Dominican University of California

What you'll study

The programme combines survey courses in European history with specialised classes that emphasise cultural, intellectual and material approaches to the medieval and early modern periods. You will study political developments alongside religion, gender, art, book culture and everyday life, learning to read and interpret a wide range of primary sources.

• Core historical methods: historiography, archival research, palaeography, and source criticism.
• Chronological and thematic courses: Medieval Europe, The Renaissance and Reformation, Early Modern Europe, The Early Modern Atlantic World.
• Cultural and social themes: religion and society, gender and family, urban and rural life, material culture and art history of the period.
• Language training: coursework in Latin and one or more modern languages commonly used in primary sources (for example French or German) to support original research.
• Research and practicum: seminars focused on primary-source projects, optional internships in local archives, museums or historic sites, and a senior capstone or honours thesis demonstrating sustained original research.
• Electives and interdisciplinary study: courses in literature, art history, theology, anthropology or digital humanities to broaden interpretive tools.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have completed secondary education equivalent to a U.S. high-school diploma. Admissions typically look for strong performance in humanities and social-science subjects, evidence of analytical reading and writing ability, and a demonstrated interest in history or related fields.

• High-school transcripts showing solid academic preparation; recommended courses include history, literature, languages and social sciences.
• Submission of a personal statement describing interest in medieval and early modern history and any relevant experience (reading, projects, travel, volunteer work).
• Letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors who can speak to academic potential.
• Competency in writing; applicants may be asked to submit a writing sample. Prior study of Latin or a modern foreign language is advantageous but not always required.
• Transfer applicants: college transcripts and course descriptions for evaluation of transfer credit. Non-traditional applicants may present portfolios or evidence of experiential learning.

Career prospects

Graduates develop analytical, research and communication skills valued across multiple sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Museums, historical sites and cultural heritage organisations (curation, collections management, interpretation and education).
• Archives and libraries (archival processing, reference, digital preservation).
• Public history and cultural resource management, working for government agencies, non-profits or community heritage projects.
• Education: secondary-school teaching (with appropriate certification) and preparation for graduate study leading to academic careers.
• Publishing, journalism, grant writing and communications roles that require strong research and writing skills.
• Pathways into law, public administration, and business where critical thinking and documentary analysis are prized.

Why study at Dominican University of California

Dominican University of California offers a small-class, liberal-arts environment that emphasises close faculty mentorship and hands-on research training. The History programme encourages original work through seminars, a senior capstone or thesis, and opportunities to work with local archives, museums and religious collections in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Students benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration across departments—including art history, religious studies and languages—and from study-abroad and internship options that let them pursue archival projects or site-based learning. The programme prepares graduates both for immediate entry into heritage and cultural professions and for advanced study in history, museum studies or related fields.