Fairleigh Dickinson University

What you'll study

The programme is built around core historical skills and a specialised trajectory in Medieval and Early Modern European cultural history. You will study chronological and thematic modules that explore political, religious, intellectual and material cultures from late antiquity through the seventeenth century. Typical subjects include:

• Medieval Europe: kingdoms, crusading movements, feudal structures and the role of the Church.
• Byzantine and Islamic interactions: cross‑cultural exchange and frontier societies.
• Renaissance and Early Modern Europe: humanism, print culture, courts, and the artistic and intellectual transformations of the period.
• The Reformation and confessionalisation: religious change, confessional conflict and social consequences.
• Social and legal history: family, gender, urban life, criminal justice and the development of early modern institutions.
• Material culture and art history: manuscripts, iconography and the social life of objects.
• Research methods: historiography, palaeography, codicology, archival research methods and a capstone research seminar or honours thesis.
• Language training: instruction options commonly include Latin and modern European languages relevant to primary sources (for example French, German or Italian).

The degree follows the university’s liberal arts model: you will combine discipline‑specific courses with general education requirements. Electives and an independent research project allow you to tailor the programme to interests such as intellectual history, art history, or legal history. Students are encouraged to take advantage of study abroad opportunities and internships to gain practical experience in museums, archives and cultural institutions.

Structure

The programme typically combines introductory surveys and skills courses in the early years with increasingly specialised seminars and a research capstone in the final year. Instruction is delivered through lectures, small seminars, source workshops and supervised independent research.

Entry requirements

Fairleigh Dickinson University considers applicants holistically. Typical expectations include a completed secondary school qualification equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma or UK A‑Levels, with competitive grades in humanities subjects. International qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate are recognised. Applicants should demonstrate strong written and reading skills; prior study of history, literature, or languages is an advantage.

• Formal academic transcripts from secondary education.
• A personal statement that explains your interest in Medieval and Early Modern history and any relevant experience (reading, projects, travel, or language study).
• Letters of recommendation are normally required for competitive applicants.
• Proof of English proficiency if English is not your first language (tests or institutional exemptions accepted according to university policy).
• Transfer applicants should provide college transcripts; Advanced Placement (AP) or other recognised credit may be accepted to satisfy requirements.

Specific entry standards (GPA ranges or test score minima) follow the university’s published admissions criteria and may vary by campus and applicant category.

Career prospects

Graduates with a specialised background in Medieval and Early Modern European cultural history go on to a broad range of careers. The degree develops critical reading, research, written communication and analysis skills valued by employers.

• Heritage and museums: roles in curation, collections management, education and exhibitions, often supported by internships with local museums and cultural organisations.
• Archives and libraries: work in archival processing, digital preservation and research assistance; language and palaeography skills are especially useful.
• Education and public history: secondary teaching (with appropriate certification), heritage interpretation, and community history projects.
• Publishing, journalism and communications: editorial, research and content roles that use strong writing and source‑evaluation abilities.
• Further study: many graduates pursue MA or PhD programmes in history, art history, medieval studies or related fields, or professional degrees in law or library and information science.
• Public sector and cultural policy: positions in cultural organisations, tourism boards, and NGOs that value historical perspective and project‑management skills.

Why study at Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson combines small‑group teaching and personalised faculty mentorship with access to a wide range of cultural resources in the New York–New Jersey region. Students benefit from internship and research placements with museums, libraries and archives in New York City and nearby cultural institutions. The university’s study‑abroad locations, including its long‑standing programme at Wroxton College in England, offer direct contact with European sites, archives and collections vital to medieval and early modern scholarship.

The History Department emphasises primary‑source training, language acquisition and applied research, preparing students for both professional roles and graduate study. Close faculty supervision of senior research projects and opportunities for experiential learning make the programme suitable for students seeking hands‑on engagement with archival materials and public history practice.