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Exchange programs, phd exchange program with sciences po.

Apply to be nominated for academic-year exchange to conduct PhD research at Sciences Po in Paris. February 1:  Deadline for PhD Students to email application materials to DGS.

Each year GSAS exchanges one PhD student with   Sciences Po in Paris , Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques et l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques. History, Political Science, and Sociology Departments participate in the exchange.

GSAS invites eligible PhD students from these three Departments to apply by February 1 to be nominated by their Department to spend the following academic year (October through June) at Sciences Po in Paris. Students are eligible if they:

• have completed all requirements for the MPhil
• have a dissertation topic that would benefit from a year of research in Paris
• have received departmental approval of the PhD dissertation proposal
• are not beyond year 6 in the program
• are a multi-year student who will be on a dissertation fellowship during the exchange year
• have good written and oral French skills

Students must email the following documents to their DGS by the deadline to be considered for the nomination by the deadline:

• a Curriculum Vitae in French or English
• a statement of purpose in French or English explaining why the student wishes to pursue their PhD research at Sciences Po
• a summary of their research project in French or in English
• a letter of academic recommendation from their PhD Faculty Sponsor

The Director of Graduate Studies emails the nomination materials to   GSAS Associate Dean Terrien   by February 15.  GSAS chooses one applicant and forwards the nomination to Sciences Po.

Description of Exchange for GSAS Students

One Columbia PhD student on a dissertation fellowship travels to Sciences Po in Paris for the academic year (October through January). NOTE: This award is substitutional for the dissertation year fellowship the GSAS exchange student to Sciences Po would receive if they remained in New York.

Upon approval by GSAS and Sciences Po each spring, the Columbia PhD student is promised from Sciences Po free tuition and a stipend in Euros comparable to the amount that Columbia would have awarded for the academic year 2007-08.  Columbia will pay health insurance so that the student is covered in the U.S. (in case the student travels to the U.S. during the year) and the student is required to carry approximately $200 French health insurance in Paris.

In Paris, the GSAS exchange student is assigned a faculty adviser and invited to participate in a Sciences Po seminar designed specifically to socialize international students. In the seminar students share their doctoral research with faculty and students.  The student has access to all research services and other Sciences Po benefits and may be considered eligible to apply to teach a topic seminar on their dissertation topic in English for an adjunct salary in addition to the stipend.

Ph.D. Student Exchange at the London School of Economics

To offer Ph.D. students additional research resources (archival and advisory) and to introduce students to the academic culture, professional contacts and employment opportunities in the UK.

The exchange offers Columbia PhD students in year 3-6 an opportunityto work with LSE  faculty,conduct research in nearby archives and libraries, and attend conferences and workshops both within the School and elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

Duration of each exchange

Each exchange will be for a minimum of one 10-week LSE term or a maximum of one academic year.

Application procedures

The Columbia-LSE Joint Teaching Committee is responsible for administering the exchange, including accepting applications. The deadline for the fall semester, or the full academic year, is April 30. If you wish to spend the spring semester in London the deadline is August 31.

For Columbia students going to LSE

Columbia students should submit to the MA committee chair (see below) a dossier containing the following materials:

§  A one-page single-spaced statement of academic purpose explaining their research interests, why a visit to LSE would benefit them, and what they intend to do there, including which scholar/s at LSE they hope to work with. This statement should make clear the preferred length of the visit – a minimum of one ten-week term, or a maximum of one academic year.

• A letter of support from a Columbia advisor.
• A note from the prospective LSE academic advisor(s) confirming that they will be able to assume this role at the time of the student´s visit.
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
• Visa status, country of citizenship, place of and date of birth
• A letter demonstrating that the student has sufficient funds to live on during the time on the exchange.
• A completed LSE Graduate Application form (which can be downloaded from the LSE web site:  https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Graduate/Prospective-students/How-to-Apply

MA Committee Chair:

Professor Marwa Elshakry, [email protected]

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• In the Shadow of the Tree: The Diagrammatics of Relatedness as Scientific, Scholarly and Popular Practice
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• Culture at the Macro-Scale: Boundaries, Barriers and Endogenous Change
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• FlyBase: Communicating Drosophila Genetics on Paper and Online, 1970–2000
• The Lost Museums of Cambridge Science, 1865–1936
• From Hansa to Lufthansa: Transportation Technologies and the Mobility of Knowledge in Germanic Lands and Beyond, 1300–2018
• Medical Publishers, Obscenity Law and the Business of Sexual Knowledge in Victorian Britain
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PhD in History and Philosophy of Science

• MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine

Students in history and philosophy of science and medicine write substantial, focused and independent theses that shape scholarship and engage audiences in many different ways. Contributing to the development of knowledge in the University of Cambridge is a rich and rewarding experience.

