Marymount University

What you'll study

The programme combines a liberal arts foundation with specialised courses in medieval and early modern European cultural history. You will complete core history modules that develop historical methods, historiography and research skills alongside thematic and chronological courses focused on Europe between late antiquity and the early modern period.

• Core skills and methods: historical research methods, oral and written communication, historiography, archival techniques and digital history tools.
• Chronological and regional surveys: introductions to medieval Europe, the Renaissance, the Reformation and the early modern state.
• Cultural themes: religion and society, art and visual culture, material culture, intellectual history, everyday life and family structures.
• Specialist topics: palaeography and manuscript studies, Latin for historians or other relevant languages, gender and sexuality in medieval and early modern Europe, commerce and exploration, and the history of science.
• Applied learning: internships at museums, archives or heritage organisations, a practicum in public history or digital exhibits, and a senior capstone seminar or honours thesis involving original research using primary sources.
• Interdisciplinary options: courses from art history, religious studies, literature and political science to situate cultural developments in broader contexts.

Undergraduates follow a programme structure that mixes general education requirements with major-specific courses and electives. The major typically culminates in a senior seminar where students design and complete a substantial research project under faculty supervision.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised secondary school diploma or equivalent. Typical materials requested include official transcripts, a personal statement outlining interest in history and the medieval/early modern concentration, and one or more letters of recommendation. Admissions may consider standardised test scores where submitted, but many applicants are admitted on the strength of their academic record and supporting materials.

Transfer applicants must submit college transcripts and a record of completed coursework; advance standing may be granted for appropriate prior study. International applicants are asked to provide certified credential evaluations and evidence of English proficiency through an accepted test or approved institutional pathway.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers that value analytical thinking, research ability and strong writing. Common pathways include:

• Museums, archives and cultural heritage organisations (curatorial assistance, collections management, public programming)
• Public history and interpretation roles in historic sites, national institutions and non-profit organisations
• Education at secondary level and higher education when combined with appropriate certification or graduate study
• Libraries, records management and archival work
• Publishing, journalism and communications roles that require careful textual analysis and editing
• Law, public policy and government service, where research, argumentation and critical reasoning are highly valued
• Progression to graduate study in history, museum studies, library and information science, or related humanities disciplines

Why study at Marymount University

Marymount University offers a small, student-centred learning environment with close faculty mentorship, which is particularly valuable for courses that require intensive reading of primary sources and guided research. Its location near Washington, D.C. gives students exceptional access to national libraries, archives and museums for internships and original-source research.

Faculty in the History department teach both broad surveys and specialised seminars, supervise senior research projects, and support undergraduate participation in conferences and publication. Students benefit from experiential learning opportunities — including internships, study abroad options that can complement the medieval and early modern focus, and engagement with local historic sites — all of which help bridge academic study and professional experience.