Loyola University Chicago

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced coursework, language training, intensive seminars and sustained dissertation research focused on cultural history across the medieval and early modern periods. Core study areas typically include European intellectual and religious history, book and print culture, visual and material culture, urban and social history, gender and family, and the history of science and learned institutions.

Typical elements of the programme are:

• Coursework and seminars: advanced historiography and thematic seminars that engage primary sources and current theoretical debates.
• Language training: competence in relevant research languages such as Latin and one or more modern languages (commonly French, German, Italian, Spanish), with additional language reading as required by the student’s research focus.
• Research methods: palaeography, codicology, archival practice and methods of material-culture analysis tailored to medieval and early modern sources.
• Comprehensive examinations and prospectus: written and/or oral qualifying exams that demonstrate breadth and depth in field, followed by a dissertation prospectus and oral defence.
• Dissertation research: an original, book‑length research project based on primary sources conducted under the supervision of faculty advisers; substantial archival and research-travel opportunities are supported.
• Teaching experience and professionalisation: pedagogical training and opportunities to serve as a teaching assistant or instructor, along with workshops on academic publishing, grantwriting and career preparation.

Entry requirements

Successful applicants normally hold a master’s degree in history or a closely related field, although exceptional candidates with a strong bachelor’s degree and research record may be considered. Applicants should demonstrate a clear research focus in medieval or early modern European cultural history and show preparedness for archival work and language study.

Typical application materials requested include:

• Transcripts from all previous higher-education institutions.
• A substantive writing sample (for example, a chapter of MA thesis or a published article) that demonstrates research and analytical ability.
• A research statement or dissertation proposal outlining the candidate’s intended field of study and language needs.
• Curriculum vitae summarising academic background, research experience and any teaching or relevant professional work.
• Three letters of recommendation from academic referees who can speak to the applicant’s scholarly potential.

Applicants are expected to show proficiency in relevant languages or a plan to achieve the necessary reading competence early in the programme. Admissions decisions are made on the basis of scholarly promise, fit with departmental strengths and the availability of supervisory support and funding.

Career prospects

Graduates of the programme pursue a range of careers that draw on advanced research, language and teaching skills. Common paths include tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty positions in history and related fields, postdoctoral research, and teaching at the secondary or tertiary level.

Other career outcomes include roles in museums, archives and cultural heritage institutions; positions in historic preservation and public history; work in libraries and rare-book curatorship; publishing and editorial work; and roles in non-profit organisations, policy research or cultural consultancy where deep historical knowledge and strong research skills are valued.

Why study at Loyola University Chicago

Loyola’s History Department offers close mentorship from faculty with expertise across medieval and early modern Europe and a departmental culture that emphasises interdisciplinary inquiry and public engagement. The university’s location in Chicago provides convenient access to major research collections — including university libraries, specialised research libraries and cultural institutions — that are particularly rich for manuscript, print and material-culture research.

The programme supports doctoral students through competitive funding opportunities, teaching experience, and research-travel funds, while professional development resources help prepare candidates for both academic and non-academic careers. Loyola’s Jesuit tradition underlines a commitment to rigorous scholarship, ethical practice and civic engagement, which many students find complements the study of cultural history in meaningful ways.