Virginia Commonwealth University

What you'll study

The programme combines chronological and thematic approaches to the medieval and early modern periods, giving students grounding in primary-source analysis, historical methods and cultural interpretation. Core elements include survey courses on Medieval Europe and Early Modern Europe, seminars in cultural and intellectual history, and courses in religion, gender, urban life, and material culture.

• Core seminars — historical methods, historiography, and a senior capstone or honours thesis that develops original research using primary sources.
• Period and thematic courses — topics typically available include Late Antiquity, Medieval Christianity and Islam, the Renaissance and Reformation, the history of science and medicine, early modern political culture, and everyday life in pre-modern Europe.
• Language and palaeography — instruction in relevant languages (classical/medieval Latin and one or more modern European languages) and palaeography/manuscript studies to enable direct engagement with archival materials.
• Material culture and digital methods — courses on artefacts, iconography, museum studies, and digital history tools for mapping and analysing sources.
• Experiential learning — archival practicum, internships with museums or historic sites, and study-abroad or exchange options that allow on-site study of collections and monuments.

Students typically follow a mixture of required courses and electives, culminating in a research-driven capstone project. The programme encourages cross-disciplinary work with literature, religious studies, art history and archaeology.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong preparation in the humanities with a record of academic achievement at secondary level or its international equivalent. Typical entry expectations include a competitive high-school GPA and completion of coursework in history, English or related subjects. For applicants holding international qualifications the university will consider equivalents such as A-levels, International Baccalaureate, national secondary leaving credentials, or recognised college transfer work.

Advanced standing may be granted for recognised advanced-level examinations (for example, AP or IB Higher Level) or previous university coursework. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the university's English proficiency requirements; consult Virginia Commonwealth University's admissions guidance for the accepted tests and scores.

Career prospects

Graduates with this focus move into a wide variety of careers that value research, critical thinking and communication skills. Common pathways include:

• Museums, galleries and historic sites — curatorial work, education, collections management and interpretation.
• Archives and libraries — special collections, archival processing, preservation and public services.
• Heritage and cultural resource management — historic preservation, cultural tourism and interpretive planning.
• Education and public history — secondary teaching (with appropriate teacher certification), public programming, and digital public history projects.
• Research and postgraduate study — MA and PhD programmes in history and related disciplines, or professional degrees in law, library science and museum studies.
• Communications, publishing and non-profit sectors — writing, editing, grant writing and project management roles.

The programme’s emphasis on language skills, archival training and digital methods is designed to make graduates adaptable in both academic and applied heritage environments.

Why study at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University offers a vibrant urban campus in Richmond, a city rich in historical resources and cultural institutions, providing ready access to archives, museums and historic sites. The Department of History is housed within the College of Humanities and Sciences and supports close faculty-student mentorship, small seminars, and opportunities for undergraduate research.

VCU's location facilitates internships and partnerships with local institutions such as museums, historical societies and state archives, while the university’s library special collections and digital initiatives support work with manuscripts and rare materials. Students benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration across art history, religious studies and public history, and from programmes that prepare them for both graduate study and professional work in heritage and cultural organisations.