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Early Modern Studies

University of King's College

There have been many upheavals in Western thought, culture and society at the birth of the modern world, including the Reformation, the Enlightenment and Romanticism. Why and how did such upheavals occur, and what were their influences on subsequent thought and culture? Study the early modern period, from the 16th century to the early 19th century, from philosophical, scientific, moral, social, institutional and aesthetic points of view. Delve deep into the structures of today’s culture and look at their points of origin. You’ll gain insight into the nature of the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment and Romanticism.

Study abroad in Florence

Taught entirely on site, this month-long, full-credit course lets you consider the art, literature, philosophy, and politics of Early Modern Italy (1280-1580) through daily visits to the city’s churches, palaces, and museums. Find out more.

Combined Honours

An EMSP student is required to take the programme’s three core courses:

plus at least two half-credit EMSP electives.

The requirements for the second honours subject are dependent on that department, and vary from programme to programme.

Explore courses
Core Courses

Structures of the Modern Self

EMSP2000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1605-1725
R 1605-1725

The Study of Nature in Early Modern Europe

EMSP3000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
M 1235-1425
W 1235-1325

Conceptions of State, Society, and Revolution in the Early Modern Period

EMSP4000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Frazee Room
T 1435-1555
R 1435-1555
Electives

Automatons! From Ovid to AI (and cyborgs along the way)

CTMP2011.03/3011.03/4011.03; EMSP2011.03/3011.03/4011.03; HSTC2011.03/3011.03/4011.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Alumni Hall
W 1835-2025

Violence and Wonder: Baroque Art

EMSP2215.03
Fall
Arts & Administration - Haliburton Room
M 0935-1125
W 0935-1025

Picture and Poetry in Early Modern Culture

EMSP2230.03
Fall
Arts & Administration - Seminar 7
T 0905-1025
R 0905-1025

The Vampire: Modernity and the Undead

EMSP2313.03 / CTMP2313.03
Fall
New Academic Building - KTS Lecture Hall
M 1835-2125

Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe

EMSP2320.03 / GWST2420.03 / RELS2320.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Alumni Hall
M 1835-2125

The Body in Early Modern Europe

EMSP2350.03 / HSTC2350.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Scotia Bank Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

Asia and the West: Centuries of Dialogue

EMSP2390.03 / CTMP2102.03 / HSTC2811.03 / CHIN2082.03
Fall
New Academic Building - KTS Lecture Hall
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

Virtue, Vice and the Commercial Society in Early Modern Europe

EMSP2420.03
Fall
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

The Pirate and Piracy

EMSP2480.03 / HIST2750.03
Winter
New Academic Building - KTS Lecture Hall
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

Atheism in Early Modern Europe

EMSP3250.03 / RELS3250.03
Fall
Scotia Bank Room
T 1435-1555
R 1435-1555

Love, Lust and Desire in Italian Renaissance Art

EMSP3280.03 / GWST3280.03
Fall
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
W 1435-1555
F 1435-1555

The Renaissance Print and Cross-Cultural Exchange

EMSP3290.03
Winter
Arts & Administration - Haliburton Room                                                                                                                      
M 0935-1125
W 0935-1025

Science and Religion: Historical Perspectives

HSTC3200.03 / EMSP3330.03 / RELS3200.03 / HIST3075.03
Fall
Arts & Administration - Seminar 7
T 1605-1725
R 1605-1725

Studies in Early Modern Natural Philosophy: Leonardo da Vinci

HSTC3611.03 / EMSP3620.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1005-1125   
R 1005-1125

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” courses:
  • One full credit (or two half credits) at the 3000 or 4000 level (EMSP 3000.06 or EMSP 4000.06. can satisfy this requirement).
  • At least one additional full credit (or two half credits) at the 2000 level or above.
Explore courses
Core Courses

Structures of the Modern Self

EMSP2000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1605-1725
R 1605-1725

The Study of Nature in Early Modern Europe

EMSP3000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
M 1235-1425
W 1235-1325

Conceptions of State, Society, and Revolution in the Early Modern Period

EMSP4000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Frazee Room
T 1435-1555
R 1435-1555
One full credit (or two half credits) at the 3000 or 4000 level

The Study of Nature in Early Modern Europe

EMSP3000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
M 1235-1425
W 1235-1325

Atheism in Early Modern Europe

EMSP3250.03 / RELS3250.03
Fall
Scotia Bank Room
T 1435-1555
R 1435-1555

Love, Lust and Desire in Italian Renaissance Art

EMSP3280.03 / GWST3280.03
Fall
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
W 1435-1555
F 1435-1555

The Renaissance Print and Cross-Cultural Exchange

EMSP3290.03
Winter
Arts & Administration - Haliburton Room                                                                                                                      
M 0935-1125
W 0935-1025

Science and Religion: Historical Perspectives

HSTC3200.03 / EMSP3330.03 / RELS3200.03 / HIST3075.03
Fall
Arts & Administration - Seminar 7
T 1605-1725
R 1605-1725

Studies in Early Modern Natural Philosophy: Leonardo da Vinci

HSTC3611.03 / EMSP3620.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1005-1125   
R 1005-1125

Conceptions of State, Society, and Revolution in the Early Modern Period

EMSP4000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Frazee Room
T 1435-1555
R 1435-1555
At least one additional full credit (or two half credits) at the 2000 level or above.

