Chatham University

What you'll study

The programme is delivered as a concentration or pathway within Chatham University’s undergraduate History degree, combining chronological and thematic approaches to the Middle Ages and the early modern period. You will study political and social developments alongside cultural expressions — including manuscript culture, visual arts, ritual and religious change, book history, print culture, gender and family life, and urban and rural material cultures.

• Core topics: medieval European polities and social structures; the Renaissance and Reformation; the rise of print and early modern communication networks; court, city and religious life.
• Methods and skills: palaeography and manuscript studies basics, working with primary sources, historiography, source criticism, and interpretative frameworks for cultural analysis.
• Typical modules: subjects often include Medieval Europe; Early Modern Europe; History of the Book; Religion and Society in the Middle Ages; Art and Visual Culture in Early Modern Europe; Gender and Family in Historical Perspective; and Research Methods in History.
• Capstone and research: a senior research project or honours thesis gives students sustained practice in archival research, critical argumentation and public presentation of findings.
• Practical experiences: opportunities for internships with museums, libraries and heritage organisations, study abroad semesters at partner institutions in Europe, and on-campus undergraduate research with faculty mentors.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a secondary school qualification appropriate for university entry in their country and demonstrate strong written and reading skills. Successful candidates typically present a consistent academic record with substantial study in humanities subjects such as history, literature or languages. Institutions often consider a personal statement that outlines interest in medieval and early modern topics and any relevant experience, as well as letters of recommendation.

Chatham welcomes transfer students and mature applicants; admissions may take account of college coursework, prior learning and relevant experience. Standardised tests are optional at many US universities; consult Chatham’s admissions office for current testing policies. International applicants will usually need to demonstrate English language proficiency.

Career prospects

Graduates develop transferable skills prized by employers: critical reading, source analysis, research design, clear writing, and contextual thinking. Those skills support a wide range of career paths.

• Museums and heritage: curatorial and collections work, education officer roles, heritage interpretation and conservation support.
• Archives and libraries: archival assistants, special collections support, and digitisation projects.
• Education and public history: secondary teaching (with appropriate teacher training), museum education, and community history programmes.
• Publishing, journalism and communications: editorial roles, research and content creation, and public affairs.
• Further study and research: many graduates pursue master’s degrees or PhDs in history, cultural heritage, library and information science, and related fields; others move into law, public policy or non-profit leadership.

Why study at Chatham University

Chatham offers a liberal-arts environment with small seminar-style classes and close faculty mentoring, well suited to archival and text-based historical study. Located in the Pittsburgh region, students have access to a rich array of museums, historical societies and libraries for internships and primary-source work. The university encourages interdisciplinary engagement, allowing students to combine history with literature, art history, religious studies or conservation-related subjects.

Undergraduates benefit from opportunities for guided research, an emphasis on experiential learning, and support for study abroad or fieldwork that complements the medieval and early modern curriculum. These features help prepare students for professional work in cultural institutions or for continued academic study.