Saint Michael's College

What you'll study

The programme combines core historical methods and historiography with focused study of medieval and early modern Europe. You study how politics, religion, gender, material culture and intellectual movements shaped European societies from the later Roman world through the early modern period. Course work emphasises reading primary sources, interpreting visual and material evidence, and learning languages used by historians of the period.

• Core courses: historical methods, historiography, research seminar, and a senior capstone or honours thesis.
• Period and thematic courses: Medieval Europe; The Renaissance and Reformation; Early Modern Political and Social History; Religious Cultures of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages; The Early Modern State; print culture and the history of reading.
• Specialist modules: palaeography and manuscript studies, medieval and early modern art and material culture, legal and economic history, gender and family in pre-modern Europe, migration and cross-cultural contact.
• Language training: elementary to intermediate Latin and/or modern European languages (for example French, Italian, German) to enable work with original sources.
• Skills and methods: archival research, source criticism, historical argumentation, digital research tools for historians, public history practicum and exhibition-making.
• Structure: the major typically comprises a mix of required core courses, period electives, language study and a capstone research project or thesis completed under faculty supervision. Students are encouraged to take relevant electives in classics, religious studies, art history and political science.

Entry requirements

Saint Michael's is a selective liberal-arts college. Applicants normally present a secondary-school diploma or equivalent with a strong academic record and a programme of study that demonstrates readiness for humanities work. Recommended preparations include coursework in history, literature, and at least one foreign language. Admissions materials typically include transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement; standardised-test submission may be optional depending on admissions policies.

Transfer applicants should provide college transcripts and a sample of written work; applicants with prior language study (Latin or a modern European language) are well placed for advanced courses but may begin language study at entry level as needed.

Career prospects

Graduates with a concentration in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History move into a wide range of pathways that draw on strong research, writing and analytical skills. Common career destinations include:

• Archives, museums and heritage organisations — curator, collections assistant, archival technician, or public programmes officer.
• Education — secondary school teaching (often following teacher certification), educational outreach or adult learning in historical contexts.
• Public history and cultural resource management — interpretation, exhibition development, and site management.
• Publishing, journalism and communications — editorial roles, content development and research-based writing.
• Further study — graduate work in history, medieval/early modern studies, library and information science, museum studies, or related humanities and interdisciplinary programmes.
• Other professional fields — law, public policy, non-profit management and arts administration where analytical reasoning and evidence-based argument are valued.

Why study at Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's offers a liberal-arts environment with small class sizes and close faculty mentoring, both of which benefit students doing source-driven historical research. Faculty in the History Department work with undergraduates on original projects and supervise honours theses and research presentations. The college’s emphasis on experiential learning supports internships with regional museums, historical societies and archives, while interdisciplinary links with classics, religious studies and art history expand course options.

Students also benefit from opportunities to study abroad or to take concentrated language training, preparing them to work directly with primary sources. The college’s location and community partnerships provide access to New England archives and cultural institutions that complement coursework and capstone research.