Early Modern Studies

Understand how we got here

Many of the fundamental ideas about our world today were shaped centuries ago. Between the 16^th and 19^th centuries, during the Reformation, the Enlightenment and the Romantic periods, writers, thinkers and artists built the foundations of the modern world. The renowned Early Modern Studies Program allows you to:

explore the impact of European culture
encounter ground-breaking art and artists like Shakespeare, Mozart and Michelangelo
think critically about colonialism, and the impact of interactions between Europe and the “new world”
learn about a time when shifting ideas about religion and science changed the way we understand our place in the universe.

Find out what’s new in the program on EMSP+.

Study abroad in Florence

An optional month-long, Early Modern studies course taught in Florence, Italy, lets you consider the art, literature, philosophical and politics of Early Modern Italy (1280-1580) through daily visits to the city’s churches, places and museums.

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Combined Honours

An EMSP student is required to take the program’s three core course doublets:

EMSP 2001.03 & EMSP 2002.03 (or EMSP 2000.06)
EMSP 3001.03 & EMSP 3002.03 (or EMSP 3000.06)
EMSP 4001.03 & EMSP 4002.03 (or EMSP 4000.06)

plus at least six credit hours EMSP electives.

The requirements for the second honours subject are dependent on that department, and vary from program to program. Early Modern Studies Program students may fulfil the honours requirement in either of the two honours subjects. Usually this subject will be the one in which the student has taken more classes. In the Early Modern Studies Program, completion of the Honours Seminar (EMSP 4501.03 & EMSP 4502.03) fulfils the requirement of the honours qualifying examination; alternatively, with the approval of the director, an honours thesis (in conjunction with EMSP 4551.03 & EMSP 4552.03) also fulfil the requirement of the honours qualifying examination. Both the Honours Thesis and Honours Seminar are full-year classes. They are normally taken as part of a regular course load.

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Minor

You can take a minor in EMSP to complement your degree. Engage in an interdisciplinary exploration of the birth of the modern world.

Complete a minimum of 18 credit hours to a maximum of 27 credit hours including:

One of the core course doublets:
- EMSP 2001.03 & EMSP 2002.03 (or EMSP 2000.06)
  *Both EMSP 2001.03 & EMSP 2002.03 must normally be taken in the same academic year to meet this requirement.
- EMSP 3001.03 & EMSP 3002.03 (or EMSP 3000.06)
  *Both EMSP 3001.03 & EMSP 3002.03 must normally be taken in the same academic year to meet this requirement.
- EMSP 4001.03 & EMSP 4002.03 (or EMSP 4000.06)
  *Both EMSP 4001.03 & EMSP 4002.03 must normally be taken in the same academic year to meet this requirement.
6 credit hours at the 3000 or 4000 level. EMSP 3001.03 & EMSP 3002.03 (or EMSP 3000.06) OR EMSP 4001.03 & EMSP 4002.03 (or EMSP 4000.06) will also fulfill this requirement).
6 credit hours at any level.