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Doctoral Program

• Ph.D. Fields
• Language Exams
• Fellowships and Financial Aid
• Dissertations-in-Progress
• Award Announcements
• Graduate Handbook
• Annual Newsletter
• Doctoral Students
• Graduate History Association
• Masters Programs
• Classical Studies

The Graduate Program

Columbia has been one of the most important centers of graduate education in history since modern Ph.D. programs began in America over a century ago. Recipients of our degrees hold distinguished positions in virtually every major university in the United States, and in many abroad. Our program offers a broad education in most areas of historical scholarship and attempts to train students for a discipline and a profession in the midst of considerable change. That includes not simply assisting students in acquiring the knowledge and skills essential to becoming contributing scholars, but also helping them to become effective teachers and to exist comfortably within a demanding and complicated professional world.

The members of our faculty represent many different approaches to the study of the past, and we strive to attract students of similarly diverse interests and commitments. No one should feel that being at Columbia requires accepting any one approach to the study of history.

This part of our website is designed to provide both prospective and current students with answers to some of the many questions they may have about the department.

Admissions answers commonly-asked questions about our admissions process.

Under Ph.D. Fields you will find information about the separate fields of study available in our program and the relationship among them.

Fellowships and Financial Aid explains the various ways we provide our students with fellowships and financial aid.

Dissertations-in-Progress summarizes the course of study towards the Ph.D and highlights the work of our students.

Research awards and recent honors are showcased in Award Announcements .

The section entitled Placement sketches how we prepare our students for the academic job market and reports on how our students have done in that market in recent years.

In the Graduate Handbook , we explain our curriculum and our academic requirements and provide more detailed information about aspects of the program such as the MA, Orals, M.Phil., Dissertations, etc.

Our FAQs are useful for students seeking admission as well as for current students seeking quick information.

The Annual Newsletter keeps us informed about our students.

Department of History

Ph.d. programs.

The Department of History’s doctoral degree program seeks to train talented historians for careers in scholarship, teaching, and beyond the academy. The department typically accepts 22 Ph.D. students per year. Additional students are enrolled through various combined programs and through HSHM.  All admitted Ph.D. students receive a  full  financial aid package  from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. 

History of Science and Medicine

The  Program in the History of Science and Medicine  (HSHM)  is a semi-autonomous graduate track within the Department of History. HSHM students receive degrees in History, with a concentration in the History of Science and Medicine.  There is a separate admissions process for students interested in the History of Science and Medicine. For more information, please see the  HSHM website . 

Combined Doctoral Programs

Joint ph.d. programs.

PhD in History

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Study History Where It Is Made

AU’s PhD in History will prepare you for a career as an educator, researcher, analyst, and writer working in academia, public and institutional history, and other fields requiring investigative and analytical skills. In this program, you will develop a deeper understanding of how historians investigate and interpret the past while you explore the past with your own original research .

You will receive a high level of mentorship and develop close working relationships with your professors. Under the guidance of our award-winning faculty , our students complete strong dissertations and present work at top conferences while making valuable connections and gaining experience in the Washington, DC, area.

This program is ideal for students interested in American and modern European history, including Russian history. Our department also has strengths in a variety of subfields , including public history, African American history, women’s/gender history, politics and foreign relations, and Jewish history. This diversity will open your options for research and allow for specialization without sacrificing breadth of study.

Rigorous Study with a Degree of Flexibility

Our program combines rigorous training in scholarship with the flexibility to pursue your intellectual interests. Our coursework will give you a solid foundation in historical theory and methodology, research methods, and United States or modern European history. Together with your academic advisor, you will design a program of study to match your academic goals . You will acquire and demonstrate mastery of tools of research , such as foreign languages, quantitative research methods, oral history, new media, and other methodologies. Your doctoral examinations will be tailored to fit your individual fields of study. You will then pursue your own research in writing your doctoral dissertation.

The Department will supervise PhD dissertations in the history of Modern Europe (normally for the period 1789 to the present), United States history (including the colonial period), US foreign relations, and modern Jewish history.

See all admissions and course requirements .

Cutting-Edge Faculty Dedicated to Your Success

Our history faculty makes national news, uncovers under-represented areas of history, and guides doctoral students , helping them generate innovative and influential research . From predicting presidential elections to publishing award-winning books and articles, our distinguished professors produce relevant historical scholarship and will train you do the same. With academic and professional mentorship from our faculty, you will you will enter the field as a thoroughly prepared and well-connected scholar.

Endless Opportunities in a Historic City

Pursuing your doctorate in the nation’s capital provides you with unparalleled access to renowned museums, archives, institutions, and resources . From the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution and National Archives to the DC Historical Society, our students are only a metro ride away from exceptional local and national repositories. As part of the Washington Consortium , students at American University are able to take courses at colleges and universities throughout the DC metropolitan area, providing the opportunity to work with a variety of faculty in diverse programs and fields of study.

A truly global city, DC, contains hundreds of embassies, cultural organizations, and enclave communities. Brimming with history , the DC area offers Civil War battlefields, the Capitol, Mount Vernon, the White House, and countless landmarks of the colonial period, Revolutionary War, Civil War, and more recent American history. The city is also home to smaller historical organizations like the DC Historical Society and the DC Preservation League. Whether your interest is global, national, or local, this historic city undoubtedly has something for you.

Explore the Possibilities

Our students go on to become university and college faculty and administrators or work in federal and state governments, for museums and archives, and in other exciting fields. Our alumni teach at universities around the world , from the University of Houston in Texas to University of Prince Edward Island in Canada and Ludwig Maximilians Universität in Munich. Our PhDs hold positions with the nation’s most important institutions , including the Library of Congress, Department of State, National Archives and Records Administration, American Historical Association, National Endowment for the Humanities, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Recent and Current PhD Dissertation topics

• Auketayeva, Laura : "Gender and Jewish Evacuees in the Soviet Union during the Holocaust" 
• Barry, Michael : "Islamophobic & Anti-Islamophobic Ideas in America"
• Brenner, Rebecca : "When Mail Arrived on Sundays, 1810-1912" 
• Boose, Donelle : "Black Power and the Organizing Tradition: Work-ing Women of Washington, DC. 1965-1990"
• Chatfield, Andrew : "American Support for India’s Self-Determination from 1915-1920: Progressives, Radicals, and Anti-Imperialists"
• Duval, Lauren : "Landscapes of Allegiance: Space, Gender, and Mili-tary Occupation in the American Revolution"
• Englekirk, Ryan : "The Third Team: Unmasking Fraternity and Mascu-linity Among Major League Baseball Umpires 1970-2010" 
• Estess, Jonah : "The People’s Money: The American Revolution, Cur-rency, and the Making of Political Economic Culture in American Life, 1775-1896" 
• Frome, Gavin : "American Protestant Service Workers in Viet Nam, 1954-1975"
• Gabor, Ruth : "'Moda' for the Masses: Moscow Fashion’s Appeal at Home and Abroad during the Cold War"
• Gibson, Laura : "It’s Love that Counts: The History of Non-Nuclear Families in American Domestic Sitcoms"
• Grant, Jordan : "Catchers and Kidnappers: Slave Hunting in Early America" 
• Grek, Ivan : "Illiberal Civil Society in Russia, 1992-2000"
• Harris, Curtis : "Hardwood Revolution: The NBA's Growth & Player Revolt, 1950-1976" 
• Hawks, Julie : "Capital Investments: Engineering American Cold War Culture" 
• Jobe, Mary "Allison" : "'We Remember Him for His Character': The Life of James W. Ford and the Communist Party USA" 
• Kaplan, Anna : "Left by the Wayside: Memories and Postmemories of the Integration of the University of Mississippi"
• Killian, Linda : "Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine: The Shared Political Ideology at the Heart of American Democracy" 
• Kitterman, Katherine : "'No Ordinary Feelings': Mormon Women’s Political Activism, 1870-1896" 
• Langford, Amy : "Creating a Body Politic: Boundary Crossings and the (Re) Making of Latter-Day Saints on the U.S. Border, 1885-1920"
• Levin, Jeffrey : "Felix Warburg and the Establishment of the Hebrew University" 
• MacNeill, Lindsay : "Policing Politics in Austria, 1918-1955"
• Milwicki, Alon : "Baptizing Nazism: An Analysis of the Religious Roots of American Neo-Nazism"
• Rafferty-Osaki, Terumi : "'Strictly Masculine': Reforming and Per-forming Manhood at Tule Lake, 1942-1946" 
• Recordati, Maurizio : "Russia Turns Inward: Russian Grand Strategy in the Post-Crimean War Period (1856-78)"
• Sowry, Nathan : "Museums, Native American Representation, & the Public: The Role of Museum Anthropology in Public History, 1873-1929"
• Styrna, Pawel : "Polish-Russian Relations, 1904-1921"
• Vehstedt, Scott : "'Lets Help Finland': The Return of American Relief Aid in the Winter War, 1939-1940"
• Weixelbaum, Jason : "At the Crossroads of Fascism: The Decision of Ford, General Motors, and IBM to do Business with Nazi Germany"

Alumni Job Placements

Graduates of the history PhD program are working as professors, researchers, and directors across the US and at international locations. Here is a list of where select graduates have or are currently working:

• Director, National Coalition for History
• Assistant Professor, University of Prince Edward Island
• Assistant Professor, Towson University
• Assistant Professor of History and Director of American Studies, West Chester University
• Independent historian
• Senior Archivist, National Archives
• Associate Professor, Ryerson University
• Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Historian, US Army
• Senior policy adviser and special assistant to the president of the Humane Society
• Historian, Office of the Historian, Department of State
• Museum Director, Renton History Museum, Oregon
• Public History Coordinator, American Historical Association
• Assistant Professor, Bridgewater State University
• Lecturer in Sociology, California State University at Bakersfield
• Assistant Professor, Delaware State University
• Historian, Global Classroom, US Holocaust Museum
• Director, Digital Archive, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
• Assistant Professor, Illinois State University
• Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland at College Park
• Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Assistant Professor, University of West Florida
• Independent historian and filmmaker
• Adjunct Assistant Professor of History, US Naval Academy
• Administrative Support Specialist at FEMA
• Senior editor and writer, National Endowment for the Humanities
• Instructor, Religion Dept., National Cathedral School (earned Master of Divinity after PhD)
• Curriculum and Publications Coordinator, AU Registrar's Office
• Assistant Professor, Seminole State College

News & Notes

PhD candidate Reza Akbari presented at the Middle East Studies Association's annual conference in Montreal, Canada. His presentation,  Etched in Mistrust: Continuity and Change in US-Iran Nuclear Negotiations (1969-1978),  argued that America's drive to keep Iran's nuclear program peaceful began decades before the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

PhD candidate  Andrew Sperling  published " A Halloween Party in Boston Turned Ugly when a Gang Hurled Antisemetic Slurs and Attacked Jewish Teenagers ," detailing the events of an antisemetic attack on Jewish teens at a Halloween party in 1950. 

Theresa Runstedtler 's new book on Black ballplayers of the 1970s and '80s setting the NBA up for success: Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywoof, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA (2023) .

