John Hopkins University

What you'll study

This PhD combines advanced coursework, language training, primary-source work and sustained original research. Early years typically include seminars in historiography and theory, field-specific graduate seminars on medieval and early modern Europe, and methods courses such as archival research, palaeography and codicology. Students concentrate on cultural history topics — for example religious practice, book culture and literacy, visual and material culture, intellectual networks, gender and family life, or discourses of authority — while placing them in broader social, political and economic contexts.

Core elements include:

• Graduate seminars addressing major interpretative debates and primary-source corpora across medieval and early modern Europe.
• Language training in Latin and at least one vernacular (for example Old French, Middle English, Early Modern French, German, Italian or Spanish), plus training in palaeography and diplomatic when required for source access.
• Research methods courses covering archival practice, cataloguing, manuscript studies, digital humanities tools for historical research, and approaches to material culture.
• Qualifying examinations that test breadth and depth across fields and language competence before advancement to candidacy.
• Dissertation research and writing under the supervision of a primary advisor and a dissertation committee; students undertake sustained archival work, often at repositories in North America and Europe, and produce an original, book-length dissertation.
• Teaching and professional development opportunities, including supervised undergraduate teaching, pedagogy seminars, and training in grantwriting and public engagement.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant master's degree or its equivalent in history or a closely related field; exceptional candidates with only a bachelor’s degree but demonstrable research experience may also be considered. Successful applicants typically demonstrate strong preparation in medieval and early modern studies, familiarity with primary-source languages, and a clear and viable research proposal.

Application materials generally include academic transcripts, a writing sample (often a seminar paper or MA thesis chapter), a statement of purpose outlining research plans, two or three academic references, and evidence of language competence. Prospective students should consult departmental guidance about standardised tests and any specific language expectations, since requirements can vary by programme and applicant background.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a range of careers that draw on skills in archival research, critical analysis, close reading of texts, and communicating complex ideas. Common pathways include academic appointments in history and related disciplines, postdoctoral research positions, and roles in university administration. Outside academia, alumni work in museums and archives, cultural heritage organisations, digitisation and conservation projects, publishing and editing, public history and education, and policy or non-profit sectors where historical expertise and research management are valued.

Why study at John Hopkins University

John Hopkins University offers concentrated expertise in medieval and early modern cultural history within a research-intensive environment. Students benefit from close mentorship by faculty active in manuscript studies, intellectual and religious history, art and material culture, and interdisciplinary projects bridging classics, art history and the history of science. The university’s library system and special collections provide strong archival resources, and institutional connections facilitate research access to European repositories and collaborative fellowships.

The department emphasises professional development through teaching apprenticeships, conference support and training in digital research methods, preparing graduates for both scholarly careers and a variety of roles beyond the academy.