University of Massachusetts Boston

What you'll study

This programme builds a strong foundation in historical thinking and research, then offers a sequence of modules that concentrate on medieval and early modern Europe. Core work covers historiography and methods (primary source analysis, archival research, and historical writing), alongside chronological survey courses placing medieval and early modern developments in broader global and Atlantic contexts.

• Introductory and core modules: historical methods, seminar in historical writing, and regional surveys of European history.
• Medieval modules: early medieval society and politics, Byzantium and the medieval Mediterranean, medieval Christianity and Islam, feudal and urban society, and the history of medieval art and material culture.
• Early modern modules: the Renaissance and humanism, the Reformation and confessionalisation, early modern science and ideas, imperial expansion and encounters, and social and cultural life in early modern Europe.
• Skills and sources: paleography and manuscript studies (introductory), quantitative and qualitative source analysis, digital history tools, and languages for historians (where available).
• Research and capstone: a senior seminar or capstone research project (often involving sustained work with primary sources), and opportunities for internships in archives, museums or cultural organisations.

Students may combine required courses with electives across history and related disciplines such as art history, religious studies, literature and political science to develop interdisciplinary perspectives on cultural history.

Entry requirements

Admission to the undergraduate history programme typically requires a completed secondary-school qualification recognised by the university, a transcript of academic records and a personal statement explaining interest in history. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated strength in humanities subjects—especially history and English—and the ability to read and write at a university level.

• Domestic applicants: high-school completion or equivalent and academic transcripts. Successful applicants normally present a solid record in humanities coursework and critical reading and writing.
• International applicants: an equivalent secondary qualification, official transcripts and evidence of English language proficiency where applicable (the university accepts common English-language tests and other recognised proofs of English ability; check the university for acceptable options).
• Additional materials: a personal statement is usually required; some applicants may provide letters of recommendation or a writing sample to strengthen their application, particularly if they intend to pursue honours-level research.

Career prospects

A degree concentrating on medieval and early modern European cultural history prepares graduates for a range of careers that value research, analysis and communication. Many alumni move into:

• Public history roles—museums, historic sites, heritage organisations and galleries, including curation and education.
• Archives and records management, or positions in local historical societies and cultural institutions.
• Education—secondary school teaching (often requiring additional certification), museum education and outreach.
• Publishing, journalism, librarianship and information services.
• Government, policy, NGOs and cultural resource management, where skills in critical thinking and evidence-based argument are valued.
• Further academic study—master’s and doctoral programmes in history, medieval studies, public history or related humanities fields.

Why study at University of Massachusetts Boston

UMass Boston’s urban campus places students close to one of the richest concentrations of archives, libraries and cultural institutions in the United States, providing ready access to primary sources and internship opportunities. Faculty in the history department include scholars working on a range of medieval and early modern topics, and the department emphasises small seminars, mentored research and experiential learning.

Students benefit from interdisciplinary connections across departments (such as art history, religious studies and literature), the opportunity to gain practical experience through internships and public-history projects, and support for undergraduate research culminating in a senior project or thesis. The programme suits students seeking rigorous training in cultural history alongside hands-on experience in the archival and museum worlds.