Marymount Manhattan College

What you'll study

The programme centres on the cultures, institutions and everyday lives of Europe from late antiquity through the early modern period. You will study political and intellectual developments, religious change, gender and family structures, material culture, art and visual sources, and the social impacts of commerce and exploration. Courses balance chronological surveys with thematic seminars and primary-source analysis.

• Core history methods: historiography, research methods, archival practice and historical writing.
• Medieval Europe: topics such as empire and kingdom formation, monasticism, medieval literacy and manuscript culture, and urban life.
• Early modern Europe: the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, state formation, print culture, early modern science, and cross-cultural encounters.
• Specialist seminars: subjects may include medieval visual culture, gender in early modern Europe, Mediterranean networks, and comparative religious histories.
• Skills training: palaeography or paleography-adjacent workshops, digital humanities methods for historians, and foreign-language reading skills relevant to primary sources (typically modern languages such as French, Spanish, German, or Latin as appropriate).
• Capstone and research: a senior seminar or independent research project that culminates in a substantial research paper, often drawing on primary sources or museum/archival materials.
• Experiential learning: internships, study-abroad options and partnerships with New York City cultural institutions to support applied public-history projects.

Programme structure

The major is organised around foundational courses, upper-level seminars, and electives drawn from the history department and related disciplines such as art history, religious studies and classics. Students are encouraged to combine the major with complementary minors or language study. Small seminar sizes ensure close faculty supervision of research projects.

Entry requirements

Marymount Manhattan College evaluates applicants holistically. Typical successful applicants to the History programme will demonstrate strong academic preparation in humanities and social sciences, clear interest in historical study, and writing ability.

• Secondary-school qualifications: completion of an accredited secondary-school diploma, A-levels, IB diploma or equivalent qualifications appropriate to the applicant's education system.
• Academic record: solid grades in history, English and related subjects. Specific grade or GPA thresholds are not listed here; the college considers the overall profile and context.
• Application materials: college application form, a personal statement or essay indicating interest in history, and official transcripts. Letters of recommendation are helpful and sometimes required.
• International applicants: proof of English language proficiency through accepted tests or evidence of prior education in English if required by the admissions office.
• Placement: students may be placed in language or writing courses based on diagnostic assessments during orientation.

Career prospects

A BA in History with a medieval and early modern emphasis prepares graduates for a wide range of careers that value research, critical reasoning and clear communication. The programme's location in New York enhances access to museums, archives, publishing houses and cultural organisations.

• Public history and cultural heritage: museum work, curatorial assistance, archives, and collection management.
• Education and outreach: secondary-school teaching (with appropriate certification), educational programming at cultural institutions, and informal learning roles.
• Research and writing: journalism, nonfiction writing, editorial work and content development for cultural organisations.
• Policy, law and public service: roles in government, NGOs and policy organisations where analytical and communication skills are valued; many graduates go on to law or graduate school.
• Business and cultural industries: roles in publishing, heritage tourism, arts administration and fundraising.

Many graduates also continue to advanced study (MA, PhD) in history or related fields; the department supports students seeking to develop research portfolios for postgraduate applications.

Why study at Marymount Manhattan College

Marymount Manhattan is a small liberal-arts college in the heart of New York City, offering small classes, close faculty mentorship and strong connections to the city's cultural institutions. History students benefit from access to museums, libraries and archives for hands-on research, internship opportunities with partner organisations, and a curriculum that emphasises both traditional scholarly skills and applied public-history practices.

The college's emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary options, and personalised advisement helps students tailor their studies to career goals or graduate training. Faculty in the history department supervise independent research and encourage undergraduates to present work, pursue internships and engage with professional networks in the city and beyond.