Brandeis University

What you'll study

The programme centres on cultural history across the medieval and early modern periods, emphasising how beliefs, institutions, texts and material objects shaped everyday life and long-term change in Europe. Core topics include the transformation of the Roman world, medieval Christianity and Islam, the Crusades, the rise of vernacular literatures, the Renaissance, Reformation and confessionalisation, early modern science and exploration, and the cultural consequences of urbanisation and empire.

Students take a mix of chronological and thematic courses that train them in analysing manuscripts, archival documents, art and material culture as historical evidence. Typical modules and seminars include:

• Introduction to Medieval Europe / Introduction to Early Modern Europe
• Medieval Religion and Society; The Reformation and Religious Conflict
• Renaissance Thought and Culture; Humanism and the Classics
• History of Medieval and Early Modern Science and Technology
• Material Culture and Visual Sources; Manuscripts and Paleography
• Urban and Economic History of Pre-Modern Europe
• Gender, Family and Sexuality in the Long Sixteenth Century
• Interdisciplinary seminars drawing on literature, art history and anthropology

Brandeis emphasises original research: students complete research methods training, pursue language study (commonly Latin and often a modern European language such as French, Italian, German or Spanish), and are encouraged to undertake a senior capstone or honours thesis under faculty supervision. Opportunities for archival projects, internships in libraries and museums, and collaborative work with faculty are integral to the curriculum.

Entry requirements

Admission to Brandeis University is selective and based on a holistic review of academic preparation and extracurricular engagement. Prospective undergraduates should present a strong high school record with coursework in humanities, languages and history when available. Typical supports for a successful application include well-developed writing samples, teacher recommendations, and evidence of intellectual curiosity such as research projects, essays or relevant extracurricular activities.

Successful majors will have strong reading and writing skills and a willingness to study one or more historical languages. Transfer students should demonstrate college-level coursework in history or related humanities fields. International applicants must meet Brandeis’ general admissions requirements and provide proof of English proficiency where required.

Career prospects

Graduates with a specialisation in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History pursue careers across multiple sectors. Common pathways include:

• Advanced academic study and research leading to graduate degrees (MA, PhD) in history, medieval studies or related disciplines
• Work in museums, archives, libraries and cultural heritage organisations, including curatorial and conservation roles
• Public history, education and programmes development in historical sites and interpretive centres
• Publishing, journalism and editing, benefitting from strong research and writing skills
• Digital humanities, data curation and cultural informatics, applying methods for digitising and analysing historical sources
• Law, public policy, consulting and nonprofit work where critical thinking, research and communication are valued

Brandeis undergraduates often combine history with internships in the Boston/Waltham area, archival projects, or labelling and cataloguing work that builds practical skills for cultural institutions or further study.

Why study at Brandeis University

Brandeis offers the resources of a research university together with small-class, seminar-based teaching typical of a liberal arts college. History majors benefit from close faculty mentorship, opportunities to pursue independent research and honours theses, and access to the university’s libraries and special collections for hands-on work with original sources.

The university’s location near Boston provides access to a rich network of museums, archives and libraries—valuable for internships and collaborative projects—and fosters links with interdisciplinary programmes across literature, religion and the arts. Brandeis’ commitment to interdisciplinary study and public engagement makes it a supportive place for students seeking to explore medieval and early modern Europe from multiple methodological perspectives.