Eastern Michigan University

What you'll study

The MA in History emphasises historiography and research methods alongside specialised study in medieval and early modern European cultural history. Core work typically includes advanced seminars in historical theory and methodology, training in archival research and palaeography, and focused courses on topics such as medieval religion and ritual, the Renaissance and humanism, the Reformation and confessional cultures, early modern political and social institutions, and the history of ideas and material culture.

• Research methods and historiography: seminars covering source criticism, theory, and approaches to cultural history.
• Language and palaeography: reading skills in Latin and other relevant modern European languages, and instruction in working with manuscript sources.
• Specialist seminars: thematic courses on religion, gender, print culture, visual culture, urban life, and intellectual currents in medieval and early modern Europe.
• Thesis or project: option to complete a supervised research thesis or a major research project with archival components; intensive one-on-one mentoring is provided during the capstone stage.
• Electives and public history: opportunities to take electives in museum studies, digital history, or archival practice and to pursue internships with local cultural institutions.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree in history or a closely related discipline. A solid academic record is required; competitive applicants typically present evidence of previous coursework in history, research experience, and, where relevant, language preparation for medieval and early modern studies.

• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• A statement of purpose outlining research interests and reasons for graduate study in medieval and early modern cultural history.
• A writing sample that demonstrates analytical and research skills (such as an undergraduate essay or equivalent).
• Two academic references commenting on the applicant’s potential for graduate-level research.

GRE scores are not universally required for admission; applicants should consult the department for current testing policies. Applicants whose first language is not English will need to meet the university’s English language proficiency standards.

Career prospects

Graduates with an MA specialising in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History move into a wide range of careers that value advanced research, critical thinking and specialised knowledge of past societies. Common pathways include:

• Further academic work (PhD) and careers in university teaching and research.
• Roles in museums, archives and cultural heritage organisations, including curatorial and collections management work.
• Public history and education positions, such as historic site interpretation, cultural programming and K–12 history teaching (where state certification requirements are met).
• Publishing, editorial work, and cultural journalism.
• Research positions in government, non-profits and think-tanks that draw on skills in historical analysis, documentation and communications.

Why study at Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University offers a department environment with small, discussion-focused seminars and close faculty mentoring, which is particularly valuable for archival and thesis-based research in medieval and early modern topics. The programme benefits from access to university library collections and digital resources, and its location provides convenient connections to regional archives, museums and cultural institutions for internships and hands-on research.

Students also gain professional development support through departmental workshops on publishing, archival methods and public history practice, and they can pursue interdisciplinary collaborations across literature, religious studies and art history to deepen cultural-historical approaches.