Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

What you'll study

The programme combines broad training in historical methods with specialised courses on medieval and early modern Europe. Core topics include medieval societies and economies, the rise of Christendom, the Italian Renaissance, the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, early modern state formation, and the cultural practices that shaped everyday life from c.500–1700.

Typical modules and learning experiences include:

• Introduction to Historical Methods and Historiography — source criticism, theory, and research design.
• Medieval Europe — politics, institutions and social structures from the fall of Rome to the later Middle Ages.
• Renaissance Culture and Intellectual History — humanism, print culture and artistic patronage.
• The Reformation and Early Modern Religion — confessionalisation, reform movements and religious conflict.
• Social and Cultural History — gender, family, material culture, popular religion and daily life.
• Language and Paleography — reading Latin and early modern vernacular sources; training in reading manuscript hands where available.
• Research Methods and Digital History — archival practice, digital tools for historians, data management and public-facing history projects.
• Senior Capstone or Thesis — an extended piece of independent research using primary sources, supervised by a faculty member.

Elective options often allow students to combine history with complementary subjects such as art history, religious studies, classics, English literature or museum studies. The department supports field work, local archival projects and study-abroad opportunities that deepen regional expertise.

Structure

The degree follows a liberal arts structure with a balance of general education, major requirements and electives. Students typically complete introductory-level courses in the first years, move to thematic and regional courses in the middle years, and undertake a capstone research project in the final year. Opportunities for internships, directed readings and collaborative research are available and encouraged.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a high-school diploma or equivalent. Admissions consider the full application file, including transcripts, a personal statement, and academic references. Standardised test scores (such as the SAT or ACT) may be optional depending on admissions policies; applicants should check current guidance from the university.

Academic preparation in humanities subjects is advantageous—courses in history, English, languages (especially Latin or a modern European language), and social studies strengthen an application. Mature applicants and transfers with college-level work are welcome; transfer credit is assessed on submission of official transcripts. International applicants must meet the university's English-proficiency requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates develop research, writing and critical-thinking skills valued across many fields. Typical career paths include:

• Secondary teaching (often followed by a teaching certification programme).
• Museum, archive and heritage work, including collections management and public programming.
• Library and information services, and roles in historical societies or cultural organisations.
• Research and publishing, including editorial work, journalism and content development.
• Public history and community engagement roles, such as interpretive planning for historic sites.
• Progression to graduate study (MA/PhD) in history or related fields, or professional degree programmes in law, public administration and education.

Internships, capstone projects and partnerships with regional cultural institutions help students build practical experience and professional networks.

Why study at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Saint Mary’s offers a small, student-centred learning environment with close faculty mentorship and opportunities for independent research. The History programme emphasises undergraduate teaching, personalised advising and experiential learning through internships and local archival projects in Winona and the surrounding region.

Students benefit from interdisciplinary connections across liberal-arts departments, access to faculty with expertise in European cultural history, and support for study abroad and primary-source research. The university’s emphasis on community engagement and ethical scholarship makes it suitable for students seeking both academic rigour and practical preparation for careers in education, heritage and public service.