Doctoral student Maurizio Recordati Koen won first prize in the 2022 Trench Gascoigne Essay Competition for "The Stuff of Strategy: How Sublime Strategics Turned into a Real Thing" in RUSI Journal.

John Schmitz (CAS/PhD '07) published Enemies among Us: The Relocation, Internment, and Repatriation of German, Italian, and Japanese Americans during the Second World War .

Doctoral student Jonah Estess presented his paper, "Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: The American Revolution and the National Origins of the Politicization of Money" as part of the panel at this year's Business History Conference.

Andrew Demshuk published Three Cities after Hitler: Redemptive Reconstruction across Cold War Borders .

PhD candidate Katherine Kitterman wrote on women's voting rights in Utah for the Washington Post.

Inaugural Postdoctoral Fellow

Nguyet Nguyen brings new perspective to the Vietnam War.

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You will work with a stellar faculty in the Department of History and neighboring departments as you acquire advanced skills in historical research, analysis, and writing, as well as teaching.

Nine research centers affiliated with the history program offer further programs in area studies, including The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, The David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, and The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. You also have access to the largest university library system in the world, consisting of 80 libraries and 17 million volumes.

Examples of dissertations students have worked on include “Cold War Capitalism: The Political Economy of American Military Spending from 1949 to 1989” and “Imperial Schemes: Empire and the Rise of the British Business-State, 1914–1939.”

Graduates of the program have gone on to teach at Yale University, Princeton University, NYU, and the University of Maryland. Others have gone on to positions outside academia as startup founders, lawyers, policy analysts, and museum curators.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of History and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

African History | Ancient History | Byzantine History | Early Modern European History | East Asian History | Environmental History | International and Global History | Latin American History | Medieval History | Middle Eastern History | Modern European History | Russian and Eastern European History | South Asian History | United States History

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of History .

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required. While there is not a specific length requirement, most writing samples are around 20 to 25 pages. If you are submitting a sample that is part of a larger work (a chapter from a thesis, for instance) you may include a brief abstract situating the piece in the larger work.

Statement of Purpose

Your statement of purpose should include why you want to study history in graduate school, why you want to study at Harvard, and indicate your research interests and potential advisors. The required writing sample should be of remarkable quality and ask historical questions. Reading ability in two languages other than English is helpful. Most statements of purpose are around 3 to 5 pages.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional

In coordination with Harvard Law School, students may pursue both a PhD in history and a JD at Harvard Law School. To learn more about this course of study consult the Coordinated JD/PhD program overview.

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for History

See list of History faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

• PhD History
• Prospective Students
• MA Programs

The Department of History offers a PhD program centered on rigorous research within a vibrant and diverse intellectual community. While most of our students have a history degree (BA) or degrees (BA and MA), we accept students with a variety of backgrounds and interests. 

Admission is highly competitive. All offers include a full university fellowship for the duration of the program. Between 2017 and 2024, a number of excellent students selected for admission were named  Neubauer Family Distinguished Doctoral Fellows and received additional fellowship support over for five years.

Admissions Deadline (Autumn 2025 program start):  December 5, 2024 at 11:55 

Application Process

Interested students apply to the PhD program through the  Division of the Social Sciences . For questions regarding the application submission and fee waivers, please contact  SSD Admissions.  For questions regarding the History PhD Program or History-specific application components, please contact our  graduate affairs administrator .

Official decisions are sent by the Social Science Admissions Office by late February. The Department cannot release any information on admissions decisions.

Application Advice

The requirements for the application can be found on the divisional  admissions pages . The following advice is specific to your application to the Department of History.

Your  writing sample  should be a complete self-contained work. The ideal sample should be in the field of history (or a closely related field) that you plan to pursue at Chicago. Include the class or publication for which the sample was written. We do not have a page or word limit for writing samples. For papers longer than thirty pages, please flag a section for the committee.

Your  candidate statement  provides us with vital insight into the intersection of your intellectual goals and personal trajectory. It should communicate: 1) the ambitions you wish to pursue through doctoral work in history; 2) the specific questions and themes that will shape your dissertation research; 3) the personal and intellectual trajectory that has brought you to those themes and questions and prepared you to pursue them; and 4) the reasons that the University of Chicago and its faculty are well-matched to your doctoral plans.

The most helpful  letters of recommendation  come from faculty members who can assess your ability to work on your proposed historical topic.

Prospective students are asked to identify one or two primary fields of scholarly interest from a list in the application. Our faculty pages are sorted by field. Please see those pages for more information on faculty working in your field of interest. Please note, however, that we highly encourage applicants who work across field boundaries and do not apportion admissions by field.

There is no minimum  foreign language requirement  to enter the program, but successful applicants should possess strong language skills in their proposed research language(s) and be aware of the  language requirements for the various fields . All students are required to take a language exam in the first quarter of the program.

The University sets the  English-language assessment  requirements. Refer to the  Division of the Social Sciences  for English-language requirements and waivers.

Submission of  GRE scores  is entirely optional. Those who choose not to submit scores will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process.

MA Program Consideration

All applicants who are not admitted to our PhD program are automatically forwarded for consideration by our MA programs, unless the applicant specifically opts out of this process on their application. That said, as referred applications are considered later than most other MA applications, scholarship assistance for students admitted to an MA program through the referral process may be limited. If you are interested in our MA programs and would need scholarship assistance to attend, we would encourage you to apply directly to the MA as well as our program (note that this would require a separate application and application fee). MA applications are accepted  multiple times per year  with decisions typically issued within 6 to 8 weeks. Questions about applying to an MA program should be directed to  [email protected] .

Campus Visits

We encourage prospective students to reach out to potential faculty mentors through email. Please consult our faculty page to find professors who share your interests. Our graduate affairs administrator can provide additional information about the program.

The University also offers  graduate campus tours  throughout the year that are led by graduate students. Please check their website for campus visitor updates.

Admitted PhD students are invited to visit campus for "History Day" at the beginning of Spring Quarter.

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Graduate Students

Learn more about our  students' research interests and dissertation projects.

CURRENT STUDENTS

Ph.D. Program

Stanford Ph.D. Program in History aims to train world-class scholars.

Every year we admit 10-12 promising students  from a large pool of highly selective applicants. Our small cohort size allows more individual work with faculty than most graduate programs in the United States and also enables funding in one form or another available to members of each cohort.

Fields of Study

Our graduate students may specialize in 14 distinct subfields: Africa, Britain, Early Modern Europe, East Asia, Jewish History, Latin America, Medieval Europe, Modern Europe,  Ottoman Empire and Middle East, Russia/Eastern Europe, Science, Technology, Environment, and Medicine, South Asia, Transnational, International, and Global History, and United States. Explore each field and their affiliates . 

The department expects most graduate students to spend no less than four and no more than six years completing the work for the Ph.D. degree. Individual students' time to degree will vary with the strength of their undergraduate preparation as well as with the particular language and research requirements of their respective Major fields.

Expectations and Degree Requirements

We expect that most graduate students will spend no less than four and no more than six years toward completing their Ph.D. Individual students' time-to-degree vary with the strength of their undergraduate preparation as well as with the particular language and research requirements of their respective subfield.

All History Ph.D. students are expected to satisfy the following degree requirements:

• Teaching: Students who enter on the Department Fellowship are required to complete 4 quarters of teaching experience by the end of their third year. Teaching experience includes teaching assistantships and teaching a Sources and Methods course on their own.
• Candidacy : Students apply for candidacy to the PhD program by the end of their second year in the program.
• Orals:  The University Orals Examination is typically taken at the beginning of the 3rd year in the program.
• Languages: Language requirements vary depending on the field of study.
• Residency Requirement : The University requi res  135 units of full-tuition residency  for PhD students. After that, students should have completed all course work and must request Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) status. 

Browse the Ph.D. Handbook to learn more .

The History Department offers 5 years of financial support to PhD students.  No funding is offered for the co-terminal and terminal M.A. programs. A sample Ph.D. funding package is as follows:  

• 1st year: 3 quarters fellowship stipend and 1 summer stipend 
• 2nd year: 2 quarters TAships, 1 quarter RAship (pre-doc affiliate), and 1 summer stipend 
• 3rd year: 2 quarters TAships, 1 quarter RAship (pre-doc affiliate), and 1 summer stipend 
• 4th year: 3 quarters of RAships (pre-doc affiliate) and 1 summer stipend 
• 5th year: 3 quarters of RAships (pre-doc affiliate) and 1 summer stipend

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Join dozens of  Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students  who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as  Knight-Hennessy Scholars  (KHS). KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your studies at Stanford. candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 11, 2023. Learn more about  KHS admission .

How to Apply

Admission to the History Graduate Programs are for Autumn quarter only.  Interested applicants can online at  https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/apply/apply-now and submit the following documents: 

• Statement of Purpose (included in Application)
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
•  Transcripts are required from all prior college level schools attended for at least one year.  A scanned copy of the official transcript is submitted as part of the online application.  Please do not mail transcripts to the department.   We will ask only the admitted students to submit actual copies of official transcripts.
• 1 Writing Sample on a historic topic (10-25 pages; sent via  Stanford's online application system  only)
• The GRE exam is not required for the autumn 2024 admission cycle
• TOEFL for all international applicants (whose primary language is not English) sent via ETS. Our University code is 4704.
• TOEFL Exemptions and Waiver information
• Application Fee Waiver
• The department is not able to provide fee waivers. Please see the link above for the available fee waivers and how to submit a request. Requests are due 2 weeks before the application deadline.

The Department of History welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

The Department of History also recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

Application deadline for Autumn 2024-25 is Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 11:59pm EST . This is a hard -not a postmark- deadline. 

All application material is available online. No information is sent via snail mail. Interested applicants are invited to view a Guide to Graduate Admissions at  https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/ . 

Questions? 

Please contact  Arthur Palmon  (Assistant Director of Student Services).

Department Bookshelf

Browse the most recent publications from our faculty members.

In the Shadow of Liberty: The Invisible History of Immigrant Detention in the United States

Uncertain Past Time: Empire, Republic, and Politics | Belirsiz Geçmiş Zaman: İmparatorluk, Cumhuriyet Ve Siyaset

Embodied Knowledge: Women and Science before Silicon Valley

Compton in My Soul

The Fox Spirit, the Stone Maiden, and Other Transgender Histories from Late Imperial China

Doctor of History Programs in America

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Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

New Haven, CT •

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• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: The resources at Yale are outstanding. While some of the required courses are slow-moving and less informative, I do have more academic freedom in my second year to the program to take classes that I enjoy across all departments (including data science, statistics, computer science, and law). ... Read 2 reviews

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NEW HAVEN, CT ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The resources at Yale are outstanding. While some of the required courses are slow-moving and less informative, I do have more academic freedom in my second year to the program to take classes that I... .

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Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

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• • Rating 4.63 out of 5   287

Lehigh University

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• • Rating 4.42 out of 5   19

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Harvard University •

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   9 reviews

Other: I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student' in the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Through this School, I will be focusing my time at the John A. Paulson school of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Looking forward to wrapping up my final year on campus! ... Read 9 reviews

Harvard University ,

9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Other says I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student'... .

