Rice University

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced coursework, language training, archival research and a sustained dissertation project. Students normally take seminars in historiography and research methods alongside field-specific courses that cover topics such as medieval intellectual and religious culture, early modern political and social life, print culture and book history, material culture and visual culture, gender and sexualities, and comparative cultural exchanges across Europe and the Mediterranean.

Core elements include intensive preparation in relevant reading languages (for this field typically Latin plus at least one modern European language such as French, German, Italian or Spanish), comprehensive examinations or qualifying exams to define a dissertation field, and a substantial original dissertation based on primary sources. Students are expected to engage in archival and manuscript work, and many pursue research travel to European archives and libraries as part of their projects.

• Seminars: small-group, research-focused seminars in medieval and early modern topics
• Methods and historiography: coursework in historical methods, theory and research design
• Language training: certified reading proficiency in Latin and one or more modern languages relevant to the dissertation
• Comprehensive exams/qualifying process: written and/or oral examinations to establish readiness for dissertation work
• Dissertation: an original piece of research demonstrating sustained engagement with primary sources
• Teaching experience: opportunities to teach undergraduate courses and gain pedagogical training

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree with strong academic performance; many successful applicants also hold a master’s degree in history or a closely related discipline. Typical preparation includes coursework in European history, familiarity with primary-source research, and demonstrable language preparation relevant to medieval and early modern studies.

Application materials generally include a research statement or statement of purpose outlining scholarly interests and a potential dissertation agenda, a writing sample (often a research paper), academic transcripts, a curriculum vitae, and letters of recommendation from academic referees. Admissions committees look for evidence of research potential, clarity of scholarly aims and readiness for advanced methodological training. Applicants should consult the department for details about language expectations and any other programme-specific requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates of this programme pursue careers in a range of academic and non-academic fields. Many continue in higher education as university or college faculty, postdoctoral researchers and lecturers, specialising in medieval and early modern history, cultural history, intellectual history or related fields. The programme’s emphasis on languages, primary-source research and critical analysis also prepares graduates for roles in museums and archives, curatorial work, heritage organisations, libraries and special collections, and in public history practice.

Outside the cultural sector, alumni find roles in publishing, editing, digital humanities and research management, non-profit organisations, cultural policy, and positions in government or private research that value advanced analytic, writing and project-management skills.

Why study at Rice University

Rice offers a doctoral environment with close faculty mentoring, small seminar cohorts and strong research support. Students benefit from Rice’s extensive library collections, including special collections and manuscript holdings, and from institutional resources that support archival research and travel. The university’s location in Houston provides proximity to major museums, libraries and archives that are useful for cultural-historical research.

Graduate students in the History Department have opportunities to work across disciplines—collaborating with departments in literature, art history, religious studies and cultural studies—and to participate in workshops and research groups that foster comparative and interdisciplinary work. The department emphasises professional training in research, teaching and public engagement to prepare graduates for a range of scholarly and public-facing careers.