About the Program
The course of study in Colonial, Revolutionary-era, and Early National American history, c. 1492-1820, is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation for research and teaching. It is also intended to be sufficiently flexible for specialization in one of a variety of ways that best suits a student's needs and interests. In our program, you may pursue the study of Early America as part of a concentration in American history or in the history of Early Modern Europe. Most graduate programs at other universities offer only one or the other, but not both options.
Whichever focus you choose, the core component of your graduate study will be with the faculty in Early American history:James Delbourgo and Camilla Townsend. You are also encouraged to work with our faculty in Early Modern Europe: Alastair Bellany and Jennifer Jones; as well as with Early American and Early Modern specialists in other departments, such as Emily Bartels and Christopher Iannini in English, and in History at Rutgers-Camden, Andrew Shankman.
Students will take six courses:
All students selecting a Major Field in Early American History must take Readings in American History I, and at least one colloquium in colonial, Atlantic or Native American history. Beyond this, students must select one of the following additional supplementary emphases:
Early Modern Europe, requiring two additional courses (6 credits) in Early Modern European History. OR,
Modern America, requiring two additional courses in Modern America, one of which must be Readings II (510:557) or Readings III (510:559).
Students will take the two-semester seminar and produce a paper on an Early American topic.
You will also define a minor field and take two courses in that historical concentration. Some possible minor fields in related areas include, but are not limited to, Comparative and Global History, History of the Atlantic Cultures and African Diaspora, Colonial Latin American History, and American and/or English literature of the eighteenth century.