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Princeton University

Princeton, NJ •

• • Rating 4.33 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help students in office hours or in sponsorship of projects. The worst part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the lack of structure for the graduate research program which can leave you feeling unsure on the direction of your research. ... Read 3 reviews

PRINCETON, NJ ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help... .

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Sanford School of Public Policy

Durham, NC •

Duke University •

• • Rating 4.75 out of 5   4 reviews

Current Master's student: My academic experience at Duke has been the most rewarding in my life. What makes Duke so great is the opportunity through the Sanford Policy School to exchange and engage ideas with professors and peers connected to my area of policy analysis. I have gotten the chance through summer internships to have real-world policy experience in analysis and implementation. Because my policy analysis is explicitly based on healthcare, I have focused on black maternal outcomes as my point of reference. I have had the opportunity to work with Professor Carolyn Barnes and collaborate since she is an expert in social and economic welfare and its effects on low-income families. The introductory and intermediate microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics classes give students a solid technical base when drafting briefs. One thing I would change is to provide more accessibility of recorded lectures when sick after the coronavirus. ... Read 4 reviews

Duke University ,

DURHAM, NC ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Current Master's student says My academic experience at Duke has been the most rewarding in my life. What makes Duke so great is the opportunity through the Sanford Policy School to exchange and engage ideas with professors and... .

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College of Arts and Letters - University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN •

University of Notre Dame •

Doctoral Student: The faculty at Notre Dame is excellent. The student to professor ratio makes for a wonderful one to one interaction between students and teachers. At Notre Dame, my interests, dreams, goals, research and career path matter. I loved this most. I feel taken seriously and supported with every possible resources for my mental, academic and career success. One gets many opportunities to grow talents through research, and presentations with helpful and supportive feedback from students and professors. For these reasons, I find it a place to be! On the down side, the weather is at first always a challenge for one who is not used to the harsh and gloomy midwestern winter. ... Read 2 reviews

University of Notre Dame ,

NOTRE DAME, IN ,

Featured Review: Doctoral Student says The faculty at Notre Dame is excellent. The student to professor ratio makes for a wonderful one to one interaction between students and teachers. At Notre Dame, my interests, dreams, goals, research... On the down side, the weather is at first always a challenge for one who is not used to the harsh and gloomy midwestern winter. .

Social Sciences Division - University of Chicago

Chicago, IL •

University of Chicago •

• • Rating 3.75 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: The University of Chicago offers many clubs you can attend. Do to COIVD most of the clubs meet online and some in person one day out of the week. There's boxing, archery, fencing, and one of my personal favorites ju-jutsu, just to name a few. These sports are completive but they also have clubs that are just for fun and any body of any skill level can join. There is also this amazing climbing wall in the recreation center but we are not allowed to climb it at the moment because of COVID restrictions. It's also convent to be surrounded by hospitals (Rush and UIC). I got hurt while I was at school, I broke my arm, and I did not have to call on anyone to take me to the hospital, I could just walk. The food is okay and you get to chose from a good selection of things. The rooms where a nice size and most of the students were so friendly it was easy to make friends. ... Read 4 reviews

University of Chicago ,

CHICAGO, IL ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The University of Chicago offers many clubs you can attend. Do to COIVD most of the clubs meet online and some in person one day out of the week. There's boxing, archery, fencing, and one of my... .

Humanities Division - University of Chicago

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Master's Student: My application process for the University of Chicago, including my interview and the prospective students welcome day was incredibly warm, informative and inspiring. I felt the community at the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Chicago gave me a lot of confidence in my potential to succeed in the program and grow a lot as an artist. ... Read 1 review

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says My application process for the University of Chicago, including my interview and the prospective students welcome day was incredibly warm, informative and inspiring. I felt the community at the... .

Read 1 reviews.

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Los Angeles, CA •

University of Southern California •

University of Southern California ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences

Ithaca, NY •

Cornell University •

Cornell University ,

ITHACA, NY ,

Rackham School of Graduate Studies

Ann Arbor, MI •

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: I was nervous about attending a prestigious school like The University of Michigan but once classes started I realized that I had made the right decision. Tuition is very expensive but I love my professors and I believe that I am getting the best education in the country! ... Read 3 reviews

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ,

ANN ARBOR, MI ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I was nervous about attending a prestigious school like The University of Michigan but once classes started I realized that I had made the right decision. Tuition is very expensive but I love my... .

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - Georgetown University

Nw Washington, DC •

Georgetown University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: The program is highly practical. The professors explain concepts in class and give us home works to submit on each topic discussed on a weekly basis. This enables us to grasp the concepts more. We are informed of the professors office time and so we can email them to make inquiries and get assistance when needed. We make presentations during class which train us to become more bold and be able to communicate the concepts easily. We are able to discuss and critic writings independently. We work on projects in groups of about 3-4 and discuss findings to the entire class and professor. We review research papers and make meta-analyses inform of class projects. The program is well structured and i am gaining skills. My worst experience is having to worry about Tuition and other related school bills. ... Read 2 reviews

Georgetown University ,

NW WASHINGTON, DC ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The program is highly practical. The professors explain concepts in class and give us home works to submit on each topic discussed on a weekly basis. This enables us to grasp the concepts more. We... .

School of Arts and Sciences - Tufts University

Medford, MA •

Tufts University •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: My experience was mostly great! I felt supported by faculty and staff and became involved in student activities. It was just unfortunate that my on-campus experience was cut short due to the pandemic so I was not able to fully take advantage of all the program and graduate school had to offer. ... Read 4 reviews

Tufts University ,

MEDFORD, MA ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says My experience was mostly great! I felt supported by faculty and staff and became involved in student activities. It was just unfortunate that my on-campus experience was cut short due to the pandemic... .

UCLA College of Letters and Science

University of California - Los Angeles •

• • Rating 3 out of 5   1 review

University of California - Los Angeles ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 3 stars.

Krieger School of Arts & Sciences

Baltimore, MD •

Johns Hopkins University •

• • Rating 4.53 out of 5   19 reviews

Master's Student: I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student Advisor, Alexis has been extremely helpful in initiating my enrollment process and answering all of my questions in a timely matter. My intended Advanced Academic Program is the accelerated (2 semester), dual-modality, 40-credit M.S. in Biotechnology, Biodefense concentration. All of the anticipated course subjects are diverse and there's even a customizable core lab course on campus (at least until Summer 2024). I can't wait and I wish you all the best in your search for academic programs or professional certifications. ... Read 19 reviews

Johns Hopkins University ,

BALTIMORE, MD ,

19 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student... .

Read 19 reviews.

Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Pittsburgh, PA •

Carnegie Mellon University •

Carnegie Mellon University ,

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA •

University of Virginia •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   1 review

Alum: Very good in some areas, excellent in other areas, many academic choices available in all areas of study ... Read 1 review

University of Virginia ,

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Very good in some areas, excellent in other areas, many academic choices available in all areas of study .

University of North Texas

• • Rating 4.61 out of 5   128

American University

WASHINGTON, DC

• • Rating 4.55 out of 5   149

Mississippi State University

MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS

• • Rating 4.51 out of 5   49

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College of Arts & Sciences

PhD Program

Interim Director of Doctoral Studies (Spring 2024) : Professor Alison Games Graduate Programs Manager : Carolina Madinaveitia Student Assistant to the Director of Doctoral Studies : Ashley Mayor

Welcome to Georgetown’s Ph.D. program in History! We are a top-notch program with strengths in multiple fields, including the United States, Early Modern and Modern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Russia and the Soviet Union, and East Asia. We encourage students with interests that span geographical regions, such as Environmental, Atlantic, and Diplomatic History. Our doctoral student community numbers roughly 100, with new cohorts of 10-12 fully-funded students each year. Our alumni have gone on to distinguished careers as historians in and out of the academy.

Our Ph.D. program has much to offer. In addition to the attention of a distinguished and award-winning History faculty, our students benefit from Georgetown’s many regional studies programs and intellectual centers, where interdisciplinary activity is prized. Opportunities for language training abound. No city has greater resources for historians than Washington, D.C.: the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the National Library of Medicine, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and many other institutions hold an unparalleled wealth of research material.

Our doctoral program is collegial and collaborative, with a vibrant intellectual life. Outside of class, students participate in seminars and conferences along with faculty, share in the activities of our Institute for Global History, grow through professional development workshops, and socialize with each other when the academic day is over. It’s a fun place to be a serious historian.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History Online

Transfer credits, next start date, become a professional historian with an online phd in history.

Are you interested in a career in education, research, politics, archaeology, or management of national landmarks and museums? Whatever your career goals are, Liberty University’s PhD in History can provide a theoretical background as well as research nd writing experience. These tools can help you excel in either academic or non-academic career fields related to humanities and social sciences.

An online doctorate in history can prepare you to pursue a variety of career opportunities. You might join the world of academia as a professor, professional researcher, or publisher. Or you could pursue a position as a museum curator, international development specialist, author, archaeologist, or federal government employee.

Academics and many other career fields need people like you who are knowledgeable about the undercurrents, culture, and societal standards surrounding historical events. Prepare to excel in whichever career field you choose when you pursue Liberty University’s online PhD in History.

Annual median salary for professionals with a doctorate*

All PhD in History courses are available online

Is a PhD in History worth it?

If you love history and want to increase your career options and earning potential, then a PhD in History is worth your effort. The types of jobs you could qualify for range from positions in the federal government to academia to private companies. 

Your earning potential will also increase because you hold a terminal degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with a doctoral degree earn an annual median salary of $94,900.* This is a 27% increase from the salaries of their counterparts who only have a master’s degree.

Can you get a PhD in History online?

Yes – with Liberty University’s online programs, you can earn your PhD in History 100% online. Our goal is to provide you with quality academics that are both affordable and flexible. We understand that you are a working professional with commitments. That’s why you have the flexibility to complete your doctorate wherever and whenever is most convenient for you.

How many years does it take to get a PhD in History?

Most students pursuing our PhD in History can complete the program in just 4 years. This includes a combination of full- and part-time attendance as well as dissertation work.

What can you do with a PhD in History?

When you’re considering career options, a PhD in History is one of the most flexible doctorates you can earn. You will have job opportunities with the United States government, universities, private organizations, and more. Some of the specific careers that may be available to you include:

• Academic publisher
• Archaeologist
• Higher education administrator
• International development specialist
• Museum curator

Is a PhD from Liberty University respected?

If you plan to choose Liberty for your PhD, you can rest assured that your degree will be respected. Liberty University is regionally accredited through SACSCOC . This means our program has to meet rigorous academic standards that are respected by future employers.

Why Choose Liberty University’s History PhD Program Online?

When you choose Liberty, you’re choosing to pursue a degree from an accredited university. We offer a Christ-centered curriculum, flexible course scheduling, and affordable rates. Our goal is to provide you with academic excellence that is grounded in faith and consistent support throughout your academic journey.

