Doctor of Philosophy - History

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students are expected to take courses with as many members of the faculty who specialize in the history of the North American West as possible. Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of courses.
2. A minimum of 45 credit hours of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Dissertation).
3. Foreign Language Requirement. This requirement can be met in any of the following three ways, though the chosen option must be approved by the chair of the student’s examination committee:
   a. Demonstrated reading knowledge of two foreign languages.
   b. Demonstrated reading knowledge of one foreign language and advanced reading knowledge of the same language, assessed through the writing of a substantial historiographical essay in English based on scholarly literature in that foreign language.
   c. With the approval of the student’s committee and the Graduate Coordinator, a student may demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language and the successful completion of SOC 604 - Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences.
4. The completion of the second seminar paper will constitute the master’s culminating experience; it will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the instructor of record, the student’s primary advisor and the graduate coordinator.
5. Please note that the MA degree will not be conferred automatically. Students must take the initiative to seek committee approval and apply for conferral through the Graduate College.
6. Doctoral students may also apply to transfer into the MA program at any point, but this will require a new application.
7. Students may take up to six credits of Comprehensive Exam Preparation, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
8. Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. Students write a total of six out of twelve essay questions. Students prepare extensive reading lists of books and articles for each field of study in conjunction with the members of their advisory committee. The lists are based on scholarly works read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams. For purposes of examination, and through close consultation with the student’s committee chair and members of the committee, coursework and supplemental reading will be divided into four examination areas, each of which is comprised of four questions from which the students write on two.
   a. Major Field (General United States History): the written examination focuses on the first or second half of U.S. History (1600 to 1877, or 1850 to Present), but students are required to answer questions on the full sweep of U.S. History in the oral examination. A student writes on two of four questions.
   b. Major Field (Topical): Requires students to master the literature in North American West. A student writes on two of four questions.
   c. Theory and Methods: A student chooses Applied Theory, Comparative History, or Public History. A student writes on one of two questions.
   d. Minor Field: A student chooses one of the following fields: Asian History,European History, Latin American History, Public History, or World History. A student may only be examined in Public History in one field. A student writes on one of two questions.
9. Students must pass the written portion of the qualifying exam before they are allowed to take the oral qualifying exam.
10. Students may take up to three credits of Dissertation Prospectus course, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
11. The prospectus colloquium must be held within three months of the successful completion of the comprehensive examinations. Students must formally present a prospectus for their proposed dissertation research to their advisory committee before taking dissertation credits. The prospectus must be accepted for the student to have ABD status in the History Department.
12. A dissertation of substantial length and quality containing original research and interpretation on a topic in the field of Northern American West.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements for both the Master’s (if applicable) and Doctoral portions of the program.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students are expected to take courses with as many members of the faculty who specialize in the history of North American Culture and Society as possible. Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of courses.
2. A minimum of 45 credit hours of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Dissertation).
3. Foreign Language Requirement. This requirement can be met in any of the following three ways, though the chosen option must be approved by the chair of the student’s examination committee:
   a. Demonstrated reading knowledge of two foreign languages.
   b. Demonstrated reading knowledge of one foreign language and advanced reading knowledge of the same language, assessed through the writing of a substantial historiographical essay in English based on scholarly literature in that foreign language.
   c.With the approval of the student’s committee and the Graduate Coordinator, a student may demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language and the successful completion of SOC 604 - Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences.
4. The completion of the second seminar paper will constitute the master’s culminating experience; it will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the instructor of record, the student’s primary advisor and the graduate coordinator.
5. Please note that the MA degree will not be conferred automatically. Students must take the initiative to seek committee approval and apply for conferral through the Graduate College.
6. Doctoral students may also apply to transfer into the MA program at any point, but this will require a new application.
7. Students may take up to six credits of Comprehensive Exam Preparation, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
8. Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. Students write a total of six out of twelve essay questions. Students prepare extensive reading lists of books and articles for each field of study in conjunction with the members of their advisory committee. The lists are based on scholarly works read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams. For purposes of examination, and through close consultation with the student’s committee chair and members of the committee, coursework and supplemental reading will be divided into four examination areas, each of which is comprised of four questions from which the students write on two.
   a. Major Field (General United States History): the written examination focuses on the first or second half of U.S. History (1600 to 1877, or 1850 to Present), but students are required to answer questions on the full sweep of U.S. History in the oral examination. A student writes on two of four questions.
   b. Major Field (Topical): Requires students to master the literature in North American Culture and Society. A student writes on two of four questions.
   c. Theory and Methods: A student chooses Applied Theory, Comparative History, or Public History. A student writes on one of two questions.
   d. Minor Field: A student chooses one of the following fields: Asian History, European History, Latin American History, Public History, or World History. A student may only be examined in Public History in one field. A student writes on one of two questions.
9. Students must pass the written portion of the qualifying exam before they are allowed to take the oral qualifying exam.
