Montana State University

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 topics such as the transformation of the Roman world, medieval political and social structures, the rise of Christianity and Islam in Europe, the Renaissance, the Reformation, early modern state formation, and cultural practices including material culture, ritual and visual culture.

Typical modules and learning experiences include:

• Introduction to Historical Methods and Historiography — source criticism, argument development and research design.
• Medieval Europe — political, social and economic developments from late antiquity to the High Middle Ages.
• Byzantium and the Eastern Mediterranean — imperial institutions, religio-cultural interactions and diplomacy.
• The Renaissance and Early Modern Europe — intellectual, artistic and religious change across the early modern period.
• The Reformation and Religious Conflict — confessionalisation, migration and social impact.
• Social and Cultural History — everyday life, gender, family, and material culture.
• Language and Palaeography — reading medieval/early modern Latin or modern European languages, and introduction to manuscript sources and archival skills.
• Undergraduate Research Seminar / Capstone — sustained research project or thesis under faculty supervision.
• Electives and Interdisciplinary Options — courses in museum studies, digital humanities, archaeology, art history or modern languages to broaden methodological skills.

Students are encouraged to pursue independent research, use the university archives and special collections, and take advantage of study abroad or archaeology field school opportunities to gain direct experience with primary materials.

Entry requirements

Admission to the BA programme typically requires successful completion of secondary school or an equivalent qualification. Applicants should demonstrate strong performance in humanities subjects, particularly history and English, and are encouraged to have some background in a foreign language.

Application materials commonly include a secondary-school transcript or college transcript for transfer students, a personal statement outlining academic interests, and letters of recommendation. International applicants must show evidence of English-language proficiency by an approved test or recognised equivalent if their prior education was not in English.

Prospective students with non-traditional backgrounds or relevant work experience are considered; contact the department for advice on equivalent qualifications and course placement.

Career prospects

Graduates with a concentration in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History move into a wide range of careers that value research, writing and critical thinking. Common pathways include:

• Further study at graduate level (MA/PhD) in history, medieval studies or related disciplines.
• Public history roles in museums, archives, historical societies and cultural heritage organisations.
• Education and teaching (often following appropriate certification for school teaching).
• Library and archival work, including collection management and conservation support roles.
• Publishing, journalism, cultural resource management and communications roles that require strong editorial and analytical skills.
• Roles in government, NGOs and policy organisations where contextual analysis and research skills are valued.
• Digital humanities and research support positions combining technical skills with historical expertise.

The programme’s emphasis on primary-source research and communication prepares graduates for both specialist and transferable career paths.

Why study at Montana State University

Montana State University offers undergraduate history students close faculty mentoring and opportunities for hands-on research. The university’s libraries and Special Collections provide access to rare materials and local archival resources useful for medieval and early modern topics, and faculty frequently supervise undergraduate research projects and capstones.

Students benefit from an interdisciplinary environment with links to archaeology, art history, languages and digital humanities, and from opportunities to gain practical experience through internships with regional museums, cultural organisations and public history projects. Small seminar classes and an emphasis on writing and primary-source work make the programme well-suited to students planning advanced study or careers that require rigorous analytical and communication skills.