Ph.D in History

History Doctoral students take courses in two chronological fields (pre-1815 and 1815 to the present) and a thematic field, such as African American history, labor history, women's history or history of the American West. In addition, each doctoral student develops a minor field in a non-US geographic area such as African, British, or Latin American or a comparative theme such as Slave Trade, Atlantic World or Comparative Revolutions. Normally, doctoral students take 27 credits worth of courses which may include up to six credits in another graduate department. In the spring semester of the third year of the doctoral program, students take oral and written "comprehensive examinations" in four fields of history. After that, students normally teach one course on their own under the supervision of the faculty. In their fifth year, they work exclusively on their dissertations, while still on stipend. Funding is available on a competitive basis for a sixth year as well.

Candidates must pass a language exam (pdf) that tests reading knowledge of a language other than English.