:  2-28 Tory Building
Phone: 780-492-3270
Email: histclass@ualberta.ca
Website: ualberta.ca/history-classics

 Blog: medium.com/ualberta-arts-insider
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Twitter: UofA_Arts

We are all treaty people. The University of Alberta respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis people.