Liberty University holds regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ( SACSCOC ). This means we have earned accreditation that demands high academic standards. Employers can have confidence in your knowledge and abilities gained through the program. And you can rest knowing that your degree will benefit both your personal and professional life.

At Liberty, our mission is Training Champions for Christ . That means each of your professors is a Christian who incorporates a biblical worldview into every course. Your professors are professionals who have doctorates like our online history PhD degree. 

You can complete our PhD in History through distance education with 8-week courses and no set login times. This flexibility allows you to pursue your online doctoral degree while maintaining commitments to your family, career, community, and church.

Military Tuition Discount We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour . Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work towards your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession — for less.

What Will You Learn in Our Online PhD in History Program?

When you pursue our doctorate in history, you’ll learn historical concepts and how to educate others from a Christian perspective. Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to do the following:

• Apply a Christian worldview to the study of history
• Apply historical methodology to professional settings
• Conduct original research that is based upon knowledge of the literature of the discipline
• Evaluate historiographic positions, like scholarly literature and interpretations, at the doctoral level

Featured Courses

• HIST 502 – Historiography*
• HIST 701 – Historical Professions
• HIST 711 – Development of Western Freedoms
• HIUS 713 – American Entrepreneurship since 1900

*Course guide coming soon

Highlights of Our Online History PhD Program

• We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility . Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America . Earning your PhD online from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
• Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
• This program is offered in an 8-week course format, with 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times!
• You will benefit from networking opportunities with other professionals in the program from around the country.
• The PhD in History is the first program of its kind offered from a conservative Christian, accredited university.
• Your degree requires experience both inside and outside the classroom to help you become fully prepared for any professional setting you choose.

Liberty’s PhD in History Online Degree Information

• This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences .
• Download and review the Degree Completion Plan .
• View the Graduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides   (login required).
• View the PhD in History Handbook .

Apply Now      Request Info

Career Opportunities for History PhD Online Graduates

• Federal government employee
• Professional researcher

Admission Requirements for the PhD in History at Liberty University

A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree in history, or a related field,* with a 3.0 or above GPA is required for admission in good standing. Please visit our admission requirements page for more detailed admissions-related information.

All applicants must submit the following:

• Admission application
• Application fee**
• Official college transcripts indicating successful completion of a doctorate or master’s in history or a related field*
• Proof of English proficiency (for applicants whose native language is other than English)

*Examples include but are not limited to: public or applied history, social sciences, political science, philosophy, government, international relations, geography, English, theology, church history, economics, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), museum studies, and library sciences.

** There is no upfront application fee; however, a deferred $50 application fee will be assessed during Financial Check-In. This fee is waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Education Pays (viewed online August 19, 2020). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, Non-Degree Seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and Certificates.

Apply FREE This Week*

Other programs you may be interested in

Doctor of Education (EDD)

Doctor of Education

Next Start Date: May 13, 2024

Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)

Educational Leadership

Master of Arts (MA)

Master of Education (MED)

Curriculum and Instruction: History

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Additional program fees may apply. See program page for details.

Disclaimer: This calculator is a tool that provides a rough estimate of the total cost of tuition, and should not be relied upon to determine overall costs, as pricing may vary by program and tuition/fees are subject to change. Estimates are not final or binding, and do not include potential financial aid eligibility.

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What Can You Do with a PhD in History?

You’re a history buff — the person everyone wants on their trivia team. You can rattle off the dates, facts, and names of the world’s most significant events and periods. If you’re considering using your powers for good, getting a PhD in history is a great option. 

People with a passion for being stuck in the past have options once they’ve completed their history doctoral program. Beyond history jobs in academia, there’s a spot for a historian around the table in nearly every industry. The skill set required to complete a PhD opens up a variety of doors in whichever direction you choose to pursue. Here’s an idea of some things you can do with a PhD in History . 

If you see yourself leading the nation’s young people through their own historical journeys, a PhD prepares you to teach at almost any level, though going the professor route could be more lucrative than teaching high school. On average history professors make between $80,000-$164,000 per year. 

You’ll select your focus and spend your days sharing your passion with undergraduate and master’s level students. Along with teaching, if you pursue a history career in academia, you’ll likely spend some time researching topics within your wheelhouse. Re: your passion! 

If spending your days in front of the class, hosting debates, and leading young minds excites you, there might be even more time on a college campus in your future. However, tenured history professor roles may take some time to find and the salaries can range based on the type of university and location.  

Future Planning

Those studying the past usually have some insights into the future. If you’re looking to explore the world outside of strictly history, you might use your skills to find a career in future planning. No, not retirement planning (though that’s an option too).

Historians have a knack for identifying themes and patterns in culture, politics, and the world. A history PhD program allows you to use your historical knowledge to contribute to the modern world by making an impact on the community around you. Many politicians, inclusion officers, grant writers, and even human resource managers use their history PhDs to influence their worlds. 

Your ability to think critically about the past and lend your knowledge to the future makes you an asset to any organization looking to excel into the modern world. Be prepared to market yourself as someone who can best set the organization up for success in an ever-changing world. 

Business/Technology

In the business and technology world, it’s all about understanding the customer. Who are you selling to? What is their day-to-day life like? How do you best understand their needs and wants? 

As a historian, your ability to communicate with a diverse population and understand the context of their lives makes you especially valuable on a sales, marketing, development, or innovation team. As a PhD, employers know you are well-read, have strong research skills and have spent many, many, many hours writing. It’s no surprise that Historians make excellent copywriters, marketers, and editors. 

We won’t lie to you, there aren’t many Fortune 500 CEOs that can claim a doctorate in history. Most CEOs have MBAs or degrees in engineering. But there should be more historians up at the top — maybe you have what it takes. 

Intelligence Analysis

You may not be the next Indiana Jones, but you might cut it as a secret agent. The ability to analyze and synthesize information from various sources is crucial for intelligence analysts — and history PhDs have that in spades. 

Skilled at recognizing biases, evaluating the reliability of sources, and making informed judgments based on incomplete or uncertain information, historians have a strong ability to think critically and evaluate evidence. 

Additionally, historians have a deep understanding of the historical, cultural and social context in which events occur. This understanding can help you identify underlying factors and motivations that may not be immediately apparent to others. 

Archivist/Historian

If you’ve always dreamed about a career in history, this is likely what you’ve pictured. Spending days dusting off old newspapers and curating the perfect collection of artifacts — historians and archivists are often hired by governments or organizations to collect, analyze, organize, and preserve important documents and artifacts. 

Companies may hire a historian to reflect on the organization’s past in order to better inform their future choices or to maintain an existing collection of artifacts. We get it. We saw National Treasure, too. This would be a pretty amazing career.

The salary for historian jobs   can vary based on size of the organization and unfortunately, the importance they place on preserving their history. For reference, the average PhD in history salary is $75,000 in the U.S.

Become a Historian at SMU

So, what can you do with a PhD in history? You can make sense of the past to inform the future, you can write exceptionally well, and you can excel in nearly any industry. Simply holding your doctoral degree in history shows employers the determination you have. There should be a seat saved for you at every company, college, and organization looking to succeed.

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Explore what you can do with a PhD in History, read the guide Reanalyzing Our World, PhDs in The Humanities at SMU !

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• Arts & Sciences
• Graduate Studies in A&S

Prospective Students

For prospective graduate students.

Applying to PhD programs in the humanities can be a bewildering process.  Unlike professional schools, which have more standardized application processes as well as advising programs that support applicants, potential PhD students often find themselves alone as they examine the various ways that graduate programs are organized.

It is with this experience in mind that we have prepared this section.

This section is intended to answer most of the questions that occur to prospective and current applicants regarding the graduate program in History at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). For questions not addressed here, prospective students may contact the Graduate Program Assistant or the Director of Graduate Studies .

Deciding to Pursue a PhD in History

For people dedicated to reading, researching, and writing about change over time in the past, pursuing a PhD in History can be rewarding. A graduate program in History provides the means to spend years learning about the craft, an education that culminates in the completion of an original piece of historical scholarship, the dissertation. Skills acquired during this process can be put to use in many different careers. To gain a sense of the career paths of our students, please click here .

In the History Department at WUSTL, students are admitted directly into the PhD program. Students earn an MA on the way to the PhD but there is no stand-alone MA program. The PhD program requires students to devote themselves to full-time and continuous study, usually for six years. It is not possible to attend part-time.

Working with the Office of Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Science, the History Department strives to provide funding to all of its PhD students, for a maximum of six years. Students are granted tuition remission, meaning they do not have to pay tuition for the courses they take. Students receive a yearly stipend to cover living expenses and subsidized health insurance. They are required to live St. Louis for at least the first three years of the program and attend classes in person. Students are required to complete six semester-long Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTEs), usually by serving as an Instructional Assistant for History and related courses.

The Department admits students who are able to demonstrate that they have a good sense of what it takes to produce original historical scholarship. These applicants show that they have, or are in the process of acquiring, the skills that are necessary for successful scholarly work. Many History PhD students arrive with an undergraduate degree in History, although that is not a pre-requisite. People who studied other topics in college, from foreign languages to anthropology to political science to chemistry, have become successful historians. Nevertheless, applicants who submit a writing sample consisting of a senior honors thesis or similar that is based on historical sources and that asks and answers a productive historical question have an advantage during the admissions process.

Potential applicants should consider discussing their plans to apply to graduate school with instructors from their previous institutions. Most college professors hold PhDs and can provide advice on whether and where to go to graduate school. Applicants need three letters of recommendation from faculty. Asking for advice as well as letters can be informative.

Historians need to be able to read the languages used in the time and place of their object of study. Students applying to write about places that use languages other than English need to know those languages or have plans for mastering them before beginning to research the dissertation. As an example, students aspiring to write about the history of Germany should be able to read German or be in the process of learning to do so. Foreign language abilities need to be documented with transcripts and / or proficiency exams. In their writing samples, students should also demonstrate strong analytical writing skills in English.

The Department welcomes applications from international students. Students whose primary language of education is not English must submit TOEFL scores. As required by the graduate school, the score should be above thresholds determined by the OGS. We may require that students who are non-native speakers of English attend ESL courses at WUSTL to improve their academic writing and presentation skills.  The Department has been fortunate to include a growing number of excellent international students in our graduate cohort, and they have had highly successful outcomes from their graduate training.

Students who already hold an MA from another institution are encouraged to apply. It is possible, although not always recommended, to receive credit for past work. This can be addressed after admission.

Exploring the History PhD Program at Washington University in St. Louis

Once students have decided to pursue a PhD in History, they should strive to find an appropriate program and advisor. At WUSTL, we train students in fields ranging from early America to the History of Medicine to world migration. Applicants should read the faculty biographies here . Once applicants have identified a potential advisor, they should familiarize themselves with faculty research interests and read some of their scholarship. This will help in the process of determining whether faculty and student research interests are aligned. Students should consider writing to potential advisors to share a brief summary of interests and ask whether they are accepting students.

For questions not addressed here, prospective students may contact the Graduate Program Assistant, Tippie Greene .  They may also contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Steve Hindle .