10. Students may take up to three credits of Dissertation Prospectus course, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
11. The prospectus colloquium must be held within three months of the successful completion of the comprehensive examinations. Students must formally present a prospectus for their proposed dissertation research to their advisory committee before taking dissertation credits. The prospectus must be accepted for the student to have ABD status in the History Department.
12. A dissertation of substantial length and quality containing original research and interpretation on a topic in the field of North American Culture and Society.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements for both the Master’s (if applicable) and Doctoral portions of the program.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students are expected to take courses with as many members of the faculty who specialize in the history of European Culture and Society as possible. Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of courses.
2. A minimum of 45 credit hours of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Dissertation).
3. Foreign Language Requirement. This requirement can be met in any of the following three ways, though the chosen option must be approved by the chair of the student’s examination committee:
   a. Demonstrated reading knowledge of two foreign languages.
   b. Demonstrated reading knowledge of one foreign language and advanced reading knowledge of the same language, assessed through the writing of a substantial historiographical essay in English based on scholarly literature in that foreign language.
   c. With the approval of the student’s committee and the Graduate Coordinator, a student may demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language and the successful completion of SOC 604 - Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences.
4. The completion of the second seminar paper will constitute the master’s culminating experience; it will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the instructor of record, the student’s primary advisor and the graduate coordinator.
5. Please note that the MA degree will not be conferred automatically. Students must take the initiative to seek committee approval and apply for conferral through the Graduate College.
6. Doctoral students may also apply to transfer into the MA program at any point, but this will require a new application.
7. Students may take up to six credits of Comprehensive Exam Preparation, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
8. Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. Students write a total of eight out of sixteen essay questions. Students prepare extensive reading lists of books and articles for each field of study in conjunction with the members of their advisory committee. The lists are based on scholarly works read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams. For purposes of examination, and through close consultation with the student’s committee chair and members of the committee, coursework and supplemental reading will be divided into four examination areas, each of which is comprised of four questions from which the students write on two.
   a. Major Field (General European History): Students, in consultation with their advisors, will define the parameters of the major field. Specific chronological parameters will vary but students are required to answer questions on the full sweep of European history in the oral examination. A student writes on two of four questions.
   b. Major Field (Topical): Requires students to master the literature in European Culture and Society. A student writes on two of four questions.
   c. Theory and Methods: A student chooses one of the following fields: Applied Theory, Public History, or Comparative History. A student writes on one of two questions.
   d. Minor Field: A student chooses one of the following fields: United States History, World History, or Public History. A student may only be examined in Public History in one field. A student writes on one of two questions.
9. Students must pass the written portion of the qualifying exam before they are allowed to take the oral qualifying exam.
10. Students may take up to three credits of Dissertation Prospectus course, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
11. The prospectus colloquium must be held within three months of the successful completion of the comprehensive examinations. Students must formally present a prospectus for their proposed dissertation research to their advisory committee before taking dissertation credits. The prospectus must be accepted for the student to have ABD status in the History Department.
12. A dissertation of substantial length and quality containing original research and interpretation on a topic in the field of European Culture and Society.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements for both the Master’s (if applicable) and Doctoral portions of the program.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students are expected to take courses with as many members of the faculty who specialize in the history of the North American West as possible. Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of courses.
2. A minimum of 26 credit hours of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Dissertation).
3. Foreign Language Requirement. This requirement can be met in any of the following three ways, though the chosen option must be approved by the chair of the student’s examination committee:
   a. Demonstrated reading knowledge of two foreign languages.
   b. Demonstrated reading knowledge of one foreign language and advanced reading knowledge of the same language, assessed through the writing of a substantial historiographical essay in English based on scholarly literature in that foreign language.
   c. With the approval of the student’s committee and the Graduate Coordinator, a student may demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language and the successful completion of SOC 604 - Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences.
4. Students may take up to six credits of Comprehensive Exam Preparation, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
5. Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. Students write a total of six out of twelve essay questions. Students prepare extensive reading lists of books and articles for each field of study in conjunction with the members of their advisory committee. The lists are based on scholarly works read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams. For purposes of examination, and through close consultation with the student’s committee chair and members of the committee, coursework and supplemental reading will be divided into four examination areas, each of which is comprised of four questions from which the students write on two.
   a. Major Field (General United States History): the written examination focuses on the first or second half of U.S. History (1600 to 1877, or 1850 to Present), but students are required to answer questions on the full sweep of U.S. History in the oral examination. A student writes on two of four questions.
   b. Major Field (Topical): Requires students to master the literature in North American West. A student writes on two of four questions.
   c. Theory and Methods: A student chooses Applied Theory, Comparative History, or Public History. A student writes on one of two questions.
   d. Minor Field: A student chooses one of the following fields: Asian History, European History, Latin American History, Public History, or World History. A student may only be examined in Public History in one field. A student writes on one of two questions.
6. Students must pass the written portion of the qualifying exam before they are allowed to take the oral qualifying exam.
