Kent State University

What you'll study

This MA combines advanced coursework, language training, and original research. Core seminars cover historiography and research methods for pre‑modern Europe, palaeography and manuscript studies, and approaches to cultural history. The programme emphasises close reading of primary sources—chronicles, letters, legal documents, liturgical texts, visual and material culture—and theoretical frameworks for understanding religion, gender, urban life, and state formation across medieval and early modern Europe.

Typical modules and seminar topics include:

• Research Methods and Historiography for Medieval and Early Modern Studies
• Palaeography and Manuscript Culture
• Religion, Devotion and Reform in Europe
• Early Modern Political and Social Thought
• Material Culture: Objects, Art and Everyday Life
• Urban and Economic History of Medieval Europe
• Special topics seminars (e.g. Reformation and Counter‑Reformation, Medieval Queenship, Early Modern Visual Culture)

Students normally complete a combination of taught credits and either a substantial research thesis or a capstone project. Language study (commonly Latin, early modern French, German or another relevant European language) is encouraged or required depending on research focus. The programme supports research using manuscript facsimiles, printed primary sources, and archival materials.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised bachelor's degree with a strong background in history or a closely related humanities discipline. Typical requirements include a competitive undergraduate GPA, academic transcripts and a statement of purpose outlining your research interests in medieval or early modern cultural history.

Other application materials usually requested are:

• Two or three academic references
• A writing sample demonstrating ability to work with primary or secondary sources (eg an undergraduate essay or research paper)
• CV or résumé
• Evidence of language competence if your proposed research requires skills in Latin or modern European languages; otherwise, a willingness to undertake language study as part of the programme

International applicants must satisfy the university's English language requirements through recognised tests or equivalent qualifications. Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission; successful applicants typically demonstrate clear research plans and preparation for primary-source work.

Career prospects

Graduates leave with advanced research, writing and source-analysis skills applicable across multiple sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Progression to doctoral study and academic research in history or related fields
• Curatorial, collections or conservation roles in museums and historic sites
• Archivist or records-management positions in libraries, government agencies and cultural institutions
• Public history roles such as programme development, interpretation, and heritage management
• Publishing, cultural journalism, and editorial work focused on historical content
• Education and teaching at secondary or community levels, often combined with museum/heritage work

The programme's emphasis on languages, palaeography and primary-source research is particularly valuable for employers and doctoral programmes requiring independent archival work.

Why study at Kent State University

Kent State's History Department offers specialised faculty expertise in pre‑modern European history and a culture of close mentorship for graduate students. The university provides access to substantial library holdings and special collections for manuscript and regional research, and nearby museums, archives and cultural organisations offer opportunities for internships and collaborative projects.

Small seminar sizes and faculty supervision support the development of bespoke research projects, while interdisciplinary links across departments—including art history, religious studies and museum studies—allow students to situate their work within broader cultural and material-history networks. The programme's combination of classroom training and practical archival experience prepares graduates for both advanced scholarship and applied careers in the cultural heritage sector.