Steve Hindle

Derek Hirst Endowed Professor of Early Modern British History

[email protected] 314-935-6713

Tippie Greene

Academic & Administrative Coordinator – History Department in Arts & Sciences

[email protected] 3149358993

Submitting an Application

Applications to the graduate program should be submitted using WUSTL’s online application system. For more information, visit the admissions page  for the Office of Graduate Studies. After receiving and processing applications, the OGS then turns the applications over to the History Department for review. The Department recommends applicants for admission, and the OGS admits them.

Application Deadlines

The admission deadline of the Office of Graduate Studies is December 15. Admitted students enroll in August of the following year.

Application Form

The three-page application form submitted through the Office of Graduate Studies contains important data that the History Department needs in order to consider applications. These forms are more or less self-explanatory. Here is some additional information that may help students complete a strong application. 

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is an opportunity for applicants to provide an intellectual biography that explains to the reader how they arrived at the decision to apply for a PhD in History and how they anticipate that their interests will unfold in the future. Applicants should craft their statement as they see fit, but here are some of the questions the reader may be asking:

Does the applicant know how to ask and answer a historical question? Do they have a sense of how historical questions might be answered? Are they engaged with current historical debates in the field? Do they relate their life history, ranging from special challenges or unorthodox work experiences, to their plans for future study? Do they have a realistic sense of what must and can be accomplished during a six-year program? Do they have the skills and drive to eventually complete a dissertation? Who would be their secondary advisor? Why are they applying to the program at WUSTL?

Applicants in non-U.S. history should provide evidence as to competency in relevant languages, and, if applicable, living or travel experience in the region of interest.

Writing Sample

The History Department requires a writing sample as part of the application. Ideally it will show strong analytical writing ability as well as historical thinking and research abilities. Good choices of writing samples include senior theses, capstone projects, or an MA thesis in History or a related discipline. It should be a polished piece of writing that showcases the applicant’s abilities.  In many cases, the best writing sample is not necessarily on a subject related to an area the applicant plans to study in graduate school.  For example, a long paper rooted in secondary sources written for an advanced undergraduate seminar may better demonstrate research and writing skills than a short paper based on secondary sources for a large survey course, even if that survey course is in the field the applicant plans to study.

  Transcripts

Applicants should upload complete transcripts of their grades for all work in institutions of higher education.

Graduate Record Examination Scores

The Department has not required GRE scores since 2020, but students may choose to submit their scores.

The TOEFL exam is required for many international applicants.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to WUSTL’s History PhD Program are required to submit three letters of recommendation. The most valuable letters usually come from recommenders who hold a PhD in History and who teach and research about the past. Letters from professors in other disciplines can also be helpful if they attest to the academic abilities and work ethic of the applicant. People who have been out of school for some time may submit a letter from a supervisor, especially if the letter highlights skills and habits that may be helpful in a demanding six-year program. Applicants returning to school after a long absence may want to take a history course on a non-degree basis as a way of testing the waters and becoming acquainted with an instructor who may be able to write a letter. Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences application process.

Notification of Applicants

Members of the Graduate Studies Committee in History begin reviewing applications soon after the December 31 deadline. Then they consult with relevant members of the Department and colleagues at the Office of Graduate Studies. The OGS typically sends formal offers of admission to admitted applicants in late February. The OGS will also inform applicants if their applications were unsuccessful. In some cases, applicants will be placed on a waiting list. Offers to applicants on the waiting list can be made at any time between February and the April 15 acceptance deadline.

The deadline for successful candidates to accept or decline the Graduate School’s offers of admission and financial support is April 15. This is a universal deadline to which all signatories to the Council of Graduate Schools resolution , which includes over 350 institutions in the U.S., have agreed to. If you are considering an offer from another program and are asked to accept an offer of financial support before April 15, it is likely that this deadline was imposed in error or in ignorance of this resolution. You are perfectly within your rights to insist on the April 15 deadline. Concerns about an early deadline from another program should be directed to our department’s Director of Graduate Studies.

Deferral of Enrollment

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the History Department does not typically allow admitted student to defer enrollment.  Applicants who do not accept offers of admission for the upcoming Fall semester, but are interested in entering the program in the future, will be encouraged to reapply without any special guarantee of admission.

Reapplication

Candidates not accepted for admission may reapply in subsequent years. New applications should highlight differences from the previous application, in terms of skills or degrees acquired, or other changed circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to the topics we have discussed above, here are a few of the questions we often receive from potential applicants:

• Does the program meet in-person, remote, or hybrid?  The graduate program at Washington University is an in-person program.  Like most educational programming, we pivoted to remote instruction during COVID, but we returned to in-person instruction in Fall 2021.  Other aspects of graduate occasion are conduct remotely as need be.  Graduate students often meet with faculty rather than in person when that arrangement works better for both.  Remote communication has enabled graduate students to be in regular and direct contact with faculty while conducting research out of St. Louis.  Dissertations have also been conducted online when in-person has not been possible.ß
• Should I contact members of the Department faculty?  If you have questions about the application process or general questions about the graduate program (application deadlines, funding, etc.), you should contact either Lori Watt or Cassidy Cooley.  Many applicants find it useful to contact faculty with whom they might study to discuss possible areas of interest.  This sort of contact is not necessary, but can prove helpful in determining whether to apply.
• Can I receive a graduate fellowship even if my income may not qualify me for other forms of financial aid?  Yes.  Whenever possible, the Department provides full funding for all entering PhD students, regardless of their own financial resources.  It is therefore important for applicants to complete all financial aid application materials.
• Can I travel during the three-year residency period in St. Louis?  Yes.  Students regularly take vacations and visit family.  But they also attend conferences, conduct archival research, and participate in educational program throughout the U.S. and around the world.  The residency requirement is in place so that students are available for classes in person.

2024 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs

Writen by: CollegeRanker Team

Reviewed by: David Krug , Editor-in-Chief

Updated on: September 5, 2023

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Online education has become increasingly popular in recent years, and this trend has extended to advanced degree programs such as doctorates in history. Pursuing a history doctorate degree online can provide flexibility and convenience for students who are unable to attend traditional on-campus programs due to work or family obligations. Additionally, online programs may offer unique opportunities for research and collaboration with scholars around the world.

There are many online history doctorate degree programs available, and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Factors to consider include program reputation, faculty expertise, research opportunities, and cost. Fortunately, there are resources available to help students navigate the options and find the best program for their needs. This article will explore some of the top online history doctorate degree programs and provide information on what sets them apart.

Methodology

When compiling a list of the best online history doctorate degree programs, several factors were taken into consideration. The following methodology was used to determine the programs that made the final cut:

Accreditation

First and foremost, the programs had to be accredited by a recognized accrediting body. Accreditation ensures that the program meets certain standards of quality and rigor.

Program Reputation

The reputation of the program was also taken into consideration. This includes factors such as the program’s history, faculty, and alumni. Programs with a strong reputation are more likely to provide students with a quality education and better job prospects after graduation.

The curriculum of the program was also examined. A good history doctorate program should provide students with a broad understanding of history as well as the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of interest. The curriculum should be challenging and rigorous, but also flexible enough to meet the needs of individual students.

The faculty of the program was also taken into consideration. A good history doctorate program should have a strong faculty with expertise in a wide range of historical periods and topics. Faculty members should be actively engaged in research and scholarship, and should be accessible to students.

Student Support

Finally, the level of support provided to students was also taken into consideration. A good history doctorate program should provide students with the support they need to succeed, including access to academic advisors, research resources, and career services.

By taking these factors into consideration, we were able to compile a list of the best online history doctorate degree programs available today.

University Of Florida (UF)

The University of Florida (UF) is a public research university located in Gainesville, Florida. It is one of the top-ranked universities in the United States and is known for its strong academic programs, including its online doctoral programs in history.

UF offers a fully online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in history, which is designed for students who want to pursue advanced research in the field. The program offers a wide range of resources for history graduate students in diverse fields and subfields of study. Students can choose from a variety of fields of study, including American history, European history, and world history.

The program requires formal admission to the University of Florida, and applicants must meet UF’s general admission requirements, as well as those specified by the individual degree program. The program also requires students to complete a qualifying examination and dissertation prospectus.

UF’s online doctoral program in history is consistently ranked among the best in the nation. In fact, it is ranked #1 in the College Consensus ranking of the Best Online Doctorate in History Programs. UF’s program is known for its rigorous academic standards, expert faculty, and strong research opportunities.

Overall, UF’s online doctoral program in history is an excellent option for students who want to pursue advanced research in the field. With its strong academic reputation and flexible online format, UF is a top choice for students who want to earn a Ph.D. in history.

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is a nationally recognized institution that offers a variety of doctoral degree programs online. The Department of History at Penn State offers a small, focused PhD program designed to prepare students for careers inside or outside academia. The program admits students in five primary fields, which reflect faculty strength: the United States, Latin America, Early Modern Global, China, and the Middle East.

Penn State’s online doctoral program is designed to allow students to advance their studies while completing coursework online in a flexible doctorate level program. The program is designed to help students stand out in their field, and gain the skills and knowledge necessary for career and professional advancement.

Penn State’s online doctoral program is fully accredited and offers a range of resources to support students throughout their academic journey. Students can access online libraries, research databases, and other resources to aid in their studies. Faculty members are also available to provide guidance and support to students throughout their coursework.

In addition to doctoral programs, Penn State also offers a range of online graduate programs and certificates. Students can earn a respected, accredited master’s degree online, expand their professional skills with a graduate certificate, or earn a doctoral degree with the flexibility required to fit their life. Penn State’s online graduate programs are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen field.

Overall, Penn State’s online doctoral program in history is a great option for students looking to advance their studies in a flexible, online environment. With a range of resources and support available, students can gain the skills and knowledge necessary for career and professional advancement.

University Of Southern California (USC)

The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research institution located in Los Angeles, California. USC offers an online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in History program that prepares students for careers in academia, research, and other fields. The program is designed to be completed in 4-5 years and requires students to complete a dissertation.

The USC online Ph.D. in History program provides students with the opportunity to specialize in a variety of areas, including American history, European history, and global history. Students can also tailor their degree to their interests by selecting courses from a wide range of topics, such as gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, and political and social history.

USC’s online Ph.D. in History program is taught by the same faculty who teach on-campus courses. The faculty members are experts in their respective fields and are committed to providing students with a high-quality education. In addition to coursework, students are required to attend virtual seminars and complete a residency requirement.

USC’s online Ph.D. in History program is ranked #12 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The program is also accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Graduates of the program are well-prepared for careers in academia, research, and other fields.

Indiana University (IU)

Indiana University (IU) offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in History degree program through its College of Arts and Sciences. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in and out of the classroom. Students have access to all the benefits of one of the largest history departments and one of the largest research libraries in the country.

The History Department at IU is proud to be one of the top-rated graduate programs in the country. Graduate students have access to world-class faculty, prestigious journals, and a variety of academic and professional resources designed to prepare them for careers in academia, government, and the private sector.

