University of Southern Indiana

What you'll study

The programme combines core training in historical methods with specialist modules on medieval and early modern Europe. You will study political, social and intellectual developments alongside cultural expressions such as religion, art, literature, and everyday material culture. Typical topics and modules include:

• Historical Methods and Research: introduction to archival research, historiography, critical source analysis, and research design.
• Medieval Europe: political structures, feudal society, monasticism, crusading, and the transformation of European institutions and communities.
• Early Modern Europe: the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, state formation, the rise of print culture, urban and courtly life, and the scientific and intellectual revolutions.
• Cultural and Intellectual History: study of texts, art, ritual, popular religion and belief, gender and family life, and the transmission of knowledge.
• Language and Palaeography: optional or recommended modules in reading medieval or early modern Latin, and palaeography or paleography techniques for working with manuscripts and early printed sources.
• Material Culture and Museum Studies: approaches to objects, collections, conservation basics, and exhibition practice, often linked to local museums and archives.
• Capstone/Research Project: a senior thesis or major research project supervised by a faculty member, allowing in-depth investigation of a medieval or early modern topic using primary sources.

Students typically combine chronological and thematic modules, and are encouraged to take complementary courses in art history, classics, religion, archaeology and languages to support their research interests. Opportunities for internships, oral presentations and conference participation form part of the experiential learning profile.

Entry requirements

Admission is to the undergraduate History major; applicants should hold a high-school diploma or equivalent with satisfactory academic preparation in humanities and social studies. Typical evidence of readiness includes a record of coursework in history or related subjects, strong written communication skills, and a willingness to undertake sustained research projects. Transfer applicants are considered on the basis of college transcripts; prior college-level history modules and research experience strengthen an application.

International applicants must demonstrate equivalent secondary qualifications and English language proficiency. Applicants who intend to work with medieval and early modern sources may be advised to pursue language study (for example Latin or a modern European language) either before entry or during the degree.

Career prospects

Graduates develop analytical reading, research, writing and communication skills valued across many sectors. Common career paths include:

• Museums, galleries and heritage organisations — roles in curation, education, collections management and public programmes;
• Archives and libraries — archival processing, reference services and records management;
• Education — secondary teaching (often requiring additional certification) and adult education;
• Public history and cultural resource management — community history projects, heritage interpretation and digital history initiatives;
• Further study and academia — MA and PhD research in history, medieval studies, art history or related disciplines;
• Related professional fields — law, publishing, journalism, policy, non-profit management and business roles that value research, argumentation and written communication.

Internships with local museums, archives and cultural organisations, and the senior research project, help build practical experience and a portfolio of work for graduate study or employment.

Why study at University of Southern Indiana

University of Southern Indiana offers a small-college learning environment within a public university, with focused undergraduate teaching and opportunities for close faculty mentorship. History students benefit from small seminar-style classes, regular faculty supervision of research projects, and encouragement to present work at student symposia.

The university’s regional location provides access to local archives, historical societies and museums for practical placements and primary-source research. The Department of History supports internship links and community partnerships that allow students to gain hands-on experience in curation, archival work and public-history programming. For students aiming to specialise in medieval and early modern European cultural history, the programme combines disciplinary rigour with flexible electives in languages, art history and museum studies to support both academic and applied career goals.