Santa Clara University

What you'll study

This concentration combines core history training with specialised courses on medieval and early modern Europe. You will take foundational modules in historical methods and historiography alongside thematic and chronological courses such as Medieval European Society, The Renaissance and the Origins of the Modern World, The Reformation and Religious Change in Early Modern Europe, and Intellectual and Cultural History of the Early Modern Period. Coursework emphasises close reading of primary sources, material culture, and palaeographic skills.

• Core skills and methods: historical research methods, historiography, archival research and source criticism.
• Language training: requirement or strong encouragement to study Latin and/or modern languages (for example French, Italian or German) to work with original texts.
• Specialist topics: art and visual culture in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, social and gender history, economic and urban history, church and monastic history, and early modern political thought.
• Research components: seminars with sustained engagement with primary sources, opportunities for independent research, and a senior capstone or honours thesis project supervised by faculty.
• Experiential learning: visits to campus collections and local museums, archival projects, and options to pursue study abroad or off-campus study in European centres when available.

Entry requirements

Applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in History should present a strong secondary-school academic record with emphasis on humanities courses. Successful applicants typically demonstrate clear writing ability and critical reading skills through required application essays. Santa Clara University considers the whole applicant: transcripts, recommendation letters, extracurricular involvement, and personal statement.

Specific expectations include:

• Completion of secondary education with strong grades in English, history and related humanities subjects or international equivalents.
• Evidence of academic readiness for college-level writing and research. Portfolios or writing samples may be requested for some applicants.
• For international students, proof of English proficiency is required if the applicant’s prior education was not in English.
• Standardised tests are considered according to the university's current admissions policies; applicants should consult the admissions office for details.

Career prospects

Graduates gain transferable skills—critical thinking, writing, source analysis and research—that prepare them for a wide range of careers. Common paths include secondary and post-secondary education (often followed by teacher certification or graduate study), museum and heritage work, archival and library services, cultural resource management, publishing and journalism, and roles in non-profit organisations and public history.

Many students also progress to postgraduate study (MA, PhD) in history and related fields, or apply their analytical skills to careers in law, public policy, business and technology sectors, where strong communication and research abilities are valued. The programme’s emphasis on languages and primary-source work is particularly useful for careers that require specialised historical knowledge or overseas research.

Why study at Santa Clara University

Santa Clara offers a liberal-arts environment with small seminar-style classes and close faculty mentorship, conducive to sustained research and personalised guidance. The university’s Jesuit educational mission emphasises ethical reflection and community engagement, which complements historical study focused on contextual understanding and civic responsibility.

History students benefit from on-campus resources such as the university library and special collections, the De Saisset Museum, and local archival holdings that support projects in medieval and early modern studies. Proximity to cultural institutions in the Bay Area and established study-abroad options provide valuable opportunities for hands-on research in European archives and museums. The Career Services and internship programmes also help students translate their historical training into professional experience across sectors.