Cogut Institute for the Humanities
Center for the Study of the Early Modern World

Concentration & Courses

The Early Modern World concentration promotes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to historical cultures around the world between the waning of feudalism and the arrival of global industrial capitalism, from the 1300s to the end of the 1800s.

Concentration & Courses

The Early Modern World concentration promotes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to historical cultures around the world between the waning of feudalism and the arrival of global industrial capitalism, from the 1300s to the end of the 1800s.

Students take courses in a wide range of departments and with faculty affiliated with the Center for the Study of the Early Modern World. Concentrators have the opportunity to be mentored by faculty, staff at the special collections libraries at Brown, and graduate students working on contiguous topics.

Students are invited to take advantage of this breadth of offerings to enhance their understanding of the period, as well as to gain a sense of the uses, limitations, and interrelationships of particular disciplinary approaches.

Concentration Requirements

Concentrators are required to take a minimum of eight courses:

  1. Three courses on early modern topics in one field in which the student has primary interest or training — e.g., literature, history of art and architecture, history.
  2. Three courses related to the early modern period chosen from two other fields.
  3. A capstone project determined by the student's interests, of which possible examples might be: 1) a senior thesis (roughly equivalent to a senior seminar paper); 2) the staging of an early modern play, musical performance, or other event that offers students an opportunity to develop professional competency in a field in which they already have experience and expertise; or 3) an exhibition, website, or other curated project with a public outcome. The project will be developed in consultation with the EMW concentration advisor and a faculty advisor from the department in which the topic of the research lies. Credit will be granted through registration for Independent Study.
  4. Other relevant courses of the student’s choosing.

In addition, the student must be able to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a relevant modern or ancient language other than English. This language requirement does not count as one of the eight courses.

Eligible students wishing to pursue honors in the concentration complete nine courses and write a thesis in their senior year. 

Concentration Courses

Listed below are past courses and sample courses regularly offered in various departments. Students interested in 2000-level courses must obtain the instructor's permission before enrolling. Other courses may count for concentration credit upon consultation with the Director of the Center for the Study of the Early Modern World. 

Explore courses cross-listed by the Center this semester