University of Hawaii

What you'll study

The programme offers a mix of broad historical foundations and specialised courses on medieval and early modern Europe. Core training emphasises historical methods, historiography and source analysis, while subject modules cover political, religious, social and cultural transformations from the collapse of the Roman world through the Renaissance, Reformation and the age of early empires.

• Methods and theory: historiography, archival research, palaeography and introduction to digital history tools.
• Medieval Europe: topics such as medieval institutions, crusading movements, monastic and urban life, law and kingship.
• Early modern Europe: the Renaissance, confessionalisation and the Reformation, state formation, printing and the public sphere.
• Cultural history themes: visual and material culture, religion and ritual, gender and family life, memory, popular belief and witchcraft, book history and intellectual networks.
• Comparative and global perspectives: interactions between Europe and the Mediterranean, Ottoman, African and early Atlantic worlds; colonial encounters and cross-cultural exchange.
• Language and sources: options to study modern European languages and introductory classical/medieval languages (Latin or Old French) to support primary-source work.
• Capstone and research experience: senior seminars, a research methods course and the opportunity to complete a senior thesis or independent research project drawing on primary sources and archives.

Entry requirements

Admission to the bachelor’s programme follows the University of Hawaiʻi general undergraduate entry procedures. Typical expectations include completion of secondary education or an equivalent qualification and submission of official transcripts. Applicants are usually asked to provide a personal statement outlining their interest in history; letters of recommendation may be requested depending on the application route.

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through recognised tests or documentation of prior study in English. Because many upper-level courses benefit from language study, students are encouraged to have or be willing to develop competency in at least one modern European language and to consider introductory Latin courses where available. Specific admission criteria can vary by campus and applicant background, so prospective students should consult the university admissions guidance for precise requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates with a concentration in Medieval and Early Modern European Cultural History develop transferable skills prized across sectors: critical reading of complex texts, archival research, persuasive written and oral communication, and project design. Common career paths include:

• museum and heritage work, curation and collections management
• archives, librarianship and documentary preservation (often with further professional training)
• public history, interpretation and cultural resource management
• education and teaching, with additional certification for K–12 roles
• publishing, journalism, communications and content development
• government, diplomacy and policy roles that value analytical and research abilities
• continuing to graduate study in history or related fields for research and academic careers

Why study at University of Hawaii

The University of Hawaiʻi provides a distinctive setting for historical study: while located in the Pacific, its History Department supports comparative and global approaches that connect European developments to wider world processes. Students benefit from small seminars, opportunities for undergraduate research, and access to the university’s library collections and regional museums and archives in Honolulu. The campus also facilitates study-abroad and exchange options in Europe and language training, enabling students to pursue specialist source-based work and archival experience that underpin advanced study or careers in heritage and cultural institutions.