McDaniel College

What you'll study

The programme combines core historical methods and thematic courses with specialised study of medieval and early modern Europe. You will study topics such as medieval Christianity and Islamic-Christian encounters, the Black Death and demographic change, the Renaissance and humanism, the Reformation and confessional cultures, early modern political thought, gender and family life, material culture and everyday life, and the cultural impact of exploration and empire.

• Core skills and methods: historical research methods, source criticism, palaeography basics, archival practice, quantitative and qualitative approaches to social history.
• Language training: reading competence in Latin plus options in French, German, or other modern European languages to support primary-source work.
• Thematic modules: courses in religion and society, visual and material culture, book history and print culture, urban and rural life, war and violence, law and governance.
• Research and capstone: seminars in historiography, an advanced research seminar, and a senior thesis or major research project supervised by faculty.
• Experiential learning: archival projects, internships with museums or local history organisations, and opportunities for study abroad or exchange with European partner institutions.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognized secondary-school qualification and demonstrate strong preparation in humanities or social-science subjects. McDaniel College looks for evidence of academic readiness, intellectual curiosity and written communication skills through transcripts, a personal statement and letters of recommendation.

• Academic background: completion of college-preparatory courses; demonstration of solid achievement in history, literature or related subjects.
• Supporting materials: a personal statement describing your interest in medieval and early modern history and at least one academic reference are typically required.
• Placement and language: incoming students may take placement tests for language courses; readiness to begin or continue Latin and modern European languages is advantageous.
• International applicants: qualification equivalent to U.S. secondary completion and evidence of English proficiency where required.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for a range of careers that value research, communication and cultural literacy. Many continue to postgraduate study in history, medieval studies, museum studies, library and information science, public history or related fields.

• Museums, galleries and heritage organisations (curation, collections management, education)
• Archives, local history organisations and records management
• Teaching at secondary or tertiary levels (with appropriate certification or graduate study)
• Publishing, journalism and cultural media
• Public history, cultural policy, and community engagement roles
• Graduate study leading to careers in research, academia, law, or international cultural institutions

Why study at McDaniel College

McDaniel’s small liberal-arts environment offers close, sustained mentorship from faculty who teach both broad survey courses and specialised seminars in medieval and early modern history. The college emphasises undergraduate research, allowing students to pursue primary-source projects, produce a senior thesis and present work at campus symposia.

• Faculty access: regular one-on-one supervision and opportunities for collaborative research with professors.
• Hands-on experience: internships and partnerships with local historical societies, museums and archives provide practical training in curation and archival methods.
• Language and study abroad: encouragement to build reading languages and take advantage of exchange programmes or short-term faculty-led trips to Europe for archival study.
• Liberal-arts preparation: interdisciplinary links with art history, religion, classics and literature that enrich cultural-historical perspectives and career flexibility.