Belhaven University

What you'll study

The programme combines core historical methods with specialised courses on medieval and early modern Europe. Students engage with political, social, religious and cultural developments from roughly the fall of the Western Roman Empire through the early modern period, emphasising primary sources, material culture and the interplay of religion, art and everyday life.

• Core modules: Historical Methods and Historiography; Research Design and Evidence; Senior Capstone/Thesis.
• Medieval and early modern specialisms: Medieval Europe (political and social structures); The High Middle Ages; The Late Medieval Church and Reform; The Renaissance in Italy and Northern Europe; The Reformation and Confessionalisation; Early Modern Political Thought; Witchcraft, Magic and Popular Religion; Urban and Rural Life in Early Europe.
• Skills and language training: Latin for Historians or Medieval Latin; introductory palaeography and codicology; quantitative and qualitative source analysis; methods in cultural and visual history.
• Complementary studies: Art and material culture of medieval and early modern Europe; gender and family in early modern society; colonial encounters and the early modern global context; elective modules from theology, literature or archaeology.
• Experiential learning: archival and primary source workshops, internships with museums or heritage organisations, supervised research projects and opportunities for study abroad in Europe where available.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have completed a recognised secondary school qualification or equivalent. Successful candidates typically show evidence of academic achievement in humanities subjects; preparation in history, English or a language is helpful. Admissions reviews include a personal statement outlining interest in historical study and, where requested, one or more academic references.

Transfer students must provide college transcripts and will have transfer credits assessed against program requirements. International applicants are expected to demonstrate English language proficiency through an approved test or equivalent evidence; Belhaven also considers mature applicants with relevant life or work experience. Specific departmental placement tests or language prerequisites may apply for certain modules.

Career prospects

Graduates of this concentration develop strong research, writing, critical thinking and source-evaluation skills that are valued across sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Secondary education and further study in history or education (graduate programmes and teacher certification).
• Museum, archive and heritage sector roles such as curatorship, collections management, interpretation and conservation support.
• Public history, cultural resource management and local history organisations.
• Publishing, historical consultancy, journalism and public communications where contextual analysis and narrative skills are essential.
• Further professional trajectories including law, public policy, non-profit leadership and graduate research in medieval and early modern studies.

Why study at Belhaven University

Belhaven offers a liberal arts environment with small class sizes and close faculty mentorship, which benefits students undertaking source-based historical research. The university’s Christian ethos supports conversations about the role of religion and faith in historical change, an important theme for medieval and early modern study. Students have access to faculty with research interests in European history, opportunities for hands-on archival training and internships with regional cultural institutions.

The programme emphasises integrating primary‑source work, language skills and public-facing projects so graduates are prepared for both academic progression and careers in heritage, education and cultural sectors. Advising and career services help tailor internships and post-graduate plans, and opportunities for study abroad or independent research enable deeper engagement with European archives and collections where feasible.