Florida International University

What you'll study

The programme combines intensive coursework, language and palaeographical training, and original dissertation research. Early semesters emphasise research methods and historiography alongside seminars in core chronological and thematic fields such as medieval political and social history, the history of religion and culture, early modern intellectual and print cultures, gender and family, urban and economic history, and the history of art and material culture. Students develop specialised skills in manuscript studies, palaeography, and book history, and may take classes in digital history and quantitative methods applied to historical research.

Typical course types and modules include:

• Historiography and Research Methods: advanced theory of history, archival practice, and research design.
• Medieval Europe: topics such as Carolingian and High Medieval societies, monasticism, crusading, and legal and institutional change.
• Early Modern Europe: topics such as the Renaissance, Reformations, confessional conflict, state formation, and print culture.
• Language and Palaeography: supervised training in reading languages central to the field (Latin and one or more modern European languages) and hands‑on manuscript work.
• Interdisciplinary Electives: courses drawn from Art History, Classics, Religious Studies, Anthropology and Digital Humanities.
• Professional Development: teaching practicum, conference presentation, grant-writing and publication preparation.

The degree culminates in comprehensive examinations and the completion of an original doctoral dissertation based on primary sources. Students are encouraged to undertake archival research in European repositories as part of their dissertation work and benefit from mentorship through regular advisory committees.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a master's degree in history or a closely related discipline with a strong record of coursework in European history. Typical application materials include:

• Academic transcripts demonstrating graduate and undergraduate preparation.
• A focused research proposal indicating intended dissertation topics within medieval or early modern European cultural history.
• A substantial writing sample (such as a MA thesis chapter or seminar paper) showing ability to conduct archival or primary-source research and sustained argumentation.
• Letters of recommendation from academic referees familiar with the applicant's research potential.
• A curriculum vitae and statement of purpose outlining scholarly interests and any relevant language training.

Applicants should demonstrate reading knowledge of languages relevant to their proposed research (for example Latin, French, German, Italian or Spanish). The programme may consider applicants without all language requirements at admission, but students must acquire necessary reading competence early in the programme. Standardised tests are not routinely required; consult the department for current testing policies. Competitive applicants often have prior archival or field research experience and evidence of scholarly promise.

Career prospects

Graduates typically pursue careers in academia as university or college faculty and researchers, teaching courses in medieval and early modern history and supervising student research. Other common pathways include:

• Curatorial and archival positions in museums, libraries and cultural heritage organisations, working with manuscripts, rare books and material culture collections.
• Public history roles in historic sites, cultural institutions and government agencies focusing on interpretation, exhibitions and outreach.
• Roles in publishing, editorial work and scholarly communication, including digital humanities projects and database curation.
• Policy, cultural diplomacy and international organisations where deep regional and historical expertise is valued.
• Secondary and tertiary education administration, educational programme design and museum education.

Doctoral training also prepares graduates for careers requiring advanced research, critical thinking and foreign-language competence across the public and private sectors.

Why study at Florida International University

Florida International University offers doctoral students a research‑intensive environment with faculty whose expertise spans medieval and early modern Europe, and who engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across art history, religious studies, classics and digital humanities. The Department of History provides close mentorship through faculty advisory committees and a strong programme of seminars and research workshops tailored to early career scholars.

Students benefit from the university's archival and special‑collections resources, support for travel and archival research, and opportunities to participate in conferences and collaborative projects. Located in a global, multicultural city, the university’s international networks and cultural institutions provide additional avenues for public-facing history work, community engagement and interdisciplinary exchange.

FIU emphasises professional development and teaching experience for doctoral candidates through funded assistantships and structured pedagogical training, helping graduates move successfully into academic and non‑academic careers that value advanced historical expertise.