Expert guidance

The outstanding international reputation of our teaching staff is a key attraction.

PhD students work closely with a doctoral supervisor and advisor (usually both from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science but sometimes from other departments in the University). With the benefit of this expert guidance, students learn how to articulate, develop and present their own research. Students meet their supervisor and advisor several times a term to discuss an outline, consider research findings or go over a chapter. Consistent review and attentive feedback are integral to the supervisory relationship.

Applicants often find it helpful to contact a potential supervisor before submitting their application.

A thriving research community

Our research community offers invaluable academic and social perspectives.

With around 45 doctoral students, a strong cohort of MPhil and Part III students, postdoctoral researchers and teaching officers, the Department fosters an exceptionally active intellectual life. Thriving seminars, reading groups and workshops provide a focus, allowing students to help set the agenda and present their own work among peers. Students are supported throughout their studies, with close attention paid to methodological development, research skills and career advice.

The Department's Whipple Library is an unparalleled specialist collection for history and philosophy of science and medicine, while other libraries in Cambridge provide access to archival and documentary resources invaluable for research on the sciences. At the heart of the Department is the Whipple Museum , a world-class collection of scientific instruments and models; some students research these objects.

Valuable teaching experience

Cambridge offers PhD students unusually valuable teaching experience through the chance to give supervisions (tutorials) for undergraduates taking History and Philosophy of Science courses. PhD students are paid by the Colleges for this service. The University and the Department provide training in supervising undergraduates.

More about the PhD

• Requirements

For current PhD students

• PhD students' guide

Main image: Crocodile carving by Eric Gill on the Mond Building, where there is work space for HPS PhD students

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PhD Graduate Field in History of Science

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History of science students at Berkeley can be found in several departments, including history, art history, English, and philosophy. The Department of History offers a graduate field (MA/PhD) in the history of science. Graduate students in the history of science at Berkeley enjoy a kind of dual citizenship: not only are they enrolled in a top-ranked doctoral program, but they also have full access to the resources available in the Office for History of Science and Technology (OHST) and the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, & Society (CSTMS).

At Berkeley, students learn to see the practice of science as related to its cultural, intellectual, and historical context. The paired resources of OHST and the departmental doctoral program provide PhD students with a strong grounding in both the special field of the history of science and the larger discipline into which it fits.

Completion of the PhD generally takes five to seven years, and upon graduation students have gone on to teach (at institutions including Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, and UC Berkeley, among many others), while others have chosen other career tracks — including careers as museum scientists, archivists, science education specialists, or even stockbrokers and software engineers. Faculty members’ research foci are described here . History of science is always interested in students with research interests outside of these areas, though, so prospective students should not be discouraged if their interests do not completely overlap with those of the faculty members. In recent years, graduate students have worked in areas as diverse as the history of modern computing, medicine in colonial Cambodia, and the creation of European scientific horticulture.

OHST and CSTMS provides graduate students with access to a wide range of professional and community resources. Through our colloquium series, production of the journal Historical studies in the physical and biological sciences , and participation in the International Summer School in History of Science, graduate students are exposed to current work in all areas of the history of science. In addition, OHST maintains a close relationship with history of science programs at other local universities, including Stanford and UC Davis, and the program in History of Health Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.

If you have questions about the graduate offerings in history of science at Berkeley, or would like to arrange a visit to OHST, please contact us by calling 510-642-4581 or emailing Davinder Sidhu at [email protected] . If you are interested in applying to the History Department’s graduate program, contact the department for application materials and information.

Applying for Financial Support

For current Graduate Field students, grants are available for History of Science-related conferences and fieldwork. Application deadlines are once per year, May 1st. Please see the  guidelines  for more information.

Intellectual Community

CSTMS Colloquia

The CSTMS Colloquium is a seminar series of invited lectures held approximately every other Thursday from 4-6pm in 470 Stephens Hall during each semester.  They are often sponsored by research units within CSTMS, and occasionally co-sponsored by other units at Berkeley and other UC campuses. The colloquia help countervail the tendency in academic work toward social isolation and excessive specialization, and are aimed at fostering a sense of intellectual community among a group of talented young and established scholars.

