PhD in French Studies and History in New York United States | New York University

The joint PhD Program in French Studies and History enables candidates to combine thorough historical training with an interdisciplinary examination of Francophone cultures. Operating across both the Institute of French Studies and the History department, participants customize their academic journey, developing research projects alongside diverse faculty and peers. This distinctive approach, enhanced by bilingual coursework and events, sets our program apart.

Starting in their first year, students engage with advanced historical methodology seminars, pursue original research, and select courses from complementary fields like sociology, anthropology, media studies, and gender studies. With guidance from IFS and History department advisors, they refine their academic focus while preparing a dissertation proposal (typically finalized during the summer after their second year). History department offerings cover specialized areas including Atlantic World studies, European scholarship, gender/sexuality research, imperial histories, economic systems, and racial studies. At IFS, scholars immerse themselves in French and Francophone historical studies, collaborating with experts on Caribbean/postcolonial networks, Maghreb education systems, family histories, innovative historiography, and anti-Semitism research.