Southeastern Louisiana University

What you'll study

This programme combines a broad foundation in historical knowledge and methods with specialist study of medieval and early modern European cultures. Core coursework covers historical research methods, historiography, and thematic surveys of European history. Specialist modules explore topics such as medieval institutions and society, the High Middle Ages, the Renaissance and humanism, the Protestant Reformation and Counter-Reformation, early modern political and intellectual history, cultural and material life, gender and family, and the history of religion.

• Core courses: historical methods and research, historiography, world/regional survey courses that situate medieval and early modern Europe in broader contexts.
• Medieval and early modern modules: Medieval Europe, The High Middle Ages, The Renaissance and Early Modern Europe, Reformation and Religious Change, Early Modern Political and Social Structures, Cultural and Intellectual History.
• Skills and practice: palaeography and introductory Latin (where offered or recommended), archival research, primary-source analysis, digital history tools, and public history practice.
• Capstone and research: a senior seminar or capstone project that requires sustained primary-source research and a substantial written thesis or project under faculty supervision.
• Electives and complementary study: courses in related fields such as art history, classics, anthropology, museum studies, religious studies and modern languages to support cultural-historical perspectives.

Students typically progress from introductory survey and methods classes to increasingly specialised seminars and independent research, with opportunities for internships, undergraduate research assistantships and study-abroad experiences that deepen engagement with European sources and archives.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a high-school diploma or equivalent. Typical entry standards include a satisfactory overall academic record with strength in humanities subjects such as history and English. Southeastern Louisiana University routinely considers applicants with diverse academic backgrounds; transfer students should provide college transcripts and descriptions of completed coursework for credit evaluation.

• Recommended preparatory subjects: secondary-level history, English composition, and foreign language study (classical or modern languages are helpful for medieval/early modern work).
• Applicants whose first language is not English may need to demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests or institutional requirements.
• Placement testing or advising may be used to determine readiness for particular courses; students without prior Latin or palaeography training can typically begin language and skills classes at the undergraduate level.

Career prospects

A BA in History with a medieval/early modern cultural focus prepares graduates for a wide range of careers that value research, critical thinking and written communication. Common career paths include teaching at secondary level (often requiring additional teacher certification), museum and archival work, heritage and public history roles, cultural resource management, library services, and positions in non-profit organisations, tourism and cultural institutions.

Graduates also move into fields such as publishing, journalism, government or law, and many choose to continue to postgraduate study (MA or PhD) in history, public history, archival studies or related disciplines to qualify for specialist roles in research, academia and senior museum/archival positions.

Why study at Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Louisiana University offers a close-knit department where students benefit from small classes, direct faculty mentoring and hands-on research opportunities. The university’s location gives students access to a rich regional archive of cultural and historical resources and practical internship placements at local museums, historic sites and archives. Faculty members with expertise in cultural, social and Atlantic-world histories provide personalised supervision for undergraduate research and capstone projects.

The department supports experiential learning through internships, community partnerships and study-abroad options that complement classroom study, and the programme encourages interdisciplinary collaboration with related departments such as art history, religious studies and English to build well-rounded skills for careers in heritage, education and public-facing history work.