Eureka College

What you'll study

The programme combines broad training in historical methods with specialised courses on medieval and early modern Europe. You will study political and institutional developments alongside cultural practices, intellectual currents and material culture to understand how communities and identities were formed and transformed.

• Foundations of historical practice: historiography, research methods, archival use and critical reading of primary sources.
• Core chronological courses: surveys of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period that situate regional case studies in wider European and Mediterranean contexts.
• Cultural and intellectual history: courses on religion and reform, the rise of humanism, scientific change, popular culture, gender and family life.
• Art and material culture: study of manuscripts, iconography, urban spaces, and objects as historical sources.
• Language and palaeography: introductory to intermediate training in Latin and optional modern European languages, with palaeography and manuscript studies to support primary-source work.
• Thematic electives: topics such as crusading and pilgrimage, the Black Death and demographic change, early modern print culture, witchcraft and social conflict, and empire and cross-cultural encounters.
• Research and capstone: seminars that lead to a year-long senior thesis or project based on original primary-source research, and options for internships in archives, museums or heritage organisations.

Programme structure

Typical progression moves from introductory surveys and research skills in the first year, through intermediate thematic and language work in years two and three, to an intensive research seminar and capstone project in the final year. Students can combine the concentration with electives across the liberal arts and take advantage of study-abroad or fieldwork placements to work directly with manuscripts, archives and historic sites.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally need a recognised secondary-school qualification or equivalent and must meet the College's general admissions criteria. Successful candidates usually demonstrate strong achievement in humanities subjects, particularly history and English, and show evidence of curiosity about primary-source study.

• Academic transcripts from secondary school or previous post-secondary study.
• A personal statement outlining interest in medieval and early modern history and any relevant experience (e.g. independent research, volunteer work in museums or local history projects).
• Letters of recommendation that speak to academic ability and potential for independent research.
• Language background is helpful: prior study of Latin or a modern European language is an advantage but not always required; the programme offers introductory language support.
• Mature and transfer applicants with relevant experience are considered; placement testing may be used to determine appropriate language or skill-level courses.

Career prospects

Graduates with this specialised history degree are prepared for a wide range of careers that value research, critical thinking and communication. Common career paths include:

• Museum and heritage work: curatorship, collections management, education and interpretation at museums, historic houses and heritage sites.
• Archives and librarianship: roles in public and private archives, special collections, and digital curation (often combined with further professional qualifications).
• Education and public history: secondary teaching, community history projects, historic interpretation and programme development.
• Research and further study: postgraduate study (MA, PhD) in history, medieval studies, art history or related humanities fields, leading to academic and research careers.
• Related professions: publishing, cultural policy, journalism, law, and roles in the non-profit and public sectors where analytical writing and source-based argumentation are required.

Why study at Eureka College

Eureka College offers a liberal-arts environment with small seminars, close faculty mentoring and opportunities for sustained one-to-one research supervision—qualities that are particularly valuable for training in primary-source scholarship. The History Department emphasises interdisciplinary approaches, combining literary, religious and material-culture perspectives.

• Small class sizes that allow regular discussion-based seminars and personalised feedback on projects and theses.
• Accessibility to faculty with active research interests in premodern Europe and support for undergraduate research leading to conference presentations and publications.
• Opportunities for internships with local museums and archives, and guidance for arranging study-abroad placements that give hands-on experience with manuscripts and historic sites.
• A supportive liberal-arts curriculum that enables students to combine history with languages, art history, theology or digital humanities tools for a broader skillset.