Georgetown University

What you'll study

The programme emphasises cultural, intellectual and social approaches to Europe from roughly late antiquity through the eighteenth century. You take a combination of core seminars in historiography and research methods and specialised electives drawn from topics such as medieval religion and ritual, Renaissance humanism, the Reformation and confessional cultures, early modern political thought, material and visual culture, book history and print culture, and gender and family in the premodern period. Language training (classical and medieval Latin, early modern French, German, or other relevant languages) and palaeography are strongly encouraged to support archival research.

Typical programme structure includes coursework in advanced seminars, a research practicum or methods course, and a substantial independent research project or master’s thesis under faculty supervision. Students also have opportunities to attend departmental workshops, guest-lecture series and interdisciplinary offerings in related programmes such as Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Religious Studies and Art History.

• Advanced seminar in medieval/early modern cultural history
• Historiography and research methods in history
• Courses in religion, art and material culture, print culture, and intellectual history
• Language and palaeography training
• Thesis or capstone research project

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a strong academic record in history or a related humanities field. You will normally need to submit:

• A personal statement outlining your research interests and how the programme fits your goals
• A writing sample demonstrating ability to conduct sustained historical argument (often 15–25 pages)
• Academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• Letters of recommendation, typically two or three from academic referees
• A curriculum vitae
• Proof of English language proficiency if your first language is not English (e.g. TOEFL or IELTS)

GRE requirements vary by department and may be optional; prospective students should consult the department for current testing policy. Prior training in relevant languages and some coursework in history are advantageous, particularly for those intending to pursue a thesis and archival work.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a range of careers that draw on advanced research, writing and analytical skills. Common pathways include:

• Doctoral study in history or related fields
• Academic and secondary-school teaching
• Museum and archival work, including curatorial and collections management roles
• Public history and heritage management
• Publishing, editing and cultural journalism
• Cultural policy, libraries, and positions in foundations or NGOs
• Research roles in think tanks and government bodies where historical and analytical expertise is valued

The programme’s emphasis on primary-source research, languages and close faculty mentoring prepares graduates for both scholarly careers and roles in institutions that require specialised knowledge of historical contexts and interpretive skills.

Why study at Georgetown University

Georgetown’s location in Washington, D.C. offers exceptional access to major research resources—national repositories, specialised archives and cultural institutions such as the Library of Congress, National Archives, Smithsonian museums and specialist libraries and collections—that complement on-campus holdings. The History Department combines small, seminar-style teaching with active faculty research in European history and complementary interdisciplinary programmes, providing tailored supervision for thesis work and independent research.

Students benefit from opportunities for internships and public-facing projects with museums, archives and cultural organisations in the capital, as well as from a vibrant intellectual community with regular colloquia, visiting scholars and collaborative projects across departments. Funding sources, travel grants and research support are available to assist students pursuing archival work and conference participation.