European History
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European History

Convenor: Christopher R. Browning
Program Description

The European history program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill builds on a long tradition of excellence in the training of undergraduate and graduate students. The strengths of the program include a distinguished faculty, a varied curriculum, a receptiveness to innovative methodological approaches, a stimulating and cooperative intellectual atmosphere, and an exceptional range of research resources.

Faculty members guide an exciting and challenging academic curriculum for the training of European historians, building on a legacy of excellence in areas of German and Central European history (Christopher R. Browning, Chad Bryant, Karen Hagemann, Konrad H. Jarausch, and Terence V. McIntosh), French history (Lloyd S. Kramer, Donald M. Reid, and Jay M. Smith), English history (Barbara J. Harris, and Richard A. Soloway), Late Medieval/Early Modern history (Melissa M. Bullard, Barbara J. Harris, Terence V. McIntosh, and Jay M. Smith) and Medieval History (Michael McVaugh, and Brett Whalen). See also our separate information on Russian and East European history. The size and expertise of the faculty allow for an intellectual community capable of achieving "critical mass" in the study of European political, social, cultural, gender, intellectual, and economic history. At the same time, the existence of these discrete areas of specialization also creates possibilities for stimulating connections between fields and has led to the formation of unique "clusters of expertise" within and beyond the European field.

The Graduate Program

The European history program is also distinguished by the willingness of faculty and students to explore such new approaches to the study of history as cultural history, gender history, historical methodology, and comparative history. This receptivity to innovative methods is complemented by a commitment to sound and rigorous training in the development of traditional research and writing skills. The combined resources of two fine research libraries at UNC-CH and Duke University, with extensive special collections ranging from English local history to National Socialism and German Unification, offer a diverse and singularly invaluable asset for graduate study. In addition, faculty-student colloquia, regular interdisciplinary seminars, and the Center for European Studies provide added extra-curricular opportunities for academic discourse.

The European history program takes great pride in the accomplishments of its graduate students. As a result of a highly selective admissions process, the department is able to fund a high percentage of graduate students. Of equal importance is the promotion of an open and supportive environment for graduate study. This includes an accessible faculty closely involved in students' intellectual and professional development. The close cooperation between faculty and students finds expression in the success of our graduates in receiving grants and awards such as Bundeskanzler, Chateaubriand, and Fulbright, as well as in the excellent placement record achieved by graduates of the European history program.

Click here for information about Comprehensive Exams in European History.

Faculty

Christopher R. Browning Frank Porter Graham D.P. Wisconsin Comparative genocide, holocaust studies,  Modern German history
Chad Bryant Associate Professor UC-Berkley Nineteenth- and twentieth-century East-Central Europe; travel; cities
Melissa Bullard Professor & Graduate Director  Cornell Early Modern Europe, Italy, economic history, cultural history, language and gender
Karen Hagemann James G. Kenan D.P.  Hamburg, Berlin History of gender, nations and nationalisms in a comparative perspective, Modern German and European history, Modern German and European history of military and war (18-20 C.); cultural and gender history of the the nation, the military, and warwomen's and gender history, social and cultural history, military history; German and European women's and gender history (18-20 C.), history of masculinities, social and cultural history, history nation, military and war. 
Konrad Jarausch Lurcy Professor of European Civilization Wisconsin Nineteenth and Twentieth century Europe. 
Lloyd Kramer Dean Smith D.T.P. &  Dept. Chair Cornell Nationalism, cross-cultural exchanges in the modern period, modern European intellectual history
Terence McIntosh Associate Professor  Yale Economic and social history; early modern Europe, Early Modern European economic and social history
Donald Reid Alan Feduccia D.T.P. Stanford Modern French history
Jay Smith John Van Setters D.T.P.   Michigan Comparative Revolutions, language and identity, political cultures, Early modern French history, cultural, intellectual
Brett Whalen Assistant Professor  Stanford Medieval religious and cultural history, gender history

 

Graduate Students

(This list includes both graduate students formally pursuing a degree in European History and graduate students interested in European History, while nevertheless working primarily in another major field.)

 

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