Doctor of Philosophy in History

The doctoral program in history is a 60-hour program that culminates in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. Students can enter the program in two ways: Most students enter holding a Master's degree. Usually, the PhD degree is a 30-hour program beyond the MA, but the exact hourly requirement beyond the MA will be determined by the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate School; Students who have compiled an outstanding record in an undergraduate history major may enter the PhD Program directly from their undergraduate program. Admission with a Bachelor's degree only is highly selective and limited to a few undergraduates each year. Students are chosen on the basis of our regular criteria (GPA, letters of recommendation, writing sample and personal statement).Program OutcomesUpon completion of the PhD in History, graduates will be able to:Use the historical method to solve historical and historiographical problems while applying the perspectives of class, race, gender, etc. to historical events and trends;Identify and criticize interpretive paradigms and methodologies relevant to historical scholarship and the historical profession;Perform historical research in archives and libraries and evaluate the provenance, context, validity, and biases of these sources from the past;Apply the necessary research skills to produce original scholarship on a chosen historical topic using primary sources while evaluating the validity, context, and biases of secondary source literature produced by other scholars;Demonstrate the ability to deploy multiple forms of communication (written, oral, and new media) to discuss their own historical scholarship and graduate-level knowledge of their chosen fields;Advance the knowledge of the discipline;Conduct cutting edge research;Engage respectfully in debates about the nature of the past in order to enrich historical understanding and generate new questions and investigatory avenues.