Florida International University

What you'll study

This master's pathway focuses on cultural history across the medieval and early modern periods, emphasising intellectual life, religion, material culture, social identities and cross-cultural connections. Core work typically includes historiography and advanced research methods, seminars on the medieval and early modern European worlds, and training in source skills such as palaeography and diplomatic analysis.

• Advanced historiography and research methods — theory of history, archival practice, research design and digital methods.
• Medieval Europe — topics may include monasteries and lay religiosity, court culture, urban life, and medieval law and society.
• Early modern Europe — topics may include the Renaissance, the Reformation and confessionalization, print culture, and early modern science and exploration.
• Specialist seminars — thematic courses in gender and family, material culture, visual culture, memory and identity, and Atlantic or Mediterranean networks.
• Language and source training — supervised reading in Latin and other relevant modern languages (for example French, Italian, Spanish), tailored to research needs.
• Capstone options — a supervised master's thesis based on original research or a project/portfolio for students who choose a non-thesis route.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree in history or a closely related discipline with strong academic performance. Typical application materials include an academic transcript, a personal statement outlining research interests, a curriculum vitae, one to three academic references, and a writing sample demonstrating historical analysis.

International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English; additional language preparation in Latin or modern European languages may be required or recommended depending on the intended research focus. Applicants without a history degree but with relevant professional or research experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a range of careers that draw on specialised historical training and research skills. Common pathways include:

• Progression to PhD programmes and academic research in medieval and early modern history.
• Work in museums, archives and special collections, including cataloguing, curation and conservation roles.
• Public history and heritage management, such as exhibition development, interpretation and cultural policy.
• Publishing, editing and content development for educational and cultural organisations.
• Roles in education, libraries, and nonprofit organisations where research, writing and analytical skills are valued.

Why study at Florida International University

Florida International University offers a research-oriented history department with opportunities for close supervision, interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on source work. Students benefit from access to the university's library collections, digitised sources, and partnerships with local museums and archives for internships and public history projects.

The university’s location in Miami provides a diverse intellectual environment and strong language departments that support training in Latin and modern European languages relevant to medieval and early modern studies. FIU prioritises professional development, helping students prepare for doctoral study or careers in cultural institutions through seminars, practice-based training and faculty mentorship.