Felician University

What you'll study

This programme centres on the cultural history of Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the late seventeenth century. You will study political and religious institutions, intellectual movements, social and gender history, material culture, and the transmission of texts and images across medieval and early modern Europe. Coursework balances primary-source analysis (in translation), historiographical methods, and thematic studies of urban life, pilgrimage and relics, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, early print culture, and the history of science and exploration.

• Core modules: Introduction to Historical Methods; Western Civilisation to 1500; Early Modern Europe: 1500–1700; Research Seminar in History.
• Typical medieval and early modern modules: Medieval Kingship and Society; The Middle Ages: Religion and Culture; The Renaissance and Humanism; Reformation Europe; Early Modern Intellectual History; History of Medieval and Early Modern Art and Material Culture.
• Skills and methods: palaeography and manuscript studies (introductory); archival research methods; quantitative and qualitative approaches to historical evidence; historiography and theory.
• Capstone and assessment: senior research project or honours thesis based on primary sources, assessed essays, source-based exams, and oral presentations.
• Optional learning experiences: study-abroad semesters or short-term faculty-led sites in Europe, internships with local museums and archives, community-based public history projects and co-curricular lecture series.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a completed high school diploma or equivalent. Typical requirements include a strong record in humanities subjects (history, literature, languages) and a general college-preparatory curriculum. Felician University considers academic transcripts, a personal statement outlining interest in history, and at least one letter of recommendation; standardised test submission (SAT/ACT) is usually optional and considered in the context of the full application. Transfer applicants should provide college transcripts and a record of introductory history courses. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency where necessary.

Career prospects

Graduates with a BA focused on Medieval and Early Modern European cultural history pursue a range of careers that value research, writing and critical analysis. Common pathways include:

• Museum and archive work (collections, curatorship, archival technicians), often beginning with internships and entry-level positions.
• Public history and cultural heritage roles in historic sites, tourism, and community education.
• Secondary school teaching, following appropriate teacher certification or graduate study in education.
• Graduate study in history, medieval studies, museum studies, library science, or related humanities disciplines leading to academic or specialist careers.
• Related fields that value transferable skills: law, publishing, non-profit management, cultural policy, and digital humanities positions involving content development and research.

Why study at Felician University

Felician University offers a small-campus, liberal-arts environment where students receive close faculty mentorship and personalised academic advising. The history department emphasises undergraduate research and hands-on learning: students can pursue archival projects, participate in internships with regional museums and historical societies, and join faculty-led study-abroad programmes that complement the medieval and early modern curriculum. The university’s Franciscan tradition underpins a curriculum attentive to ethical inquiry, community engagement and service learning, providing opportunities to apply historical knowledge in public-facing projects and local partnerships.