IU also offers an online graduate certificate in History that provides graduate-level instruction in the field of history. The program allows students to gain a depth of knowledge in a variety of historical subjects, practice historical interpretation, think critically, employ research and analysis methods, and communicate concepts and ideas with precision and clarity.

IU’s online Master of Arts (M.A.) in History degree program is 100% online and helps prepare students for careers as general researchers, writers or editors, journalists or broadcasters, K-12 teachers, library or museum workers. The program is of special interest for teachers/instructors needing to meet HLC dual-credit standards.

IU Bloomington’s Ph.D. in History program has specific requirements that students must meet to graduate. Students must complete coursework, pass comprehensive exams, and submit and defend a dissertation. The program is designed to provide students with a rigorous and comprehensive education in history and to prepare them for careers in academia, government, and the private sector.

IU’s history programs are highly respected and provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the field of history.

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (UNC)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It is one of the oldest public universities in the United States and is known for its strong academic programs. UNC offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in History through its Department of History.

The Ph.D. program in History at UNC is designed to prepare students for careers in research, teaching, and public service. Students can specialize in a wide range of fields, including American history, European history, African history, Latin American history, and Asian history. The program requires students to complete coursework, pass comprehensive exams, and write a dissertation.

UNC’s Department of History has a strong reputation for its faculty and research. The department has over 50 full-time faculty members who are experts in their fields. Students in the Ph.D. program have the opportunity to work closely with these faculty members and benefit from their expertise.

UNC also offers a number of resources to support its Ph.D. students in History. The department provides funding for research and conference travel, as well as opportunities for teaching experience. The university also offers a range of professional development resources, including workshops and seminars on teaching and research.

Overall, UNC’s Ph.D. program in History is a rigorous and well-respected program that prepares students for successful careers in academia and beyond.

Arizona State University (ASU)

Arizona State University (ASU) is a prestigious institution offering a variety of online history doctorate degree programs. ASU is ranked among the best graduate schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and its online programs are taught by the same world-renowned faculty who teach on campus.

ASU offers a fully online History PhD program that cultivates a strong background in historical research methodology and scholarly analysis. Students acquire skills in text analysis, research, and writing through a systematic examination of many issues relevant to today’s society. The program requires 84 credit hours, including a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation research.

In addition to the PhD program, ASU offers a Master of Arts in History program that is also fully online. This program explores the history of societies from across the world while fostering collaboration among peers in a community setting. The program requires 30 credit hours, including a thesis or applied project.

ASU also offers several graduate certificates in history, including a graduate certificate in World War II Studies. These certificates are designed to enhance students’ knowledge and skills in specific areas of history.

Overall, ASU’s online history doctorate degree programs provide students with a rigorous and flexible education that prepares them for a variety of careers in academia, research, and beyond.

Boston University (BU)

Boston University’s online history doctorate degree program is ranked among the best in the country by College Consensus. BU’s program is designed for students who want to specialize in a particular area of history, such as American, African, Asian, or European history. The program is fully online, which means that students can complete their coursework from anywhere in the world.

BU’s online history doctorate degree program is taught by experienced faculty members who are experts in their respective fields. The program is also designed to be flexible, which means that students can choose to study full-time or part-time depending on their schedule.

BU’s online history doctorate degree program requires students to complete a minimum of 64 credits. The program includes coursework in research methods, historiography, and a variety of historical topics. Students are also required to complete a dissertation, which is a significant research project that demonstrates their mastery of a particular area of history.

Overall, BU’s online history doctorate degree program is an excellent choice for students who want to pursue a career in academia or research. The program is highly respected in the field of history, and graduates are well-prepared for a variety of careers in education, government, or the private sector.

University Of Central Florida (UCF)

The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public History. This program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in public history, including museum work, historic preservation, and cultural resource management. Students in this program will take courses in areas such as museum studies, historic preservation, and archival management.

One unique aspect of UCF’s program is its emphasis on digital history. Students will have the opportunity to explore digital tools and techniques for presenting historical information to the public. This includes courses in digital storytelling, website design, and social media.

UCF’s program also offers opportunities for students to gain practical experience in the field. Students can participate in internships at local museums and historic sites, and they can also work on research projects with faculty members.

In addition to the Ph.D. in Public History, UCF also offers several other doctoral programs that may be of interest to students interested in history. These include a Ph.D. in History, a Ph.D. in Texts and Technology, and a Ph.D. in Security Studies.

UCF’s online programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The university has been recognized as one of the top online universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Overall, UCF’s online Ph.D. in Public History is a strong option for students interested in pursuing a career in public history. The program’s emphasis on digital history and practical experience make it a unique and valuable opportunity for students looking to make an impact in the field.

University Of Illinois (UI)

The University of Illinois (UI) offers a variety of online doctoral programs, including a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History. This program is designed for students who want to pursue a career in academia, research, or public history. The program provides students with a strong foundation in historical research and writing, as well as the skills needed to teach history at the university level.

The PhD program in History at UI is fully accredited and provides students with the opportunity to work with top-notch faculty members who are experts in their fields. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing students to tailor their coursework and research to their individual interests and career goals.

To apply to the program, students must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in history or a related field. They must also submit a statement of purpose, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation. The program is highly competitive, and applicants are selected based on their academic achievements, research interests, and potential for success in the program.

UI’s online doctoral program in history is designed to be completed in four to six years, depending on the student’s course load and research progress. The program requires 64 credit hours of coursework, including 16 credit hours of research methods and a dissertation. Students must also pass a comprehensive examination and defend their dissertation in front of a committee of faculty members.

Overall, UI’s online PhD program in history provides students with a rigorous and flexible curriculum that prepares them for a variety of careers in academia, research, and public history. The program is highly competitive, and students are expected to be self-motivated and dedicated to their studies. If you’re looking for a top-notch online doctoral program in history, UI is definitely worth considering.

George Washington University (GWU)

George Washington University (GWU) is a private research university located in Washington, D.C. It offers a Ph.D. program in History that is designed to prepare students for careers in academia, public history, and related fields. The program is highly selective, admitting only a small number of students each year.

GWU’s Ph.D. program in History is known for its rigorous coursework and faculty mentorship. Students work closely with faculty members to develop their research interests and complete their dissertations. The program also provides opportunities for students to gain teaching experience and participate in professional development activities.

One of the unique features of GWU’s Ph.D. program in History is its emphasis on public history. The program offers a concentration in Public History that prepares students for careers in museums, archives, historic preservation, and other public history fields. Students in the Public History concentration take courses in museum studies, archival management, and historic preservation, and complete internships in public history organizations.

GWU’s Ph.D. program in History is fully funded, providing students with tuition remission and a stipend for living expenses for up to five years. The university also offers a number of resources to support graduate students, including research funding, professional development workshops, and career services.

Overall, GWU’s Ph.D. program in History is a top choice for students interested in pursuing careers in academia, public history, and related fields. Its rigorous coursework, faculty mentorship, and emphasis on public history make it a unique and valuable program for students looking to make an impact in the field of history.

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is a public research university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It offers a Ph.D. program in History that prepares students for careers as scholars and educators. The program emphasizes research, writing, and teaching skills, and encourages students to pursue interdisciplinary graduate certificates or specializations.

The UNL Ph.D. program in History requires 90 total credit hours and offers three primary fields of study: North American History, European History, and World History. Students can supplement their historical study with interdisciplinary training in Digital History/Humanities, Women’s and Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Great Plains Studies, and more.

The program provides a range of research opportunities, including assistantships, fellowships, and grants. The university’s libraries and archives offer extensive collections in American and European history, as well as in the history of the Great Plains and the American West.

UNL’s Ph.D. program in History has a strong reputation for producing successful scholars and educators. Its graduates have gone on to hold positions at universities and colleges across the country, as well as in government, non-profit organizations, and other fields. The program’s faculty members are highly regarded in their respective fields and are committed to mentoring and supporting students throughout their academic careers.

Overall, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Ph.D. program in History offers students a rigorous and well-rounded education in the discipline, with ample opportunities for research, professional development, and career advancement.

Liberty University

Liberty University offers an online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History program that requires 72 credit hours and can be completed in an average of four years. The program is 100% online and follows an eight-week class format. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including American history, European history, military history, and world history.

The program is designed to prepare graduates for roles in leadership, research, and education. The coursework is rigorous and includes research methods, historiography, and the preparation of a dissertation. Students are also required to complete two on-campus intensives, which provide an opportunity to interact with faculty and fellow students.

One of the unique features of the program is the Executive Certificate in History, which is available to students who complete the first 18 credit hours of the program. The certificate is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of historical research and analysis.

Overall, Liberty University’s online PhD in History program is a solid choice for students who are looking for a flexible and rigorous program that prepares them for a career in history. The program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Walden University

Walden University offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History online program that is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become experts in their field. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing students to complete their coursework at their own pace. The program requires students to complete 95 quarter credits, which includes 20 credits for a dissertation.

The program is designed to be completed in four years, but students can take up to seven years to finish. Students can choose from a variety of specializations, including American history, world history, and public history. The program is taught by experienced faculty members who are experts in their field.

Walden University also offers a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment with a specialization in Social Studies Education. This program is designed for educators who want to become leaders in the field of social studies education. The program requires students to complete 82 quarter credits, which includes 20 credits for a dissertation.

The program is designed to be completed in three years, but students can take up to seven years to finish. Students will learn about curriculum development, instructional strategies, and assessment techniques. They will also learn how to use technology to enhance their teaching and learning.

Overall, Walden University offers two excellent online doctoral programs for history enthusiasts who want to advance their knowledge and skills in the field. The programs are flexible, affordable, and taught by experienced faculty members who are experts in their field.

University of Colorado, Denver

The University of Colorado, Denver offers an online Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Human Development with a concentration in Leadership for Educational Equity. This program is designed for individuals who want to pursue careers in educational leadership, policy, and research. The program is delivered entirely online and can be completed in as little as three years.

The program requires 60 credit hours of coursework, including core courses in research methods, leadership theory, and educational policy. Students also take courses in their chosen concentration area, which includes topics such as equity and social justice, educational reform, and community engagement.

In addition to coursework, students must complete a comprehensive exam and a dissertation. The comprehensive exam is designed to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the program’s core concepts, while the dissertation requires students to conduct original research in their chosen area of concentration.

The University of Colorado, Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is ranked #106 in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university’s online graduate education programs are also ranked #18 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Overall, the University of Colorado, Denver’s online Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Human Development program provides students with a comprehensive education in educational leadership and policy. The program’s emphasis on equity and social justice is particularly relevant in today’s educational landscape, making it an excellent choice for individuals who want to make a positive impact in their communities.

Capella University

Capella University is a well-known online institution, offering a variety of doctoral programs, including a Doctor of Philosophy in History. The program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of historical research, analysis, and writing. The program is also designed to prepare students for careers in academia, research, and other fields that require advanced historical knowledge.

The program requires a total of 90 quarter credits, which can be completed in as little as four years. Students will take courses in historical theory, research methods, and historiography, as well as courses in their specific area of interest. The program also requires a dissertation, which is an original research project that contributes to the field of history.

