Benedictine University

What you'll study

The programme combines broad training in historical methods with concentrated study of medieval and early modern Europe. You will examine political, religious, social and cultural transformations such as the rise of Christendom, crusading movements, medieval and Renaissance urban life, the Reformation and confessional cultures, early modern print culture, and encounters between Europe and other parts of the world.

Typical modules include:

• Historical Methods and Research – introduction to historiography, archival research, palaeography basics and critical use of primary sources.
• Medieval Europe – surveys of early and high medieval political and social structures, monasticism and medieval law.
• Late Medieval Culture – literature, art, ritual and daily life in the later Middle Ages.
• The Renaissance – intellectual, artistic and cultural developments in 14th–16th century Europe.
• Reformation and Religious Change – Protestant, Catholic and confessional responses across Europe and their social consequences.
• Early Modern Cities and Economy – urbanisation, commerce, guilds and the rise of early capitalist structures.
• Print, Communication and Knowledge – the history of printing, reading cultures and the circulation of ideas.
• Special topics seminars – focused offerings such as medieval visual culture, gender and family in early Europe, or diplomatic and legal history.
• Capstone/Research Project – an independent research project or thesis that trains you in intensive primary-source work and sustained historical argumentation.

The degree emphasises primary-source training, close-reading of texts and interdisciplinary approaches drawing on art history, literature and religious studies. Small seminar sizes allow sustained faculty mentoring; language study (e.g. Latin, Italian, German, French) and study-abroad options in Europe are strongly encouraged to support research and employability.

Entry requirements

Benedictine University considers applicants on the basis of overall academic record and the strength of supporting materials. Typical expectations include a completed secondary school diploma or recognised equivalent, with competitive grades in humanities and social-science subjects. Admissions commonly look for evidence of strong reading and writing ability.

International and UK-equivalent applicants should present comparable qualifications such as A-levels, International Baccalaureate or recognised national high-school credentials. Applicants may strengthen their application with:

• A personal statement describing interest in history and any relevant experience
• One or two academic references
• Samples of written work, where available
• Placement in language courses or prior language study for those intending to work with original-source materials

Transfer students with college-level coursework in history are welcome; credits are evaluated on an individual basis. Specific course prerequisites are minimal but successful students typically demonstrate strong analytical writing skills and comfort with close reading of complex texts.

Career prospects

Graduates with a specialism in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History pursue a wide range of careers. Directly relevant options include work in museums, archives, historic houses, cultural heritage organisations and libraries, where skills in source analysis, curation and interpretation are valuable.

Other common career paths include:

• Secondary and post-secondary teaching (often following teacher-certification or further study)
• Public history and heritage interpretation
• Research and postgraduate study leading to careers in academia
• Publishing, journalism and communications
• Government, public policy and non-profit roles that value research, writing and critical thinking
• Legal, business and consultancy professions where analytical skills and contextual judgement are transferable

The programme’s emphasis on writing, primary-source analysis and languages equips graduates for roles that require careful argumentation, project management and communicating complex information to public audiences.

Why study at Benedictine University

Benedictine University offers a liberal-arts environment with relatively small class sizes, close faculty mentorship and opportunities for undergraduate research. History students benefit from personalised supervision for research projects, seminar-based teaching and access to the university’s library resources. The university encourages experiential learning through internships with local cultural institutions, service-learning projects and study-abroad opportunities that complement medieval and early modern specialisms.

Faculty in the history department are active teachers and mentors who work with undergraduates on archival research and conference presentations. For students interested in further study, the programme provides a strong foundation in historiography, languages and research methods to support postgraduate work in history, museum studies or related disciplines.