Paleography courses in the United States provide students with an opportunity to study the evolution of writing on manuscripts, documents, and inscriptions. They are important to the study of history, language, and literature of the Middle Ages and early modern periods. These courses are typically offered as part of undergraduate and graduate programs, as classes within certificate programs, and as individual courses. The study of paleography can provide students with a unique window into the world of the Medieval and Early Modern periods. Students in the US typically explore hands-on manuscript and document analysis, writing materials, scripts, and alphabets. Students might also gain a better understanding of the transition between Latin and vernacular writing, illuminated manuscripts, printing technologies, regional handwriting styles, and book structures. Through these topics, students develop insights into the worlds of science, philosophy, literature, politics, and religion. To successfully complete a paleography course, students in the US must develop an understanding of the historical context in which documents were written, as well as the language, script, and decorative techniques used. Depending on the institution and program, students might also be expected to practice advanced techniques of paleography. Students may also be expected to analyze a variety of documents from the Middle Ages and Early Modern periods. No matter the type of paleography course, students in the US typically engage in classroom instruction, lecture-based study, discussions, readings, and hands-on projects and assignments. By the conclusion of the course, students should be able to decipher various scripts, classify documents, and analyze the structure, history, and content of various documents.