Program Overview

Introduction to the Interdepartmental Program in Ancient History

The Interdepartmental Program in Ancient History (IPAH) is a doctoral program jointly sponsored by the Departments of History and Classical Studies. Our core faculty of 9 professors and 17 affiliated faculty members cover almost every facet of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Program Overview

We offer exceptional depth in social, political, and cultural history broadly defined, especially the study of religion; science, technology, and medicine; environmental history; intellectual history; gender studies; and papyrology.

Participating Departments

The program involves several departments, including:

• Department of Classical Studies: As part of their coursework in the program, students have the opportunity to study in one of the largest classical studies departments in North America.
• Department of Middle East Studies: With more than twenty-five faculty members specializing in everything from ancient Mesopotamia to the modern Middle East, the department of Middle East Studies offers an especially deep training to students as they aim to become researchers, teachers, and policy makers.
• Department of History: History at Michigan is global, multidimensional, interdisciplinary. Regularly ranked among the top history departments in the country, we combine state-of-the-art research with innovative teaching and a commitment to embrace all the diversity of the past.

Resources and Facilities

The program has access to several resources and facilities, including:

• Papyrology: UM is home to the largest collection of ancient papyri in North America, a resource to our Program.
• Kelsey Museum of Archaeology: The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology supports teaching and research on Classical, Egyptian, and Near Eastern archaeology through stewardship of its rich collections, an active exhibitions program, and sponsorship of ongoing field research.
• Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies: A forum for faculty, graduate students, and guests to share ongoing research, discuss pressing issues, and encourage historical understanding.
• Frankel Center for Judaic Studies: Judaic Studies explores its key themes in an interdisciplinary fashion, using the tools of history, law, literature, and culture to investigate the broad sweep of nationhood, religion, language, and space.

Recent Achievements

Recent publications by faculty members include:

• "When a Human Gives Birth to a Raven" by Rafael Neis, published June 2023 by University of California Press
• "Birthing Romans" by Anna Bonnell Freidin, published May 2024 by Princeton University Press

Program Structure

The program involves coursework, dissertation, and research. The specific requirements and structure of the program are designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in ancient history.