university of illinois springfield

What you'll study

This specialist track combines core graduate-level training in historical methods and historiography with seminar work centred on medieval and early modern Europe. You will explore topics such as religious and intellectual culture, art and material culture, book history and print culture, gender and family, urban and rural social structures, state formation and diplomacy, and the cultural impact of exploration and colonial encounters.

• Core modules: graduate historiography, research design and methods (including primary-source analysis and historiographic debate).
• Period and thematic seminars: courses on medieval Europe, the Renaissance and Reformation, early modern Europe, cultural and intellectual history, and comparative approaches to cultural transfer.
• Skills modules: palaeography and manuscript studies, digital humanities for historians, archival methods and public history practice.
• Research project or thesis: an independent research dissertation or substantial project based on primary sources, supported by a faculty supervisor and appropriate methodological training.

Teaching is delivered through seminars, directed readings, archival assignments and supervised research. Students can expect small classes with sustained faculty interaction and opportunities to conduct hands-on research in local and regional collections.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised undergraduate degree in history or a closely related discipline, with evidence of solid academic performance. Typical application materials include a transcript, a statement of purpose outlining research interests in medieval or early modern cultural history, two or three academic references, and a writing sample demonstrating ability to work with historical sources.

GRE scores are not usually required; consult the department for current testing policies. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through an accepted test or equivalent documentation. Candidates with relevant professional or archival experience but a non-history degree are considered on a case-by-case basis and may be asked to take preparatory coursework.

Career prospects

Graduates acquire advanced research skills, source criticism, and the ability to communicate complex historical narratives to specialist and public audiences. Common career paths include:

• Further academic study (PhD) and university teaching;
• Museum and curatorial work, exhibition development and collections management;
• Archival work, records management and digital archiving;
• Heritage and public history roles, including interpretation, site management and cultural policy;
• Publishing, editing, cultural consultancy, and education at secondary and adult levels.

Students who study medieval and early modern cultural history are also well placed for roles requiring strong research, writing and analytical skills across the public and private sectors.

Why study at university of illinois springfield

UIS offers a supportive, small-cohort environment that emphasises close faculty supervision and hands-on research. The campus’s location in Springfield provides distinctive research advantages: proximity to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Illinois State Archives, and other regional repositories gives students access to rich primary-source collections useful for cultural-historical work.

The department encourages interdisciplinary approaches and practical training—students can combine traditional archival work with digital methods and public-history projects. For students seeking personalised mentorship and concrete experience in archival and museum settings while pursuing advanced study in medieval and early modern European culture, UIS provides a focused and practical pathway.