Ph.D. in History

Program Overview

This 5-year PhD program in History offers a comprehensive curriculum with major fields in various historical periods and regions. Students can specialize in minor fields and pursue an optional emphasis in Gender Studies. The program emphasizes primary source research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and opportunities for professional development, preparing graduates for careers in academia, research, and other history-related fields.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Program Content:
• Major fields: Africa, Atlantic World, Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Late Antiquity, Medieval Europe, United States History through Reconstruction, and United States History since the Civil War.
• Minor fields: Ten major fields as well as African-American, East Asian, Gender, Middle Eastern, U.S. South, and Twentieth-Century World history.
• Students may select an optional emphasis in Gender Studies.
• Students may take 3 to 12 hours of graduate-level courses related to one or more of their fields from outside the department.
• Program Structure:
• The program requires the completion of 54 credit hours.
• The program typically takes 5 years to complete.
• Course Schedule:
• Hst 602.
Professionalization and Colloquium II
• 12 hours in a major field
• 6 hours in each of two minor fields
• 6 hours of 600-level courses
• 6 hours of graduate courses in each of the minor fields
• 3 hours of 700-level research seminar
• Individual Modules:
• G St 600: Graduate Practicum in Public History
• G St 601: Professionalization and Colloquium I
• G St 605: Readings - US through Reconstruction
• G St 641: Readings in Global History: Gender

Assessment:

• Assessment Methods:
• Written examination
• Oral examination
• Foreign language requirement
• Comprehensive examination
• Dissertation defense
• Assessment Criteria:
• Knowledge of the major field
• Knowledge of at least one minor field
• Proficiency in a foreign language
• Ability to conduct original research
• Ability to communicate research findings effectively

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods:
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Research supervision
• Faculty:
• Rebecca Marchiel, Graduate Program Coordinator
• Unique Approaches:
• Emphasis on primary source research
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Opportunities for conference presentations and publications

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Academia
• Research
• Museum studies
• Public history
• Government
• Law
• Career Outcomes:
• Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields, including academia, research, museum studies, public history, government, and law.