University of Utah

What you'll study

The programme combines core training in historical methods and historiography with specialised courses on medieval and early modern Europe. You will study political, religious and intellectual transformations such as the formation of medieval kingdoms, the Crusades, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and state-building in early modern Europe. Coursework emphasises primary-source analysis (including manuscript and printed evidence), material culture, and cultural practices such as ritual, performance, gender roles and urban life.

Typical modules and topics include:

• Historical Methods and Historiography – research design, theory of history, source criticism and argumentation.
• Medieval Europe – early and high medieval society, monasticism, law and kingship, crusading and pilgrimage.
• Renaissance and Reformation – humanism, print culture, confessionalisation and religious conflict.
• Cultural and Social History – everyday life, family and gender, cities and trade, ritual and performance.
• Languages and Paleography – introductory medieval/early modern Latin and modern European languages relevant to research (for example, French, German, or Italian), and training in reading older scripts.
• Material Culture and Art – visual sources, manuscript studies, and the history of objects.
• Digital and Public History – digitisation of sources, project-based public history, and interpretation for museums and online audiences.
• Senior Capstone or Thesis – an independent research project supervised by faculty, often involving archival research or a significant digital humanities component.

Students are encouraged to take complementary courses in Classics, Religious Studies, Art History, Linguistics, and Modern Languages to build interdisciplinary skills. Opportunities exist for study abroad in European countries and for undergraduate research supported by faculty mentors.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold the equivalent of a high school diploma with a record of strong academic performance and relevant curricular preparation. Successful candidates typically have strengths in reading and writing, and courses in history, literature, languages or social sciences are helpful preparation.

For domestic applicants, admission is to the University and then to the History major; departmental advising will outline recommended preparatory coursework. International applicants must present an equivalent secondary qualification and demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests or institutional pathways where required. Prospective students planning specialised medieval research are advised to show evidence of language study (Latin or modern European languages) or a demonstrable interest in historical research.

Career prospects

Graduates with specialised training in medieval and early modern cultural history develop strong analytical, research and communication skills valued across many sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Graduate study and academic careers in history, medieval studies or related disciplines.
• Archives, libraries and special collections management, working with manuscripts and rare books.
• Museums and cultural heritage organisations, including curatorial, interpretation and conservation-adjacent roles.
• Public history and education roles in historic sites, cultural organisations and community programming.
• Publishing, journalism, and digital content creation that draw on research and narrative skills.
• Government, non-profits and cultural policy roles that value critical thinking and project-based research.
• Law, business and other professional fields where rigorous writing, argumentation and evidence evaluation are required.

Undergraduates often gain practical experience through internships with libraries and museums, participation in faculty-led research projects, and by producing a substantial senior thesis or capstone project that demonstrates subject-matter expertise.

Why study at University of Utah

The University of Utah offers a History programme with access to an engaged faculty who pursue research in medieval and early modern topics and supervise undergraduate research. Students benefit from the University’s library collections, special collections and digitisation initiatives that support manuscript and rare-book study.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is a strong feature: students can work across Classics, Religious Studies, Art & Art History, Modern Languages, and programs that support medieval and Renaissance scholarship. The campus also supports experiential learning through internships with museums, archives and public history partners in the region and opportunities to participate in study-abroad programmes in Europe, strengthening language skills and first-hand familiarity with primary-source contexts.