Colorado State University

What you'll study

This MA concentration centres on the cultural, intellectual and material history of Europe from late antiquity through the early modern period. Core training emphasises close reading of primary sources, historiography and methods—palaeography, codicology, and archival research—alongside thematic study of religion, gender, urban life, visual and material culture, legal and institutional history, and intellectual movements such as scholasticism, humanism and the Reformation.

• Graduate seminars on topics such as medieval religion and society, Renaissance intellectual culture, the history of everyday life, and early modern political and legal institutions.
• Methodological courses in historiography, research design, and practical palaeography/archival methods oriented to manuscript and rare-book sources.
• Language training to support primary-source work (typically reading competence in Latin and one modern European language such as French, German, Italian or Spanish).
• Opportunities to pursue a substantial research thesis or a capstone research project, supervised by faculty with expertise in medieval and early modern Europe.
• Cross-disciplinary coursework and collaboration with related programmes (Art History, Religious Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature) and use of special collections for object- and text-based research.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor's degree with a strong academic record in history or a closely related discipline. Typical application materials include official transcripts, a statement of purpose outlining research interests in medieval or early modern European history, a writing sample demonstrating aptitude for historical research and analysis, and two or three letters of recommendation from academic referees.

Additional considerations often include prior coursework in European history and demonstrable language preparation or a plan to attain reading competence in relevant languages. Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests unless exempt by institutional policy. Some applicants may be considered for graduate assistantships or teaching roles; those positions commonly require separate application materials and interview.

Career prospects

Graduates of the programme pursue a range of careers that draw on deep research skills, source analysis and interpretive abilities. Common pathways include:

• Doctoral study in history or related humanities fields leading to academic careers in teaching and research.
• Museum, archive and library work, including curatorship, collections management and archival processing, where familiarity with manuscripts and material culture is an asset.
• Public history roles in historic sites, cultural heritage organisations, and interpretive programming.
• Publishing, cultural organisations, education, and positions in non-profit and government sectors that value strong writing, research, and critical thinking skills.

Why study at Colorado State University

Colorado State University’s Department of History offers graduate students close faculty mentorship and access to a broad range of medieval and early modern specialisms. The programme encourages interdisciplinary research and provides hands-on experience with primary materials through the university’s Morgan Library Special Collections and partnerships with regional museums and archives.

Graduate students benefit from professional-development opportunities, including teaching experience, grant-writing support and workshops to develop archival and digital-research skills. Fort Collins’ vibrant academic community and proximity to major cultural institutions in the Front Range provide additional resources for research, internships and public engagement.

The department is committed to helping students design coherent research programmes that prepare them for advanced scholarship or careers outside the academy, supported by faculty with active research profiles in medieval and early modern Europe.