The colloquia are an integral part of your intellectual life and professional development here at Berkeley. Students in their first two years are expected to attend, and advanced students, visitors, and others are warmly encouraged to. The current colloquium schedule is available under Events .

OHST Working Group

The CSTMS community also organizes a weekly OHST Working Group for its local community and visiting scholars. These meetings provide an informal forum for discussing developments in History of Science and in Science and Technology Studies, as well as your ideas, interests, and intellectual conundrums.

Science, Technology, and Society Center

The Science, Technology, and Society Center (STSC) is another part of CSTMS, and promotes research and discussion of STS issues at Berkeley. History of science students often find its offerings helpful. It also sponsors a working group in Science & Technology Studies.

Doreen B. Townsend Center

Located in 220 Stephens Hall, the Townsend Center for the Humanities sponsors interdisciplinary activities (speakers, seminars, conferences, etc.) in the humanities and social studies, including science and technology related topics. It supports many working groups for students and faculty.

Other California doctoral programs

Berkeley has an agreement for cross-registration with other University of California campuses and Stanford University. Notices of special lectures and seminar series are regularly circulated. In particular, the Program in History of Health Sciences at UC San Francisco, across the Bay Bridge, coordinates closely with Berkeley’s history of science program.

Visiting scholars

In addition to our graduate students and faculty, OHST hosts a number of visiting academics from around the world. They stay with us for as little as a week, and sometimes as long as two or more years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i apply to the history of science program.

The Office for History of Science and Technology does not grant degrees directly. Most students intending to study the history of science at Berkeley apply to the History Department’s MA/PhD program and choose History of Science as their field of concentration.

If I apply to the Berkeley History Department, how is the history of science program structured?

Berkeley history students take courses in two fields of study in the History Department, typically history of science and a geographical/chronological field (e.g., U.S., early modern Europe, East Asia – Japan). They also study a third, “outside” field in another department. This can be a science, a humanities/social science discipline, a professional field (such as public policy), or any other course of study offered at Berkeley. The outside field allows them to gain an interdisciplinary perspective.

If I am in another department, how can I draw on the resources of history of science?

All Berkeley doctoral programs require you to make contacts outside your home department. You can choose history for your “outside” field and work with a professor in the history of science. You can take courses, prepare an oral examination field, and have a historian of science on your dissertation committee.

At Berkeley, I would get a PhD in, say, History, rather than the PhD in History of Science offered by some other universities. Does this matter?

In some ways yes, in some ways no. Berkeley graduates are trained in their larger discipline as well as history of science. This gives them access to wider intellectual circles. After graduation, the strength of their home department (at Berkeley, typically one of the top-ranked programs in the nation) also helps them in their job search. The History degree has never disadvantaged our students in the history of science field.

I want to study a topic which doesn’t correspond perfectly to a specific professor’s area of expertise. Is this a problem?

No, professors welcome students with interests different from their own. However, if your topic is widely distant from current faculty strengths — in chronological, geographical, or disciplinary terms — you may need more information to make a decision. When in doubt, just e-mail the professor with your question.

Is it possible to study the history of science if I don’t have a background in history?

Yes. About half our graduate students come from science, philosophy, or other backgrounds. There is time during your coursework to fill in gaps in your preparation. In composing your application, address your background directly. A persuasive statement of purpose and relevant writing sample will help your application.

What are Berkeley’s other attractions?

Besides a scenic setting, fantastic cultural and recreational opportunities, and exceptional weather? UC Berkeley is known for academic strength across the board. At Berkeley you can study more foreign languages than anywhere else in the country, take courses in an exceptional number of top-ranked graduate and professional programs, and encounter an amazing diversity of scholars. For more information, ask us to put you in contact with our current students , or e-mail them directly.

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History and Philosophy of Science, PHD

On this page:, at a glance: program details.

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD History and Philosophy of Science

The history and philosophy of science is an interdisciplinary field that traces its origin to foundational works such as Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." The field is based on the idea that the best way to understand science is to study how it changes over time, along with careful analysis of its concepts and fundamental principles.

The PhD program in history and philosophy of science combines training in the core areas of history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies of the sciences, including:

• computational history and philosophy of science
• foundations of evolutionary theory
• general philosophy of science and epistemology
• history and philosophy of applied ethics and science policy
• history of 19th and 20th century biology

The program is especially appropriate for students with an undergraduate or master's degree in philosophy, history, or the sciences and for those who seek to broaden their disciplinary studies. Science students who have not taken relevant undergraduate humanistic core courses can make up these courses during their first years in the program.

