Ph.D. Secondary Field in Medieval Studies

The Ph.D. secondary field in Medieval Studies encourages students to take courses in more than one discipline, and to give them professional recognition for doing so. Like all of the secondary fields, it is not allowed to increase a student's time to degree, but rather has been organized to be as streamlined as possible. Any Ph.D. student studying a medieval subject and intending to go on the job market as a medievalist should consider the secondary field.

The secondary field in Medieval Studies requires completion of four graduate courses (one of which must be in paleography) with a grade of B+ or better, plus the fulfillment of one language requirement in Medieval Latin, Greek, Hebrew, or Arabic.

  • The paleography requirement can be fulfilled by taking Medieval Studies 201, offered every three years; Medieval Studies 202, offered every other year; Classics 277; Classical Philology 285; Arabic 251R; or another approved course.
  • The three additional required courses must be at the 200 level in any medieval subject. Each course must be in a different department, one of which may be the student’s home department. To track your progress towards fulfillment of these requirements, please use the Medieval Studies Secondary Field Worksheet.
  • One graduate course taken outside of Harvard may be used to fulfill one of these course requirements (including paleography). Students wishing to use a non-Harvard course for the secondary field in Medieval Studies must have that course approved by the Committee's Director of Graduate Studies, and submit an application for academic credit to the FAS Registrar's office. For more information, including the application form, please consult the GSAS Handbook.
  • The language requirement will be fulfilled by examination, administered by the committee in the fall and spring terms. Please contact the Program's Administrative Director for more information on upcoming exam dates and times.

For further information on the Secondary Field, or for advice on how to devise your own program within the field, please contact the Administrative Director, Sean Gilsdorf. When you have completed the requirements, download this form and bring it for signature to Sean Gilsdorf in Barker 121. More information about the Ph.D. Secondary Field in Medieval Studies also can be found on the GSAS website.

Language Examinations

It is possible to fulfill your Secondary Field language requirement by passing an examination in Latin, Arabic, Hebrew, or Greek. In order to schedule an exam, or for more information, contact the Administrative Director, Sean Gilsdorf.

Arabic, Hebrew, and Greek. Exams in Arabic, Hebrew, and Greek are administered twice a year on a request basis.

Latin. All students who would like to demonstrate proficiency in Latin for their secondary field language requirement may take the Latin examination once each term. The Fall 2023 exam will take place on Monday 20 November from 4:00 to 5:30 pm in Barker 120. All students must register in advance with the Medieval Studies Program. Please note the following requirements:

  • The exam will be 90 minutes in length and will require the translation of a single passage of medieval Latin. Three sample exam texts can be found here. If you can translate one of these passages with reasonable accuracy in approximately ninety minutes, then you are ready to take the exam.
  • You may bring a single dictionary with you. The dictionary must be in print form; no electronic dictionaries are allowed.
  • No laptops or smartphones are allowed. Please bring a pen or pencil. We will supply bluebooks.
  • If you are not in residence, you may arrange to have the exam administered by proxy and mailed so as to arrive before the date of the exam. Please contact the Medieval Studies Administrative Director for more information.