Indiana University Bloomington

What you'll study

The programme combines broad historical training with specialised study of medieval and early modern Europe. Core work covers historical methods and historiography, research skills, and survey courses that situate the medieval and early modern periods within European and global contexts. Typical topics and modules include:

• Introduction to Historical Methods and Historiography — principles of historical inquiry, primary source analysis, argumentation and research design.
• Medieval European History — political, social and religious developments from late antiquity through the high Middle Ages, including feudalism, monasticism and crusading movements.
• Early Modern Europe — transformation of states, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, print culture, scientific and intellectual change, and the rise of early modern economies.
• Cultural History and Material Culture — art, architecture, book culture, and everyday life; how objects and visual culture shape social meanings.
• Language and Paleography — reading knowledge courses in Latin and/or relevant modern languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish), and training in paleography and manuscript studies to work with original sources.
• Specialist Seminars — small, discussion-based classes on topics such as medieval religion and liturgy, gender and society, urban history, intellectual history, and diplomatic and legal history.
• Primary Source/Archival Work — courses or projects emphasising manuscript work, archival research, and the use of special collections (opportunities to work with rare books and manuscripts are available).
• Capstone or Senior Research Project — a sustained research paper or thesis supervised by departmental faculty that demonstrates mastery of sources and scholarly methods.

The degree typically requires completion of the department's core requirements plus electives in related fields such as art history, religious studies, classics, or early modern languages. Students are encouraged to pursue study abroad to access European archives and heritage sites.

Entry requirements

Admission is through Indiana University Bloomington's undergraduate admissions process. Typical entry expectations include a completed high school diploma or equivalent with strong performance in humanities and social-science subjects. Successful applicants normally present:

• Competitive overall academic record (high school GPA) and a strong transcript showing coursework in history, English, foreign languages and related subjects.
• Standardised test results if submitted (IU has test-optional policies; check the current admissions guidance for details).
• Demonstrated interest in historical study — this may be evident through coursework, independent research, essays, or extracurricular activities such as history clubs or museum volunteering.
• For students planning to specialise in medieval and early modern work, prior study of Latin or a modern European language is advantageous, and students without prior language preparation are expected to undertake language courses as part of the major.
• Transfer applicants are evaluated on college-level coursework, with a minimum number of credits required for degree residency at IU; placement and credit for AP/IB are handled according to university policy.

International applicants should meet the university's English proficiency requirements and provide evidence of secondary education comparable to U.S. high school qualifications.

Career prospects

A BA in History with a concentration in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History develops research, writing, critical thinking and language skills that are valuable across many sectors. Graduates commonly pursue careers such as:

• Academic and graduate study — master's and doctoral programmes in history, medieval studies, art history, classics and related fields.
• Museums, archives and special collections — curatorial, conservation, archival management and public-programme roles, often supported by experience working with rare books and manuscripts.
• Education — secondary-school teaching (often following teacher certification) and curriculum development.
• Heritage and cultural resource management — roles in historic preservation, heritage interpretation and cultural tourism.
• Public history and publishing — interpretive writing, editing, publishing and digital humanities projects such as online exhibitions and databases.
• Government, law and non-profit sectors — policy analysis, research, communications and roles that require strong analytical and writing abilities.

Undergraduates enhance employability through internships, undergraduate research, language proficiency, and hands-on work with IU's libraries and special collections.

Why study at Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington offers a strong undergraduate history programme with faculty specialising across medieval and early modern Europe and related fields. The campus provides distinctive resources for this area of study, including robust special-collections holdings and opportunities to work directly with rare books and manuscripts in the university library system.

Students benefit from an interdisciplinary environment: easy access to complementary departments such as art history, religious studies and classics; chances to participate in the university's Medieval and Early Modern studies initiatives; and regular public lectures, conferences and visiting scholars that bring new research into the classroom. The department supports undergraduate research, honours projects and study-abroad options that allow students to gain language skills and archival experience in European settings.

For students seeking a balance of rigorous historical training and practical research experience, IU Bloomington provides the faculty expertise, collections and institutional support to pursue advanced study or launch careers that draw on deep knowledge of medieval and early modern European cultures.