One unique feature of Capella’s program is the flexibility it offers. Students can choose to complete their coursework entirely online, or they can attend a residency program. The residency program allows students to work closely with faculty and other students in a face-to-face setting, which can be especially beneficial for those who prefer a more traditional classroom experience.

Overall, Capella University’s Doctor of Philosophy in History is a rigorous and flexible program that prepares students for careers in a variety of fields. With its emphasis on research, analysis, and writing, the program is an excellent choice for those who are passionate about history and want to make a meaningful contribution to the field.

Rutgers University

Rutgers University offers a History Doctorate Degree program that prepares students for careers in teaching, research, and other fields related to history. The program provides outstanding academic opportunities for advanced study leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. The Rutgers University History Department at New Brunswick is known for its excellent faculty, research, and scholarship. The department has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary studies, and students have the opportunity to work with faculty in other departments and programs.

Rutgers University also offers personalized academic support for approximately 5,200 Rutgers students enrolled in more than 150 doctoral, master’s, and dual-degree programs across New Brunswick. The Graduate School-New Brunswick provides a wide range of services and resources to support students throughout their academic journey, including financial assistance, career development, and professional skills training.

Students pursuing a History Doctorate Degree at Rutgers University have access to a wide range of resources and facilities. The university’s libraries and archives are among the best in the country, with extensive collections of primary and secondary sources in all areas of history. The libraries also provide access to a wide range of electronic resources, including databases, journals, and e-books.

The joint Graduate History Program at Rutgers-Newark and NJIT is the largest and most diverse master’s-level history program in the state of New Jersey. The program prepares students for careers in teaching, business, law, government, administration, and other fields related to history. The program is known for its excellent faculty, research, and scholarship, and students have the opportunity to work with faculty in other departments and programs.

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is a public research university located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It offers a fully online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in History degree program that emphasizes research and scholarship. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in academia, research, and other fields that require expertise in history.

The University of Arkansas’s online Ph.D. program in History has a flexible curriculum that allows students to tailor their studies to their specific interests and goals. Students can choose from a variety of courses that cover a wide range of historical periods and topics, such as American history, European history, and world history. They can also work closely with faculty members to develop and conduct their own research projects.

The program requires a minimum of 72 credit hours of coursework, including 24 credit hours of dissertation research. Students must also pass a comprehensive exam and defend their dissertation before a committee of faculty members. The program typically takes four to five years to complete.

One of the benefits of the University of Arkansas’s online Ph.D. program in History is its affordability. The university offers in-state tuition rates to all online students, regardless of where they live. Additionally, the program offers a number of financial aid opportunities, including graduate assistantships and fellowships.

Overall, the University of Arkansas’s online Ph.D. program in History is a solid choice for students who are looking for a flexible and affordable program that emphasizes research and scholarship. With its wide range of courses and faculty expertise, students can tailor their studies to their interests and career goals.

St. John’s University

St. John’s University offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in World History program that is designed to prepare students for academic careers in teaching and research. The program is offered on-campus and is not available online. Students in the program receive advanced training in global, comparative, and transnational history.

To apply to the Ph.D. in World History program, students must submit official transcripts showing conferral of their bachelor’s degree and at least 24 credits in history. They must also possess at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the undergraduate level, with a 3.5 or higher in history courses. The program requires a writing sample, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

St. John’s University also offers a combined Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program in partnership with Adelphi and Hofstra Universities. The program is a four-year post-baccalaureate program that meets national standards for certification in Audiology.

While St. John’s University does not offer an online Ph.D. in History program, the university does offer online graduate degree programs. These programs are designed to fit the lives of working professionals who want to earn a degree without putting their careers on hold. There are no set class times, giving students the flexibility to study when and where they want.

Overall, St. John’s University is a reputable institution that offers a Ph.D. in World History program for students interested in pursuing careers in teaching and research. While the program is not available online, the university does offer online graduate degree programs for students looking for more flexibility in their studies.

Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) offers a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of conflict resolution and peace studies, as well as the skills to apply this knowledge in real-world situations.

NSU’s online education program features faculty and student discussion forums with threaded bulletin boards, real-time electronic classrooms with graphical presentations and audio, and online submission of assignments in multimedia formats. This flexibility allows students to complete the program at their own pace and from anywhere in the world.

The Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program requires 60 credit hours and can be completed in four years. The curriculum includes courses such as Leadership Theory and Practice, Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies, and Organizational Change and Development. Students also have the opportunity to participate in an internship or research project to gain practical experience in the field.

NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The university also offers a variety of resources for online students, including an online library with access to academic journals, e-books, and other research materials.

Overall, NSU’s Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies is a strong option for students seeking an online history doctorate degree program. The flexibility of the program, combined with NSU’s accreditation and resources, make it a great choice for students looking to advance their careers in the field of conflict resolution and peace studies.

Texas Tech University (TTU)

Texas Tech University (TTU) is a public research university located in Lubbock, Texas. It is a member of the Texas Tech University System and has been offering graduate education since 1927. Today, the university offers over 60 doctoral degrees, including a Doctor of Philosophy in History program.

The Doctor of Philosophy in History program at TTU requires 60 hours beyond the B.A./B.S. degree, with 30 of those hours taken at TTU. The program is face-to-face, with some exceptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic [1].

TTU’s Department of History offers concentrations in the geographic areas of Asia, Europe, and the United States, with specializations within each field [2]. Students in the program have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of faculty members who are experts in their fields.

TTU’s eLearning & Academic Partnerships also offers an online Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction program with several tracks, including a track in Language, Diversity & Literacy Studies [3]. Additionally, they offer a hybrid/blended Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction program with a track in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education [3].

TTU’s graduate programs in history have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report in their 2022 Best Online Programs ranking, with four online graduate programs offered by the university appearing in the rankings [4].

Overall, Texas Tech University offers a strong graduate program in history with a diverse group of faculty members and several options for students to pursue their doctoral degrees, both in-person and online.

[1] https://www.depts.ttu.edu/history/graduate/phd.php [2] https://www.depts.ttu.edu/history/graduate/programs.php [3] https://www.depts.ttu.edu/elearning/programs/doctoral/ [4] https://today.ttu.edu/posts/2022/01/Stories/Texas-Tech-Ranks-in-US-News-World-Reports-2022-Best-Online-Programs

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Tracking Undergraduate History Enrollments in 2023

Julia Brookins | Apr 16, 2024

B y some metrics, history is trending. Videos shared with the hashtag #HistoryTok have racked up more than six and a half billion views on the social media platform TikTok; in early 2023, a single viral video tagged #HistoryRepeats inspired more than 800,000 users to record their own imagined conversations with distant ancestors. Controversies in the headlines keep sparking vibrant and nuanced public conversation about the historical contexts that shape our contemporary world. And there is much evidence to indicate that students want to know more about the history behind today’s headlines.

Compare this public enthusiasm for history with our discipline’s shifting status in higher education. Since 2016, the AHA has surveyed history departments across the United States to track the total number of undergraduate students enrolling in history courses at their respective institutions. This data indicates an overall decline in history enrollments but leaves many questions unanswered.

The AHA’s 2023 survey of undergraduate history enrollments shows a 2.7 percent decline in the number of enrollments in 2022–23, compared to the previous academic year. The reported decline occurred even as overall undergraduate enrollment at four-year public and private not-for-profit institutions in the United States increased by 0.6 percent in fall 2023 from the year before, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. This trend is occurring alongside a longer-term decline in undergraduate history degree completions, which the Department of Education reports fell another 6.43 percent in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available.

Fig. 1: Undergraduate history enrollment, 2020–23. AHA internal data

This eighth annual survey of history enrollment was conducted online from July through mid-October 2023. The AHA solicited voluntary participation from more than 400 departmental chairs and administrative points of contact. The survey prompted respondents to input the number of undergraduate enrollments in their institution’s history courses for the past four years (2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23). This data (Fig. 1) illustrates one symptom of the many pressures undermining the health of history programs at North American universities, but the small number of responses demands cautious interpretation.

The direction in which history enrollments have trended is clear; the causes for this shift and the most effective strategies for improving recruitment and retention are less straightforward. It is vital that all undergraduate students continue to have access to high-quality history education as part of a comprehensive college curriculum.

The downward trend may have paused at some institutions during the pandemic and has now resumed, but less universally.

Out of more than 1,300 institutions in the United States and Canada, 79 colleges and universities contributed numerical data to the AHA’s 2023 enrollment questionnaire. This total includes 75 four-year colleges and universities and one two-year college in the United States, as well as three Canadian universities. Taken together, the responses showed that history course enrollment had declined 2.7 percent in 2020–21, risen 1 percent in 2021–22, and again declined 2.7 percent in 2022–23. Over the entire period, the number of student enrollments reported in 2022–23 was 4.4 percent lower than those for 2019–20. When public and private institutions are disaggregated, we see the only annual percentage growth was among public institutions in the 2020–21 school year, presumably related to unusual student course-taking patterns and the easing of pandemic restrictions on many campuses.

Declines led advances throughout the past four years but with wide variation (Fig. 2). Looking at the change in enrollment from the prior year, in 2020–21, 57 institutions saw falling student numbers and just 22 saw gains, while in 2021–22 enrollment fell at 43 institutions but rose at 36. Last year, 50 programs shrank while 29 grew. This suggests that the downward trend may have paused at some institutions during the pandemic and has now resumed, but less universally. Comparing the first and last years of the covered period, 25 of the responding institutions had higher enrollment in the 2022–23 year than in the 2019–20 year, while 54 served fewer undergraduates last year than they taught three years earlier.

Fig. 2: Change in history enrollment by control and year. AHA internal data

Reports from chairs and other faculty provide insight into how broader national forces have played out in local contexts. The impression among departments where enrollment has declined significantly and consistently is of a landscape where institutional priorities in other fields (preprofessional and/or STEM oriented) have left history departments with shrinking capacity to meet even existing student demand and limited ability to recruit students or market current offerings. One respondent at a midwestern regional public university, where history course enrollment crashed 45 percent over four years, observed that their reduction in enrollment corresponded to a reduction in faculty and thus the inability to offer as many courses. Another regional public institution in the Midwest reported that their total enrollment was down primarily because of lost faculty, but that the number of history majors had rebounded in the past year. One respondent in the Northeast lamented that many faculty expected the already-overworked department chair to address this issue without much buy-in from colleagues. There, enrollment was down more than 13 percent after falling nearly 10 percent the year before.

An individual department’s strategies can still have an effect.

Based on the survey responses, general education reform has continued to erode mandates for history education, but the pace of such reform initiatives might have slowed. And despite a long-term pattern of contraction due to structural shifts in how and why people go to college, an individual department’s strategies can still have an effect. These actions might include things like ensuring that popular classes are offered to students regularly, supporting first-time history students’ learning and progress to degree so that they can return to take another course in the department, and implementing an active recruitment program with marketing on campus and online. Another fruitful avenue for some history departments can be direct communication with academic advisors across campus about the features and benefits of their history offerings for students in other programs and majors.

