University of Cincinnati

What you'll study

The doctoral programme centres on original research into cultural formations across medieval and early modern Europe, including religion and piety, book culture and manuscript studies, visual and material culture, intellectual and legal history, and the history of science and medicine. Students pursue a programme of advanced seminars and independent research tailored to their dissertation topic.

• Core seminars: historiography and theory of cultural history, advanced medieval/early modern methods, and seminars addressing primary-source analysis (manuscripts, printed books, archival documents).
• Language training: reading competence in Latin is typically required; additional training in medieval/early modern French, German, Italian, Spanish or other relevant languages is strongly encouraged and usually completed as part of degree progress.
• Research tools: palaeography, codicology, diplomatic, and quantitative or digital methods where appropriate to the project.
• Electives and cross-disciplinary options: students commonly take courses in Classics, Art History, Religious Studies, Comparative Literature, and Museum Studies to situate cultural questions in broader contexts.
• Dissertation: the programme culminates in an original, book-length dissertation based on sustained archival and/or material-culture research, supervised by a faculty committee.
• Teaching and professional training: graduate teaching opportunities and professionalisation workshops prepare students for academic teaching and public-facing roles.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a relevant master's degree (MA or equivalent) in history or a closely related discipline, demonstrating strong academic preparation for doctoral work. Exceptional candidates with only a bachelor’s degree but with substantial research experience may be considered in some cases.

• Academic transcripts showing a strong record in undergraduate and graduate work.
• Research proposal outlining the dissertation topic, questions, sources, and proposed methodology.
• Writing sample (typically a chapter, MA thesis excerpt, or comparable essay) that demonstrates ability to conduct archival research and produce scholarly argumentation.
• Letters of recommendation (usually three) from academic referees who can speak to research potential and readiness for doctoral study.
• Language preparation evidence for Latin and any other relevant languages; some language work may be required during the programme.
• International applicants must meet the university’s English language proficiency requirements through recognised tests or previous education in English.
• Additional materials such as a curriculum vitae and a record of previous research or publications are typically requested.

Career prospects

Graduates of the programme pursue a variety of careers that build on strengths in research, archival practice, textual analysis and teaching. Many go on to academic careers in tenure-track and adjunct positions in history, medieval/early modern studies, and related humanities departments. Others move into museums, archives, and special collections where skills in manuscript and object interpretation are central.

• Academic career paths: postdoctoral fellowships, college and university teaching, and research posts.
• Public history and cultural heritage: curatorship, archival management, conservation, and interpretive roles in museums and historic sites.
• Publishing, editing and scholarly communications: editorial work for academic presses and journals, and roles in digital humanities projects.
• Policy, non-profit and cultural organisations: research and programme roles that require deep historical knowledge and project management.

Why study at University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati offers a research-intensive environment with faculty whose expertise spans medieval and early modern Europe, providing strong mentorship for archival and interdisciplinary projects. The university’s libraries and special collections support manuscript and printed-book research, and the programme encourages collaboration with related departments such as Classics, Art History and Comparative Literature to enrich perspectives on cultural history.

Students benefit from opportunities for funded graduate teaching and research assistantships, professional-development workshops, and connections with regional museums and archives that facilitate internships and on-site research. The department emphasises rigorous language and methodological training, ensuring graduates are well prepared for both scholarly and public-facing careers that engage European medieval and early modern cultures.