Graduation Requirements

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral students must establish reading proficiency in a foreign language. They must complete the foreign language requirement and any other research proficiencies required by their supervisory committee prior to the taking of the preliminary examination.

Proficiency may be demonstrated by any one of the following methods:

1. A student may provide evidence of passing the final course of a four-semester sequence, or the equivalent, in one foreign language at the undergraduate level with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better and a 3.0 or higher in the final course in the sequence.  In the case of students whose coursework makes it difficult to determine if they have met this standard, the Chair and the Director of Graduate Studies will, in consultation with the major advisor, determine the student’s status.  Or,
2. A student may provide evidence of having passed an equivalent graduate- level reading/translation examination at another accredited university.  Or,
3. A student may pass a foreign language examination certifying that, with the aid of a dictionary and other printed reference materials, the student is able to understand a text relevant to the student’s research well enough to use primary sources and secondary literature written in that language.
4. A student may present proof of successfully completing an immersion or other intensive language training program which provides reading proficiency. This can include, but is not limited to, academic immersion programs and government/military language training.

NOTE: Supervisory committees may specify which method the student must use to demonstrate proficiency.  Further, the supervisory committee, depending on a student’s area of specialization, may require that the student demonstrate a higher standard of proficiency in a foreign language, and/or additional specialized research skills, including an additional foreign language.

Preliminary Examinations: Written and Oral

Upon the completion of their course work, students take a set of written examinations, over a period of two weeks, in four fields – a comprehensive field and three special fields – chosen in consultation with the supervisory committee. The written exams are followed by an oral examination scheduled within the same semester as the written exam period.

The Dissertation and Defense

A dissertation exhibiting mature scholarly ability will be completed under the direction of the major professor and committee in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School A minimum of 30 credit hours of History Ph.D. Research is required for the dissertation.

Course Requirements