If your major field is Europe Since 1500 or Early Modern Europe, you can elect to take one of your exams in Early Modern Europe. The exams are the culminating experience for your M.A. program, and help prepare you for teaching and/or for entry into a Ph.D. program.
Together we will prepare a reading list (usually 20 - 25 books) covering classic works on important topics in the history of early modern Europe. When more than one person is reading for the early modern exam in the same semester, we will all meet together to discuss the readings. Look at the links to the left for lists of readings that students have chosen in the past, though you are also encouraged to choose new topics that relate to your own interests.
If your exam is on Europe Since 1500, I am also willing to read topics in modern Europe that are not covered by other faculty members, especially those dealing with Central and Eastern Europe.
Typically, I sit on exam committees for Early Modern Europe or Europe Since 1500, but can also do a field in late medieval and Renaissance Europe for students whose exam is Europe Before 1500. The process is the same, but the possible topics are slightly different. Look at the link to the left for readings suggestions, but you are also encouraged to choose topics that relate to your own interests.
If your exam area is gender and women's history, what we read together will depend on the make-up of your exam committee. It is possible that we will read on gender in early modern Europe, on gender in Europe in general, or on gender from a World History or theoretical perspective. Please talk with me about your particular interests when you choose to do your exam in gender and women's history.