CUNY(The City University of New York)

What you'll study

The programme combines a broad undergraduate history curriculum with specialised modules on medieval and early modern Europe. You will study political, religious and cultural transformations from late antiquity through the Renaissance and Reformation, investigating topics such as court and urban culture, religious practice, popular beliefs, book production and circulation, material culture, and the history of science and medicine.

• Core subjects: surveys in Western civilisation, historical methods, historiography, and a senior research seminar or capstone project that emphasises primary-source work.
• Medieval and early modern modules: courses on the Early Middle Ages, High and Late Middle Ages, Renaissance Italy, the European Reformation, the early modern state, and cultural encounters between Europe and the wider world.
• Language and palaeography: training in Latin (and often a modern European language such as French, German, Italian or Spanish), palaeography and diplomatic skills for reading manuscripts and archival documents.
• Methods and skills: workshops in archival research, digital humanities tools for historians, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and public history techniques for interpreting and presenting the past to non-specialist audiences.
• Electives and interdisciplinary options: courses from related fields such as art history, religious studies, literature, classics and museum studies to contextualise cultural history.
• Practical experience: internship opportunities with New York’s museums, libraries and archives, course-based archival projects, and study-abroad options where available.

Entry requirements

Admission to a CUNY bachelor’s degree typically requires a high school diploma or recognised equivalent and submission of official transcripts. Individual CUNY colleges may set additional expectations for the History major.

• Typical academic expectation: a strong record in humanities subjects at secondary level. Some colleges consider overall GPA and the strength of subject-specific grades.
• Standardised tests: policies vary by college; many CUNY campuses operate test-optional admissions for SAT/ACT scores.
• English language proficiency: non-native speakers must demonstrate proficiency through approved tests or prior study in English, unless exempted by institutional policy.
• Supplementary materials: some programmes recommend or require a personal statement, samples of written work or letters of recommendation, particularly for competitive programmes or transfers.
• Transfer students: transfer credit is evaluated by the receiving campus; students with relevant community college coursework in history, languages or research methods may receive credit toward the major.

Career prospects

Graduates with a concentration in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History develop strong research, writing and critical-thinking skills that are sought by a wide range of employers.

• Museums and archives: curatorial assistant, collections management, archival technician, conservation support roles, or museum education.
• Heritage and public history: historic site interpretation, cultural resource management, and roles in preservation organisations.
• Education and academia: secondary-school teaching (with appropriate certification), museum education, or graduate study in history, medieval studies or related disciplines.
• Libraries and information professions: library technician roles, special collections, or further training leading to librarianship.
• Publishing, media and communications: editorial and research roles, content development, and cultural journalism.
• Professional and public service: positions in government, NGOs, law and policy where analytical, research and communication skills are valued.

Why study at CUNY(The City University of New York)

Studying this programme at CUNY gives students access to a large public university system with diverse campus communities and a strong commitment to affordable higher education. CUNY’s location in New York City offers unparalleled archival, library and museum resources—such as city public libraries, special collections, the Morgan Library & Museum and national institutions—enabling hands-on study of primary materials.

• Faculty expertise: faculty working on European medieval and early modern topics often bring interdisciplinary approaches and active research projects that undergraduates can engage with.
• Professional links: established partnerships and internship routes with cultural institutions across the city provide practical experience and professional networking opportunities.
• Pathways: flexible degree structures support double majors or minors in complementary fields (languages, art history, classics), and prepare students for graduate study or immediate entry into a range of careers.
• Support services: advising, writing centres and career services at CUNY campuses help students develop the research, language and professional skills needed to succeed after graduation.