Graduate Humanities Symposium
Overview
Graduate Humanities Symposium
Friday, November 21, 2025
USF Marshall Student Center - 3rd floor - MSC 3707
4103 Cedar Circle, Tampa, FL 33620
The second annual Graduate Humanities Symposium hosted by the USF Humanities Institute will be held Friday, November 21 in the Marshall Student Center. Graduate students with a humanities-related project are invited to apply to present their research paper in a panel format.
This symposium provides great experience for your C.V. or professional resume, as well as opportunities to network with other graduate students. There is no cost to participate in this symposium. Free breakfast and lunch is provided for presenters and moderators as well as a swag bag. Please attend as much of the symposium as your schedule allows.
Faculty interested in volunteering to serve as a panel moderator, please contact Jade von Werder.
Applications will open September 1, 2025.
Symposium Format
Panel Discussions are the traditional presentation method for most disciplines. A panel has a general topic (for example, “Gender Roles in the 19th Century") with 3 scholars, each of whom will present their individual work that falls under the general topic. Each individual presentation should be 12 – 15 minutes long. After all individual presentations, the group will take questions from the audience.
Timeline
Applications Open
September 1
Apply to present your humanities-related research at the November 2025 Graduate Humanities Symposium.
Applications Due
October 17
All applications are due on Friday, October 17.
Decision Emails Sent
October 27
Applicants will receive a decision email on the status of their application to the symposium.
Registration Deadline
November 7
Accepted student presenters submit their symposium registration to confirm their spot in the program.
Graduate Humanities Symposium
November 21
Symposium schedule and program will be released by November 12. Students are encouraged to stay for as much of the symposium as their schedule allows. The symposium is free to attend and open to the public. Faculty, staff, students, community members, family, and friends are welcome to attend. Breakfast and lunch is provided for student presenters, moderators, and volunteers.
Frequently asked questions
What information do I need for my application?
When you're ready to apply, here's what we'll ask for in the application:
- Name and pronouns
- USF email
- Masters or PhD student
- Major / Program
- Title of project
- Abstract (PDF file upload)
- (200 words max.) This is where you submit a brief summary of your project or research. Even if your project is not complete yet, you can still submit a general overview for application purposes. Writing the abstract in future tense may help. Please include your name and project title in the abstract.
Does my project need to be complete at the time of application?
No. An abstract is sufficient for the application. Students are encouraged to apply with an existing project or research that may still be in progress.
What is the symposium registration?
After decision emails are sent on October 27, accepted students will be sent a link to register for the symposium. This will confirm the student's spot in the program. The registration form will also ask students to submit their scholar biography and note any dietary restrictions or accommodation requests.
What goes into my biography?
The biography is a few sentences that describes your academics interests, course of study, and future plans. Please write your biography in 3rd person and limit it to 3-5 sentences (less than 100 words).
Example: "Jane completed her bachelor's degree in English at the University of Central Florida and is now pursuing her PhD in English literature at USF. Her research focuses on copyright history and it's impacts on 19th century publishers. After graduation, Jane hopes to get a position as a tenured faculty member and start her own book club. Jane volunteers at her local community garden and grows her own peppers."
How long should my presentation be?
You should plan to speak for 12 – 15 minutes. If you go over 15 minutes, the moderator will kindly let you know your time is up.
Does anyone else read my research paper?
No. You are the only person who sees your paper. You can read directly from it, or bring notes to guide your oral presentation.
Do I need to have visual aids?
Visual aids like PowerPoints or images are completely optional. We will have the A/V capabilities if you want to make use of them.
Will there be food at the symposium?
Yes, presenters and moderators are provided free breakfast and lunch.
What if I have a class scheduled during my presentation time?
If your presentation time conflicts with a class, you should inform your instructor right away to see if they can support you in this opportunity to present at the symposium. For further assistance or if you cannot present at your original scheduled time, please contact Jade von Werder.
I'm from the St. Petersburg or Sarasota-Manatee campus. Can I participate?
Yes! Graduate students from all campuses are invited to apply. If transportation is an obstacle to participating in the conference in-person on the Tampa campus, please contact Jade von Werder.
Are the presentations juried or judged?
No. This is a low-stakes symposium to practice presenting your research and prepare for future conferences.
I've never participated in a symposium before and I'm not sure if I should apply. How do I know if I'm ready?
You’re ready! The Humanities Institute staff is here to help you plan and prepare if you need help. The symposium is designed to be professional, but supportive and fun.