History, Ph.D.

Students may be admitted to the PhD program with an undergraduate degree in History, or similar, or with an MA degree in History. Students must also present a strong academic record and provide evidence of an ability to do scholarly research and writing. A statement of purpose, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation are required.

The doctorate is offered in the areas of the U.S. and Latin American history.

Degree Requirements

1. A suitable number and variety of graduate courses to prepare the student for the qualifying examination and for the writing of the dissertation. In addition to the major field of specialization, the student also completes coursework in at least two minor fields. With approval of the graduate committee, as many as 12 hours may be taken outside the department. The doctoral program comprises no fewer than 45 hours of graduate courses for credit, exclusive of credit hours for the dissertation.

2. In consultation with their advisor, students will either demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language or proficiency in one equivalent tool skill. All students whose major field is Latin American history and other students whose research requires knowledge of a foreign language must pass an examination in the requisite language, administered by the department at the beginning of each semester. Students whose research does not require a foreign language may demonstrate proficiency in a tool skill, such as GIS or Digital, Oral, or Public History. Ordinarily, proficiency in a tool skill is demonstrated through completion of a graduate level course in the subject. Students who have taken such courses at other institutions may petition the graduate committee for a waiver.

3. There are two required courses, HIST 50963 (Historiography) and HIST 800083 (History as a Profession). Students who have taken similar courses at other institutions may petition the graduate committee for a waiver and will need to take other courses in lieu of these hours. Students are also required to take a minimum of two research seminars as a part of their overall coursework.

4. A qualifying examination, consisting of written exams on the major and at least two minor fields, followed by an oral exam of all fields combined. Students who fail one or more of these components of the qualifying examination will have the opportunity to retake the failed portion once in the following semester. The student will defend a dissertation prospectus within the same semester that he or she passes the written and oral portions of the qualifying examination. Upon successful defense of the prospectus, the student advances to PhD candidacy. For specifics regarding this examination, see the Department of History Guide to Graduate Study.

5. A doctoral dissertation constituting an original contribution to scholarship or a new synthesis of existing knowledge. The candidate defends the dissertation in a final oral examination.