These local perceptions of what is happening in history departments are vital to identifying important, larger questions that go beyond just numbers. Local awareness combined with broad-based data can help to reveal promising ways to reverse negative trends and suggest the best places to put limited resources to build on program strengths. The AHA will continue its efforts to support history enrollment by advocating publicly for the value of what students learn, communicating data and information about structural changes that impact history departments, and sharing successful models from individual departments.

Julia Brookins is the senior program analyst, teaching and learning, at the AHA.

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From Pizza Origins to Veterans’ Legacies and Art Forgeries, CAHSS Professor’s Eclectic Interests Bring History to Life

Susan dugan.

Professor Carol Helstosky speaking at “Final Roll Call” ceremony honoring veterans inurned at Fort Logan National Cemetery, April 17, 2024.

Exploring the Intersection of History and Food

A studious child and devoted public library fan whose eclectic interests ranged far and wide, first-generation History Professor Carol Helstosky attributes her lifelong fascination with the power of food to spending time in her father’s restaurant in Newington, Conn.

“I could see how food always meant something much more than just sustenance,” she said. “It was a way of celebrating family, caring for the community.”

After earning a degree in literary studies from Trinity College, Helstosky received a PhD in Modern European history from Rutgers University, where her interests turned to the World War I era and the rise of fascism in Italy, specifically the role food played.

“This was in the early 1990s and food history just wasn’t a thing,” she explained. “But in the late ‘90s more people became interested, and the field exploded in the 2000s.”

As a graduate student, Helstosky lived in Rome for a year and Florence for a year absorbing Italian culture. She later received the prestigious Rome Prize fellowship to study at the American Academy in Rome from 1999-2000.

Her dissertation “Garlic and Oil: Food and Politics in Modern Italy” later became her first book, focused on food policies set by the Italian government “and how food becomes political when there isn’t enough to go around,” she said.

The book led to writing “Pizza: A Global History,” described by Helstosky as “the most fun I’ve ever had doing research.”

She became an unwitting “go-to” expert on pizza history and still receives media inquiries such as “‘this guy claims he made the first Hawaiian pizza — is that true?’” she said, laughing. “As if I could determine that with any degree of accuracy.”

Helstosky subsequently penned the thematically related “Food Culture in the Mediterranean.”

Her most recent book, Italian Forgers , slated to publish in May 2024, concerns the unusual prevalence of forgeries in the Italian arts and antiquities market from the 1860s through the fascism era. She credits the CAHSS Dean’s Award for Excellence (DAFE) she received in 2016 with helping support her research.

Bridging Past, Present and Place

Following graduate school and working for a year as teaching assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Helstosky landed a job teaching Modern European history in the University of Denver’s College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (CAHSS) Department of History  in 1997. She currently teaches an entry-level class on World War I.

“It’s a very popular, fun class where students work in the library with the First World War Portal, a fantastic digital database that includes textual and visual sources including oral histories and three-dimensional objects.”

Her longstanding course on the rise of fascism in Italy followed by Germany has evolved to address rising fascist movements in our world today. She also continues to teach her class on food history.

The class relies on DU’s Special Collections & Archives which includes an enormous collection of culinary history and cookbooks, according to Helstosky. Students spend three weeks in the archives and pick a particular topic to research and write a paper on.

Bringing Veterans Legacies to Life

Helstosky’s courses related to the Veterans Legacy Program began as a hallway conversation with close History Department colleague Associate Professor Elizabeth Escobedo . They continue to spawn new partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) along with hands-on student research opportunities.

The director of the Veterans Legacy Program that commemorates the lives of veterans buried at national cemeteries invited the two professors to establish a research-based curriculum around veterans buried at Denver’s Fort Logan National Cemetery several years ago. They subsequently applied for and received a contract beginning in 2017 and expanded the program over the next three years under renewed contracts.

The two taught classes and sponsored students to research and write profiles on the lives of extraordinary veterans. The profiles addressed previously suppressed topics such as racism, women’s service and veterans missing in action who were relocated or inurned domestically. Students included photos of veterans, family members and artifacts to help humanize unsung individuals.

"Working with Carol on community-engaged projects surrounding the veteran community has been a highlight of my faculty career,” Escobedo said. “She goes above and beyond, to build relationships with local veterans and to create opportunities for students to work with veteran organizations to preserve their stories. These intergenerational interactions provide students with experiences they'll draw from long after they've graduated."

The two professors' efforts resulted in the website More than a Headstone , a collaboration between the Department of History, Fort Logan National Cemetery and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The most recent  Honors Burial Project   involved students in Helstosky’s “Issues in Comparative History” class helping VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) Local 1071 to research 27 veterans whose unclaimed, cremated remains were found in a local funeral home. Students recently met with members of the VVA to share what they discovered. Most of the unclaimed veterans had served in World War II, several had achieved high military ranks and one had been awarded a Purple Heart.

“With some very basic starting information, the students, under Carol's guidance, produced detailed biographies on all of these veterans,” said Bill Bridges, director, Honors Burial VVA Chapter 1071 . “This was a very complex project and Carol's leadership gave our ‘lost veterans’ an image and a way to be better remembered for their service to our country,” he said.

He added that “a few lines do not carry the impact that Carol has on those around her. She is highly committed to all projects that she works on and she has a special rapport with her students.”

Helstosky pointed out that “m ost of our students are not veterans but they might have friends or family members who served. This research enables them to better understand military service and the veteran experience.”

Former student Andres Osuna, a history and socio-legal studies major, said Helstosky encourages students to “get to the heart” of a veteran’s story. “People tend to think of veterans as more of an idea than actual people with real emotions, feelings and families,” he explained. “She pushed me to recognize more about the veteran’s personal history.”

Her advice enabled him to locate family members and create a fuller picture of who each veteran was. “Professor Helstosky recognizes the importance of acknowledging the humanity of all over reducing them to facts on a piece of paper,” Osuna added. “She inspired me to continue research where I can prioritize human experiences over information that can be recited from a textbook.”

Fellow student Bree Parsons, a history and political science major, admitted that she was “m ore uneducated than I knew about veterans and how diverse their experiences were. Professor Helstosky did a magnificent job displaying the complexity of a veteran's experience. This class showed me the intricacies of individual experiences that make history a discipline which is endlessly complex and fascinating.”

Inspiring Fellow First-Gen Students to Reach for Their Dreams

Helstosky’s year spent serving as the first official faculty director of the CAHSS  First Generation Mentoring Program  from 2021-22 also sprang from a conversation with Escobedo.

“I had read an editorial in “The Chronicle of Higher Ed” about a first-gen mentorship program and mentioned it to Liz,” Helstosky said. “She subsequently piloted a first-gen mentoring program in CAHSS in 2020 through 2022.”

The program provides CAHSS undergraduate first-gen students, faculty and alumni with mentors — many of whom are likewise first-gen — to help them achieve college and career success.

“Because I was a first-gen student, I understand imposter syndrome and how students might have self-doubts or lack confidence in their abilities,” Helstosky said. “I still enjoy advising them about how to fulfill certain requirements and reassuring them that if I could do this, they can, too.”

Escobedo has nothing but praise for Helstosky’s contributions. "She's whip smart and compassionate, a staunch advocate for students and faculty alike,” she said. “So many benefit from her wise counsel and mentorship."

Helstosky continues to derive pleasure from her diverse teaching roles. “I really love helping students find meaningful ways to engage with the past whether they’re looking up things on a database, interviewing a veteran family or taking on a thesis project,” she said.

She added that “Having the [unexpected] opportunity to serve the veteran community by engaging students deeply in meaningful research has been truly gratifying.”

Professor Carol Helstosky (center) and Associate Professor Elizabeth Escobedo (far right) with undergraduate students at “Final Roll Call” ceremony.

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IUN’s Class of 2024: Finding stability through education

CIS graduate Breyah Barnes sought a career of longevity by returning to school

A mother of two boys, working long hours, she wanted a career not just another job.

In the summer of 2021, Barnes began researching schools and she needed a solution to fit her demanding schedule. Indiana University Northwest became the obvious choice.

Barnes met with Candace Clark, an IU Northwest academic advisor, and informed Clark about the barriers she was facing. Clark assured Barnes IU Northwest could accommodate her schedule, and graduation would take place in the spring of 2025 if she stayed the course.

That timeline did not work for Barnes. She decided she decided she needed to graduate sooner.

“I buckled down,” she said. “I did not have much of a social life, I limited my contact with people.”

Thankfully, Breyah was able to transfer credits when she attended Ivy Tech Community College years earlier. Still, she had a way to go before earning her bachelor’s degree.

If Barnes was returning to school, she wanted a skill that would lead her future career in providing long-term stability for her and her family, so she chose Computer information systems (CIS) since she’s always had a knack with computers.

“I wanted to get into a field that would be lucrative, essential and with technology constantly changing I would always have job security,” Barnes said.

She continued working full-time as a case manager for the Indiana Department of Corrections during the week, commuting an hour to and from daily, in addition to her rigorous schedule. Barnes worked as a home-based caseworker at Infinity Counseling & Wellness Center while maintaining a spot on the Dean’s List throughout her academic career.

Many of her classes were online except for one of her final classes, which was on campus, but she was able to work with her professors so she could continue working while pursuing her degree.

“I’ve met and encountered some really good faculty and staff that have been really helpful in me obtaining my degree,” Barnes said. “All you must do is start. Figure the rest out along the way because those barriers and roadblocks can be worked out.”

See, Barnes has always enjoyed school. She enjoyed learning. Subjects like English and science came naturally.

It’s funny she ended up at IU Northwest because in high school she participated in what is now called the TRIO Upward Bound program, where students would visit a college campus for six weeks during the summer, earning credits toward a college degree. She went to IU Bloomington Upward Bound, thanking Marshall Chaifetz and Danielle Chapman for the opportunities.

But when Barnes had her first son, providing for him became her top priority. For years, she found her way until she decided she wanted more.

“Not finishing what I started was not an option,” she said, explaining how she was determined not to live paycheck to paycheck as many Americans do.

Barnes thanked her support system for helping her through the challenges she encountered along the way. Therapist, mentor and life coach Dr. Mashone Parker-Wright was a driving force for Barnes in this journey.

And Barnes’ academic journey is not done yet. In December 2023, she graduated with her bachelor’s. On May 13 – just five days after Commencement – Barnes will begin working toward her master’s degree in cybersecurity and risk management at IU Northwest with the hopes of working for the Federal Government in data analysis, computer forensics or as a Child exploitation analyst.

Was it easy? Of course not. Ideal? Probably not. However, Barnes was not going to let anything impede her ability to create stability for her family.

“I’m ecstatic,” she said. “A milestone has been met. Through everything, I persevered.

“The lesson in this is: I do not want my children to give up, which looks different for them both as they will they grow into their personalities. School is not for everyone and there are other means to be successful or make a living without a degree,” Barnes said, mentioning how her twin brother is a trucker and her youngest brother owns a barbershop in Dallas.

She added: “I’ve had coworkers, people ask me, ‘How do you do it, Barnes?’ You must be disciplined, focused. I do not have a partner or spouse that I can piggyback on. That is what drove me.”

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