Structures of the Modern Self

EMSP2000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1605-1725
R 1605-1725

Automatons! From Ovid to AI (and cyborgs along the way)

CTMP2011.03/3011.03/4011.03; EMSP2011.03/3011.03/4011.03; HSTC2011.03/3011.03/4011.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Alumni Hall
W 1835-2025

Violence and Wonder: Baroque Art

EMSP2215.03
Fall
Arts & Administration - Haliburton Room
M 0935-1125
W 0935-1025

Picture and Poetry in Early Modern Culture

EMSP2230.03
Fall
Arts & Administration - Seminar 7
T 0905-1025
R 0905-1025

The Vampire: Modernity and the Undead

EMSP2313.03 / CTMP2313.03
Fall
New Academic Building - KTS Lecture Hall
M 1835-2125

Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe

EMSP2320.03 / GWST2420.03 / RELS2320.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Alumni Hall
M 1835-2125

The Body in Early Modern Europe

EMSP2350.03 / HSTC2350.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Scotia Bank Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

Asia and the West: Centuries of Dialogue

EMSP2390.03 / CTMP2102.03 / HSTC2811.03 / CHIN2082.03
Fall
New Academic Building - KTS Lecture Hall
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

Virtue, Vice and the Commercial Society in Early Modern Europe

EMSP2420.03
Fall
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

The Pirate and Piracy

EMSP2480.03 / HIST2750.03
Winter
New Academic Building - KTS Lecture Hall
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

The Study of Nature in Early Modern Europe

EMSP3000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
M 1235-1425
W 1235-1325

Atheism in Early Modern Europe

EMSP3250.03 / RELS3250.03
Fall
Scotia Bank Room
T 1435-1555
R 1435-1555

Love, Lust and Desire in Italian Renaissance Art

EMSP3280.03 / GWST3280.03
Fall
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
W 1435-1555
F 1435-1555

The Renaissance Print and Cross-Cultural Exchange

EMSP3290.03
Winter
Arts & Administration - Haliburton Room                                                                                                                      
M 0935-1125
W 0935-1025

Science and Religion: Historical Perspectives

HSTC3200.03 / EMSP3330.03 / RELS3200.03 / HIST3075.03
Fall
Arts & Administration - Seminar 7
T 1605-1725
R 1605-1725

Studies in Early Modern Natural Philosophy: Leonardo da Vinci

HSTC3611.03 / EMSP3620.03
Winter
New Academic Building - Archibald Room
T 1005-1125   
R 1005-1125

Conceptions of State, Society, and Revolution in the Early Modern Period

EMSP4000.06
Fall
Winter
New Academic Building - Frazee Room
T 1435-1555
R 1435-1555
Admission Requirements
Tuition Estimate
Apply Now

"I would love to be able to inspire people, in ways I have been inspired myself."

Ian Kenny
Ian Kenny

Research Master's in Cultural Analysis, University of Amsterdam, Early Modern Studies, 2014

Read more on King's Community

Faculty & Staff

Simon Kow

Director, Early Modern Studies Programme; Associate Professor of Humanities

Sharon Brown

Administrative Assistant

Kathryn Morris

Assistant Professor of Humanities

Laura Penny

Assistant Professor

Neil Robertson

Director, Foundation Year Programme; Associate Professor of Humanities

Jannette Vusich

Assistant Professor

Related News

More News
May 30, 2017

EMSP in Florence

For three consecutive years, King's professor of Early Modern Studies Jeanette Vusich has explored Renaissance art, literature and politics in situ with students over a month stay in Florence Italy. Jeanette sends this update from Florence: "The EMSP Florence course engaged in impassioned discussions of Renaissance art in museums and churches; read Dante, Boccaccio, and…

Tags: Faculty Students
Read More
November 25, 2014

May 2015 - Study in Florence, Italy with Dr. Jannette Vusich

The Early Modern Studies Programme is pleased to announce a new way to study the Renaissance at King’s in May 2015. Early Modern Art, Literature and Politics (EMSP 2510) will enable students to live and study for a month abroad in Florence, Italy.

Tags: Faculty Students
Read More
August 27, 2014

New lecture series: Centuries of Dialogue: Asia and the West

A new lecture series taking place this autumn, Centuries of Dialogue: Asia and the West, will take listeners on a fascinating intellectual journey  through 500 years of encounters between South and East Asian philosophical traditions and Western thinkers.

Tags: Faculty
Read More
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Related Events

Events Calendar Events List

Examinations

April 12, 2017 - April 26, 2017

The examination period for Dalhousie and King’s runs from Wednesday, April 12 through Wednesday, April 26. Contemporary Studies Course Date Time Location CTMP 2150 Thursday, Apr 13…

Tags: Significant Dates
Read More

"Anthromythology: Ourangutan, Myth, and Man in the work of Rousseau"

March 20, 2017
7:00 pm
KTS Room, 2nd floor, New Academic Building, University of King’s College 6350 Coburg Road, Halifax

(Image: "MS. Bodl. 602, fol. 18v" (detail): a bestiary illustration from St. Albans, England, 13th century. Courtesy of the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.) The…

Tags: Alumni Future Students Special Lectures
Read More

Stepfamilies in European visual culture, 1400s to 1600s

March 10, 2017
7:30 pm
KTS Room, New Academic Building, University of King's College, 6350 Coburg Rd.

As part of the EMSP Student Society's fifth annual Conference of the Early Modern, to be held March 10-11 at King's, the Early Modern Studies…

Tags: Special Lectures
Read More