7. Students may take up to three credits of Dissertation Prospectus course, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
8. The prospectus colloquium must be held within three months of the successful completion of the comprehensive examinations. Students must formally present a prospectus for their proposed dissertation research to their advisory committee before taking dissertation credits. The prospectus must be accepted for the student to have ABD status in the History Department.
9. A dissertation of substantial length and quality containing original research and interpretation on a topic in the field of Northern American West.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students are expected to take courses with as many members of the faculty who specialize in the history of North American Culture and Society as possible. Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of courses.
2. A minimum of 26 credit hours of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Dissertation).
3. Foreign Language Requirement. This requirement can be met in any of the following three ways, though the chosen option must be approved by the chair of the student’s examination committee:
   a. Demonstrated reading knowledge of two foreign languages.
   b. Demonstrated reading knowledge of one foreign language and advanced reading knowledge of the same language, assessed through the writing of a substantial historiographical essay in English based on scholarly literature in that foreign language.
   c. With the approval of the student’s committee and the Graduate Coordinator, a student may demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language and the successful completion of SOC 604 - Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences.
4. Students may take up to six credits of Comprehensive Exam Preparation, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
5. Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. Students write a total of six out of twelve essay questions. Students prepare extensive reading lists of books and articles for each field of study in conjunction with the members of their advisory committee. The lists are based on scholarly works read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams. For purposes of examination, and through close consultation with the student’s committee chair and members of the committee, coursework and supplemental reading will be divided into four examination areas, each of which is comprised of four questions from which the students write on two.
   a. Major Field (General United States History): the written examination focuses on the first or second half of U.S. History (1600 to 1877, or 1850 to Present), but students are required to answer questions on the full sweep of U.S. History in the oral examination. A student writes on two of four questions.
   b. Major Field (Topical): Requires students to master the literature in North American Culture and Society. A student writes on two of four questions.
   c. Theory and Methods: A student chooses Applied Theory, Comparative History, or Public History. A student writes on one of two questions.
   d. Minor Field: A student chooses one of the following fields: Asian History, European History, Latin American History, Public History, or World History. A student may only be examined in Public History in one field. A student writes on one of two questions.
6. Students must pass the written portion of the qualifying exam before they are allowed to take the oral qualifying exam.
7. Students may take up to three credits of Dissertation Prospectus course, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
8. The prospectus colloquium must be held within three months of the successful completion of the comprehensive examinations. Students must formally present a prospectus for their proposed dissertation research to their advisory committee before taking dissertation credits. The prospectus must be accepted for the student to have ABD status in the History Department.
9. A dissertation of substantial length and quality containing original research and interpretation on a topic in the field of North American Culture and Society.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students are expected to take courses with as many members of the faculty who specialize in the history of European Culture and Society as possible. Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of courses.
2. A minimum of 26 credit hours of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Dissertation).
3. Foreign Language Requirement. This requirement can be met in any of the following three ways, though the chosen option must be approved by the chair of the student’s examination committee:
   1. Demonstrated reading knowledge of two foreign languages.
   2. Demonstrated reading knowledge of one foreign language and advanced reading knowledge of the same language, assessed through the writing of a substantial historiographical essay in English based on scholarly literature in that foreign language.
   3. With the approval of the student’s committee and the Graduate Coordinator, a student may demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language and the successful completion of SOC 604 - Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences.
4. Students may take up to six credits of Comprehensive Exam Preparation, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
5. Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. Students write a total of six out of twelve essay questions. Students prepare extensive reading lists of books and articles for each field of study in conjunction with the members of their advisory committee. The lists are based on scholarly works read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams. For purposes of examination, and through close consultation with the student’s committee chair and members of the committee, coursework and supplemental reading will be divided into four examination areas, each of which is comprised of four questions from which the students write on two.
   1. Major Field (General European History): Students, in consultation with their advisors, will define the parameters of the major field. Specific chronological parameters will vary but students are required to answer questions on the full sweep of European history in the oral examination. A student writes on two of four questions.
   2. Major Field (Topical): Requires students to master the literature in European Culture and Society. A student writes on two of four questions.
   3. Theory and Methods: A student chooses one of the following fields: Applied Theory, Public History, or Comparative History. A student writes on one of two questions.
   4. Minor Field: A student chooses one of the following fields: Asian History, Latin American History, Public History, United States History, or World History. A student may only be examined in Public History in one field. A student writes on one of two questions.
6. Students must pass the written portion of the qualifying exam before they are allowed to take the oral qualifying exam.
7. Students may take up to three credits of Dissertation Prospectus course, but these credits will not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
8. The prospectus colloquium must be held within three months of the successful completion of the comprehensive examinations. Students must formally present a prospectus for their proposed dissertation research to their advisory committee before taking dissertation credits. The prospectus must be accepted for the student to have ABD status in the History Department.
9. A dissertation of substantial length and quality containing original research and interpretation on a topic in the field of European Culture and Society.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here.