Georgia Southern University

What you'll study

The programme combines core courses in historical methods and historiography with specialised modules on medieval and early modern Europe. You will explore topics such as the transformation of Roman society, the rise of medieval kingdoms, the cultural and religious life of the High Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the political and intellectual changes of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

• Core skills and methods: historical research methods, historiography, archival practice, source criticism and academic writing.
• Regional and thematic modules: Medieval Europe; Renaissance and Reformation; Early Modern Political and Social History; Cultural and Intellectual History of Europe; religion, gender and family in medieval and early modern contexts.
• Language and palaeography: opportunities to study relevant foreign languages (commonly classical/modern languages offered by the university) and palaeographic approaches to reading early manuscripts and documents.
• Research and capstone: a senior seminar or capstone research project that develops an extended piece of original research using primary sources.
• Optional experiences: guided independent study, internship placements with museums or archives, and study-abroad or faculty-led programmes in European locations where available.

The History major is usually structured within the university's undergraduate credit system and allows elective choices across the liberal arts, enabling interdisciplinary study with departments such as Art History, Religious Studies, Languages, and Political Science.

Entry requirements

Admission is through Georgia Southern University's undergraduate admissions process. Typical expectations include a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) and completion of the university's standard admission requirements. Applicants are usually considered on the basis of secondary-school record and other supporting materials.

• Academic background: successful completion of a college-preparatory curriculum in secondary school, with strength in reading, writing and social studies recommended.
• Standardised tests: the university's current policy on standardised tests (SAT/ACT) should be checked; many applicants are admitted on the basis of their high school record alone.
• Transfers: applicants transferring from other colleges should provide official college transcripts; transfer of history credits is evaluated according to department policy.
• Additional materials: while not normally required for admission to the major, a strong writing sample, letters of recommendation, or evidence of language study can strengthen an application for research opportunities or honours programmes.

Career prospects

Graduates with a concentration in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History are prepared for a range of careers that value research, writing and critical thinking. Common paths include:

• Public history roles such as museum and archival work, collections management and interpretation.
• Education — secondary teaching (usually combined with state teacher certification) or further study toward university-level teaching and research.
• Heritage and cultural management, including historic site administration and cultural tourism.
• Publishing, journalism, research and communications roles in non-profit and private sectors.
• Government, law and public policy — alumni often go on to graduate or professional programmes in law, public administration or library and information science.

Many students also progress to master's and doctoral study in history, medieval studies or related humanities fields, or combine the degree with internships and study-abroad experience to enhance employability in specialised cultural fields.

Why study at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern offers a liberal-arts environment with opportunities for close faculty mentoring, small seminar classes and hands-on research. The university's Department of History provides access to campus research resources, including the university library and local archival collections, and supports student participation in conferences and undergraduate research programmes.

Students benefit from opportunities to take interdisciplinary courses, participate in internships in the region, and pursue study-abroad options that complement medieval and early modern research interests. The programme's emphasis on practical research skills, language study and archival methods prepares graduates for both professional careers and advanced study.