Transforming Graduate Education in the Humanities at Princeton

FAIN: ZA-250624-16

Princeton University (Princeton, NJ 08540-5228)
Anthony Grafton (Project Director: February 2016 to July 2018)

Thematic convenings at Princeton University that define a new vision of doctoral training, develop a curriculum with expanded scope, and promote careers outside the tenure-track.

While Princeton’s humanities graduate students are increasingly interested in careers outside the tenure track, few departments provide formal support for these career paths. In recent years, a subtle but significant shift has taken place at Princeton, with individual faculty members advocating for curricular change, and administrative units launching new programs for professional development. Princeton wants to build on this momentum by bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to brainstorm a new model of doctoral training in the humanities. This work would result in an implementation plan for broadening the career preparation of humanities PhDs by focusing on three overarching goals: 1) developing new curricular options; 2) expanding career resources and services; and 3) transforming Princeton’s graduate culture to promote a wide range of career options.