Doctoral degree requirements

The doctor of philosophy in history  requires completing 30 hours of course work beyond the master’s, satisfying the language requirement, passing the qualifying examination, and writing a sound dissertation based on original historical research that is approved by the student’s committee. The qualifying examination includes separate examinations in a geographically and chronologically defined comprehensive field and three special fields. One of the special fields must focus on the student’s principal research interests, and another must cover a substantially different geographical area or chronological period than the student’s comprehensive field or be from outside history.

To satisfy the language requirement for the Ph.D., the student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language at the “intermediate-high” level as this term is defined in the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines. All Ph.D. students must complete the foreign language requirement prior to the taking of the qualifying examination. Students whose specializations in history require skills in more than one foreign language may be required by their supervisory committees to demonstrate such proficiency.