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Modern and Early Modern European History

The history department provides a variety of opportunities for the study of modern and early modern European history. Students can concentrate on the history of a number of different European countries, including France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy and Germany. The core faculty has particular strength in the field of social history, but also possesses considerable expertise in political history, women's history, the history of emigration, cultural and intellectual history, the history of religion, and the history of empire and imperialism.

Graduate students in modern and early modern European history receive a thorough grounding in all aspects and time periods of European history, and typically take courses in the history of Africa, Asia or Latin America, as well. The program provides the opportunity for extensive teaching experience as graders, teaching assistants and graduate teaching fellows. The program's broad base of learning and opportunities for teaching improve students' chances on the job market. Writing a doctoral dissertation on European history generally requires an extended stay in Europe, where the necessary sources are located. The department has funds to finance short visits and initial investigations of European archives and libraries. Faculty members work closely with students, up to now with considerable success, to support their applications for Fulbright Fellowships and other sources of funding for a prolonged research trip, typically lasting from six months to a year.

Modern and Early Modern European History Faculty

John Frymire, assistant professor, PhD, University of Arizona. Early modern German history, history of the age of the Reformation, history of religion, cultural and intellectual history.

Ilyana Karthas (PhD, Brown University) specializes in modern European history with a particular interest in the cultural politics of ballet in France. Dr. Karthas teaches courses in French history and European intellectual and cultural history.

Theodore Koditschek, associate professor, PhD, Princeton University. British history, social history, history of empire and imperialism, intellectual history.

Kerby Miller, professor, PhD, University of California, Berkeley. Irish history, history of religion, history of emigration and migration.

Linda Reeder, associate professor, PhD, Rutgers University. Italian history, European women's history, gender in European history, history of emigration and migration.

Jonathan Sperber, curators' professor, PhD, University of Chicago. Modern German history, social history, political history, including quantitative methods, history of religion.

 

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