Indiana University

What you'll study

The programme emphasises cultural, intellectual and material histories of Europe from roughly late antiquity through the early modern period. Teaching blends seminars, language training and supervised research. Typical core themes include religious practice and devotional culture, book history and manuscript studies, urban and court cultures, visual culture and materiality, social and economic life, and the history of ideas and intellectual networks.

• Seminars: small-group, discussion-driven modules focused on close reading of primary texts and recent scholarship.
• Languages and palaeography: structured training in Latin and one or more modern European languages (for example French, German, Italian or Spanish), plus palaeography and codicology for working with manuscripts and archival materials.
• Methods and theory: courses in historical methods, archival research techniques and interdisciplinary approaches drawing on art history, religious studies and literary studies.
• Research project: a supervised master's thesis or substantial research paper based on original primary-source work in libraries and archives.
• Optional electives: opportunities to take related courses across departments such as Art History, Religious Studies, Classics, Medieval Studies and Comparative Literature.

Programme structure typically combines two years of coursework and language training with concentrated research in the final phase, though pathways for one-year intensive completion with a thesis are also common. Students may take advantage of seminars that require archival visits to special collections such as the university's manuscript and rare-book holdings.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in history or a closely related discipline with a strong academic record. Successful applicants normally demonstrate:

• A solid academic transcript showing competence in historical reading and writing (typically a GPA equivalent to a good upper‑second class honours or higher).
• Preparation in relevant languages; at minimum, the ability to read modern scholarly works in a European language, with Latin or medieval paleography preparation strongly recommended or demonstrated willingness to undertake language training on entry.
• A statement of purpose outlining research interests and goals within medieval and early modern cultural history.
• Academic references (usually two or three) and a writing sample demonstrating analytical and research skills.

Standardised test scores (such as the GRE) are considered if submitted but are not universally required; international applicants must meet the university's English-language proficiency requirements. Specific programme requirements and any language prerequisites should be checked with the department prior to application.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a range of careers that value advanced research, language proficiency and archives experience. Typical paths include:

• Further academic study (PhD programmes in history, medieval studies, art history or related fields).
• Museum and archive work, including curatorial and collections management roles.
• Research and public history roles in cultural heritage institutions, historic sites and libraries.
• Teaching at secondary or post‑secondary levels (with appropriate certification where required).
• Publishing, editorial work, and roles in cultural policy, public engagement and digital humanities projects that require strong critical and research skills.

Why study at Indiana University

Indiana University offers a supportive environment for medieval and early modern studies, with access to significant primary-source collections and specialised research centres. The Bloomington campus houses notable manuscript and rare-book holdings, and students can draw on interdisciplinary programmes such as Medieval Studies, as well as related departments including Art History, Religious Studies and Modern Languages.

Faculty in the History Department are active in research across a wide range of European periods and topics, providing supervised opportunities for archival work, conference participation and publication. The department also emphasises professional development—language training, palaeography, and practical experience with special collections—that prepares graduates for both academic and public-facing careers.