The Ph.D. in History is a highly selective program.  It is both small enough to ensure plenty of faculty-student engagement and large enough to allow students to pursue research within broad chronological, geographic and thematic fields. We encourage students to develop the widest possible range of methodological skills in dealing with historical sources.  The faculty in the Department of History have broad teaching and research interests, with particularly strong major fields in United States history (especially the U.S. South), Latin American history; Modern Europe; and Europe from the medieval era to the Renaissance. In addition, minor fields are offered in a variety of geographic, transnational and thematic fields.

To obtain a Ph.D. degree, students must complete a minimum of forty-eight credits of course work and other requirements as specified below. Students earn their M.A. degree while working towards the Ph.D. degree.

• Complete required historiography and methodology courses:
  ​HIST 7001 Seminar in Historical Practice (3 c.h.) - taken in the fall of Year 1 
  HIST 7003 Historiography & Methods I (3 c.h.) - normally taken as an independent study summer of Year 1 
  HIST 7005 Historiography & Methods II (3 c.h.) - normally taken as an independent study summer of Year 2
• Complete required writing courses:
  HIST 7006 Intermediate Historical Writing (3 c.h.) - normally taken as an independent study summer of Year 1
  HIST 7007 Advanced Hist. Writing (3 c.h.) - normally taken as an independent study summer of Year 2
• Complete a further 30 credits (10 courses) of coursework, including at least three 7000-level seminars in addition to the required seminar HIST 7001 Seminar in Historical Practice (3 c.h.). Independent studies do not count as seminars. Courses taken outside of the department of history require approval of the advisor. 
• Demonstrate proficiency in two languages (one language for students whose first field is United States or Britain from 1500).
• Complete six semesters of TA and/or RA service.
• Develop and teach a one-semester undergraduate course.
• Complete HIST 7008 Prof. Deve. and Documentation (3 c.h.), leading to the successful compilation and defense of the portfolio.
• Write an acceptable dissertation, and defend this in an oral examination.