Florida International University

What you'll study

The PhD curriculum combines advanced coursework, language training, research seminars and a sustained dissertation project in Medieval and Early Modern European cultural history. Core expectations include historiography and methods seminars in historical theory, seminar work on cultural practices (religion, literature, art, ritual), and thematic courses addressing political, social and intellectual developments across medieval and early modern Europe.

• Seminar coursework in cultural history, intellectual history, social and legal history of medieval and early modern Europe.
• Advanced training in research languages commonly used in the field (for example Latin, Medieval/early modern French, German, Spanish, Italian, or other relevant languages) and training in palaeography and diplomatic where appropriate.
• Methods and historiography seminars covering archival research, manuscript studies, material culture, book history, and digital humanities approaches applied to premodern sources.
• Teaching practicum: supervised teaching experience and pedagogy workshops preparing students for college-level instruction.
• Comprehensive examinations (written and/or oral) to demonstrate mastery of the field and readiness for dissertation research.
• Dissertation: an original, archival-based research project producing a sustained scholarly monograph that contributes to debates in medieval and early modern cultural history.

Students typically design a programme of study in consultation with a faculty advisor, combining departmental offerings with courses from related units such as Art History, Classics, Religious Studies, and Comparative Literature. Opportunities exist to pursue interdisciplinary approaches—e.g., material culture studies, historical anthropology, book and print culture—and to engage digital methods for text and image analysis.

Entry requirements

• A master’s degree in History or a closely related discipline with demonstrated preparation in European history; exceptionally qualified applicants with a strong bachelor’s degree may be considered.
• Academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• A research statement or statement of purpose outlining intended fields of study, research questions, and potential dissertation topics in medieval or early modern European cultural history.
• A writing sample (typically a chapter-length essay or seminar paper demonstrating archival engagement, language competence, and analytical depth).
• Curriculum vitae summarising academic training, languages, research experience and relevant employment.
• Three letters of recommendation from academic referees who can assess research potential and readiness for doctoral work.
• Demonstrated proficiency in relevant research languages; applicants should indicate language training and may be asked to provide evidence of competence in Latin or vernacular languages appropriate to their research area.

Applicants should contact potential department faculty whose interests align with their own before applying. The department may have additional requirements or recommendations for applicants focusing on manuscript or archival work.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD programme pursue a variety of careers that draw on advanced research, language and teaching skills. Typical career paths include:

• Tenure-track or adjunct positions in history and related humanities departments at colleges and universities.
• Postdoctoral research fellowships and visiting appointments to further scholarly publication and research networks.
• Museum and archival work, including curatorial, collections management and conservation-adjacent roles focused on premodern artefacts and manuscripts.
• Public history and cultural heritage roles in libraries, historical societies, cultural agencies and NGOs.
• Publishing, editorial work, and scholarly communication roles that value expertise in textual culture and historical interpretation.
• Higher education administration, grant-writing and research management positions that benefit from advanced disciplinary training and project leadership experience.

Why study at Florida International University

Florida International University offers a doctoral environment with access to comprehensive library holdings, special collections and regional archives that support research in medieval and early modern studies. The department encourages interdisciplinary collaboration across units such as Art History, Classics, Religious Studies and International Studies, giving students scope to frame cultural history projects from multiple perspectives.

FIU’s location in a major metropolitan region provides access to museums, rare-book collections and cultural institutions in the southeastern United States, and the university supports graduate professionalisation through teaching training, grant-writing workshops and opportunities for conference presentation. Faculty advisers engage in active research and mentorship, guiding students through archival fieldwork, language preparation and publication strategies essential for careers in academia and the cultural sector.

Funding and assistantship opportunities are available to support dissertation research and professional development; prospective applicants should consult the department for current information on fellowships, assistantships and travel/archival grants.