University of Tulsa

What you'll study

This master's focuses on cultural history across the medieval and early modern periods, emphasising close engagement with primary sources and interdisciplinary methods. Core work includes seminars on intellectual and religious cultures, social and gender history, visual and material culture, book history and the history of science. Students will study palaeography and archival methods, and are encouraged to develop competence in relevant languages such as Latin and early-modern vernaculars.

• Seminar modules: Topics may cover medieval intellectual traditions, Reformation and confessional cultures, urban and rural societies, court culture and ritual, and the history of emotions and everyday life.
• Skills modules: Palaeography and manuscript studies, methods in cultural history, and digital humanities approaches to textual and material evidence.
• Language training: Latin and reading skills for early-modern French, German, Spanish or Italian, depending on research needs.
• Research component: A substantial supervised MA thesis or capstone research project based on archival or primary-source research, supported by research seminars and one-to-one supervision.
• Optional work placements and internships: Opportunities to work with local archives, museums and cultural institutions to gain practical experience in curation, cataloguing and public history.

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally hold a bachelor's degree in history or a closely related subject. Successful candidates typically demonstrate strong academic performance in historical or humanities disciplines and show clear potential for independent research.

• Application materials commonly include a transcript, a personal statement outlining research interests, a writing sample (such as an undergraduate essay), and two academic references.
• Applicants whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of English proficiency through a recognised test or equivalent qualification.
• Prior training in reading historical languages is helpful but not always required; where necessary, the programme can advise on preparatory language study.
• Applicants proposing archival or language-intensive projects should indicate relevant preparation and access to source material in their research proposal.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme pursue a range of careers that draw on skills in research, critical analysis, language and communication. Many continue to doctoral study in history or related disciplines; others move into professional roles in heritage, museums and archives, libraries, publishing, education and cultural organisations.

• Academic and research careers (PhD, teaching, postdoctoral positions)
• Museum and archival work, including curation, cataloguing and collections management
• Public history and cultural heritage management, including interpretation and outreach
• Publishing, communications, policy and roles in non-profit and cultural sectors where historical research and interpretation are valued
• Professional pathways such as librarianship, archival science and further professional qualifications

Why study at University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa offers a supportive, small-cohort environment with close supervision from faculty who teach across a wide chronological and thematic range. Students benefit from research-led teaching, hands-on training in manuscript and archival methods, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with related departments such as Art History, Religious Studies and Languages.

• Small seminars and personalised supervision that support intensive research training and thesis development.
• Access to the university's libraries and special collections, and partnerships with local archives and cultural institutions for primary-source work and internships.
• Emphasis on training transferable skills—archival research, palaeography, digital methods and public communication—useful inside and beyond academia.
• Support for conference attendance, research dissemination and professional development to help students prepare for doctoral study or careers in the cultural sector.