About

Students accepted into this selective program work closely with faculty advisors and mentors over the course of an academic year (late August through mid-May) to produce a capstone project that consists of two parts: an academic research dimension (a rigorous research paper on a topic of their invention) and a public outreach dimension (one that establishes a connection to an established cultural or civic organization or reaches out to the public in some significant way).

During the year, MPHSJ scholars also meet leading public humanities figures in the New York area who work outside of Hunter College. Since the program’s inception, these have included curators of major art, cultural and history museums, leaders of foundations, the president of the New York Public Library and others.

In addition, the program features events for faculty and the general public including lectures, roundtables and other forms of engagement.

Examples of MPHSJ student research projects include a study of the linguistic, cultural and political interaction between U.S. immigrants from indigenous communities in Central and South America and Spanish-speaking Latinx immigrant communities; the Egyptian surrealist art movement and its connections to Egyptian politics; the physical and emotional benefits of dance movement; music pedagogy for the visually impaired; and the relationship between 1980s theatre and AIDS policy. Other students have researched or are currently researching the impact of gentrification on New York City public housing residents, how calls for U.S. police reform can learn from the example of Northern Ireland in the 1990s; and prison working conditions as described by people who were previously incarcerated.

For the public outreach dimension, MPHSJ scholars are working with immigrants’ rights groups, public housing residents and music collectives. Others have created podcasts, YouTube videos and Wikipedia entries.

In addition to working with faculty mentors, advisors and graduate students from the CUNY Graduate Center, MPHSJ scholars also have opportunities to present and share their research in small groups, at the program’s annual symposia, and outside conferences. Beginning in academic year 2023-24, MPHSJ scholars will receive $4,000 for the completion of their project over the course of the academic year.

Each semester, the MPHSJ Program publishes a newsletter to update faculty, program alums, and the Hunter community on program activities and student accomplishments.

Past Newsletters

• Spring 2022 Newsletter
• Fall 2021 Newsletter