Medieval Cultures

The objective of this master's degree is to train researchers specializing in the Middle Ages. The interest and scientific relevance of the course lie in its interdisciplinarity, as the aim is to approach the complexity of the medieval era from traditional disciplines to give a complete, integrated picture.

Therefore, the general learning objectives are:

• to learn in an interdisciplinary context about the historical, geographic, linguistic, literary, artistic and cultural influences on the medieval era;
  
• to acquire the skills to work effectively in the field of archiving, museums and libraries specializing in the medieval era;
  
• to learn to write scientific papers;
  
• to develop an understanding of scientific life.

Basic competences

• Knowledge forming the basis of original thinking in the development and/or application of ideas, typically in a research context.
  
• Capacity to apply the acquired knowledge to problem-solving in new or relatively unknown environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of studies.
  
• Capacity to integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of formulating judgements based on incomplete or limited information, taking due consideration of the social and ethical responsibilities involved in applying knowledge and making judgements.
  
• Capacity to communicate knowledge and conclusions and the grounds on which they have been reached to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
  
• Capacity for ongoing self-directed and independent learning.

General competences

• Capacity to display the sensibilities to read medieval texts, to assess the information they carry and to interpret their meaning.
  
• Capacity to respect intellectual ethics and integrity and learn to present and discuss their own opinions with good will and independence, showing clarity and rigour in the assessment of their own arguments and those of others.
  
• Capacity to master the basic procedures of intellectual work, that is, to use the tools required to acquire knowledge (sources, bibliography, related disciplines) and to use techniques for presenting and disseminating results effectively (writing abstracts and research projects, preparing conferences and participating in debates).
  
• Capacity to work in teams involved in multidisciplinary research that integrates common elements of diverse traditional cultures.
  
• Ability to recognize the bearing of their own studies on contemporary debates outside the academic sphere and learn to use them adequately in the interpretation of reality.

Specific competences

• Capacity to display an in-depth knowledge of basic theoretical and practical concepts in historical and literary areas of medieval studies.
  
• Capacity to master the fundamental concepts of medieval writing, including the linguistic structures of Medieval Latin and the different graphic forms developed during the Middle Ages, and to transcribe and understand original medieval texts and documents.
  
• Capacity to assess the historical aspect of documentary and textual sources to understand historical periods and actors involved in medieval cultures.
  
• Capacity to establish relationships between the historical, cultural, ideological and aesthetic aspects of medieval culture, to understand common cultural elements across Europe.
  
• Capacity to situate different written texts and art in the appropriate historical, literary, ideological and aesthetic contexts, in order to assess them as part of the tradition.
  
• Capacity to critically access medieval texts and documents from various perspectives, such as history, literature, philosophy and art.
  
• Capacity to display an understanding of the areas of research developed in medieval studies, their most problematic issues and general methodologies and to stay updated with the international scientific production in the field.
  
• Capacity to carry out original research, founded on critical and scientific rigour by applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the master's degree.