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the search begins
May. 28th, 2005 05:48 pmA few days ago I started browsing for medieval studies programs, but until yesterday I had primarily bookmarked any site I found, and left more thorough looking-into for another day. That day, apparently, was today.
Being my normal methodical-to-a-fault-when-it-suits-me self, I made a list yesterday of all the programs, and categorized them into "Certificate Programs", "Full Programs" and "Interdisciplinary Programs".
So far, I have three top contenders: Cornell, Yale and Toronto. All three appear to be excellent programs, although Yale's seems to be a bit more limiting than I would like. It is a Full program, not an Interdisciplinary, as the other two are. All three offer degrees to the PhD level in Medieval Studies, independent of another department, although all three universities provide that option as well.
Cornell was the first one I took a liking to, as first impressions go, and Toronto has grown on me; the more I read, the more I like the idea, realizing too that I have only yet begun to look at these programs, and that I will have much to do before I can get much further than just reading about them.
I have much to do anyway: determining and defining my primary areas of interest (which need not be limited to one subject area, especially for the Cornell program); discovering relative strength or weakness in those areas; the list continues, ad nauseam. In Latin especially I am deficient, and I will have to maintain a reading knowledge of French for any of these programs, which is also nearly as sorely lacking as Latin. I have a long way to go.
Looking at the program requirements, both for admission and for graduation, gives me a good idea of where to start when building up those skills I will eventually need if I am to attend one of them. I am definitely feeling more self-motivated, knowing that even taking Old French as a 'fun class' this semester is going to support further study possibilities.
Note on diction and syntax: can you tell I've been reading stuff from academia all day long??
Being my normal methodical-to-a-fault-when-it-suits-me self, I made a list yesterday of all the programs, and categorized them into "Certificate Programs", "Full Programs" and "Interdisciplinary Programs".
So far, I have three top contenders: Cornell, Yale and Toronto. All three appear to be excellent programs, although Yale's seems to be a bit more limiting than I would like. It is a Full program, not an Interdisciplinary, as the other two are. All three offer degrees to the PhD level in Medieval Studies, independent of another department, although all three universities provide that option as well.
Cornell was the first one I took a liking to, as first impressions go, and Toronto has grown on me; the more I read, the more I like the idea, realizing too that I have only yet begun to look at these programs, and that I will have much to do before I can get much further than just reading about them.
I have much to do anyway: determining and defining my primary areas of interest (which need not be limited to one subject area, especially for the Cornell program); discovering relative strength or weakness in those areas; the list continues, ad nauseam. In Latin especially I am deficient, and I will have to maintain a reading knowledge of French for any of these programs, which is also nearly as sorely lacking as Latin. I have a long way to go.
Looking at the program requirements, both for admission and for graduation, gives me a good idea of where to start when building up those skills I will eventually need if I am to attend one of them. I am definitely feeling more self-motivated, knowing that even taking Old French as a 'fun class' this semester is going to support further study possibilities.
Note on diction and syntax: can you tell I've been reading stuff from academia all day long??