Program Faculty PhD Students

Courses and electives

Some options for elective study, listed by focus, history of science (6 credit hours).

• BIO 591 Embryo Project
• BIO 591 Embryo Project Editing
• BIO 598 Big Data in Context: Ethics, Policy, History and Philosophy
• HPS 598 Advanced History of Science

Philosophy of science (6 credit hours)

• BIO 598 Advanced Philosophy of Science
• BIO/HPS/PHI 598 Philosophy of Biology and Medicine Advanced

History of philosophy (3 credit hours)

• HPS 591 Carnap and Quine
• PHI 581 Studies in Ancient Greek Philosophy

Value theory (3 credit hours)

• BIO 516 Foundations of Bioethics
• BIO 527 Environmental Ethics and Policy Goals
• BIO 598 Advanced Bioethics
• BIO 598 Big Data in Context: Ethics, Policy, History and Philosophy 
• BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences
• BIO 611 Current Topics in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences
• PHI 521 Bioethics
• PHI 591 Human Well-Being and Sustainability
• POP 633 Population Health Ethics

Advanced logic or other advanced methods (3 credit hours)

• BIO 532 Recent Papers in Discipline-Based Education Research
• BIO 591 ESSA Reading and Reflection
• BIO 591 Innovations of Conservation Lab
• BIO 591 Papers in Inclusive Teaching in College
• BIO 598 Biology Education Research
• BIO 598 STS Reading Group
• BIO 791 Science Education Research Seminar
• HSD 601 HSD I: Human Dimensions of Science and Technology
• PHI 570 Higher Order Modal Logic

Approved courses in philosophy, history or life sciences (9 credit hours)

These courses provide expertise in your individual research area. Any courses offered under one of the prefixes BIO, ELS, EVO, HPS, MCB, MIC, and PLB, or any courses taught by biology and society graduate faculty members fulfill the requirement.

Application and admission information

How to apply.

Applications open September 1 for admission in Fall of the following year. The application deadline is December 1. We accept applications for Fall semesters only. We cannot guarantee that applications received after the December 1 deadline will be considered for admission.

All applicants must apply by filling out ASU's Graduate Admissions application. All application materials must be submitted through the application or to Graduate Admissions directly. Please do not mail or email any documents to the School of Life Sciences. 

Required materials and information include the following:

• 1-2 page personal statement
• An up to date CV or resume
• Writing sample
• The names of relevant SOLS faculty you have been in touch with who you might be interested in being supervised by
• Unofficial transcripts and English proficiency test scores (if applicable)
• The names and emails of at least 3 recommenders to write you letters of recommendation

Application review process and timeline

Following the December 1 deadline, faculty will begin reviewing applications. Applicants should monitor their My ASU priority tasks to ensure there are no missing materials in their application.

Faculty will decide which applicants they would like to invite to our Graduate Recruitment Weekends (GRWs), typically held in February. Applicants will hear from the School of Life Sciences in January if they are invited to participate in the GRWs.

Admission decisions will begin after the GRWs, and applicants typically receive final decisions by April 1.

Requirements

Minimum requirements for admission include the following:

• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• There are other ways to demonstrate English proficiency beyond the tests, so please refer to ASU's English proficiency webpage to review how you might satisfy requirements.

Desired qualifications typically seen in competitive candidates:

• Research experience and a letter of recommendation from a faculty research supervisor
• English proficiency scores that meet these teaching assistant language proficiency requirements

Please note that the GRE is not required.

Students offered admission to a PhD program in the School of Life Sciences will typically receive a funding offer as well. While individual funding offers may differ to some degree, they typically include teaching assistant and/or research assistant positions each semester (summer optional) for 5 years. These positions provide financial coverage through the following:

• A standard salary stipend paid biweekly
• Tuition remission covering enrollment in 6-18 credit hours for fall and spring semesters and 1-14 credit hours for summer semesters
• Health insurance coverage

To discover more, check out the ASU Graduate College's funding opportunities !

Degree Requirements

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (6 credit hours) HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab (3) HPS 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3)

Restricted Program Electives (30 credit hours)

Program Electives (24 credit hours)

Research (12 credit hours) HPS 792 Research (12)

Dissertation (12 credit hours) HPS 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information An individual student program is developed in consultation with the student's advisor and committee.

HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab is a one-credit-hour course focused on student presentations of works in progress. Students must register for it three times during their graduate study.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of recognized standing in a related field such as history, philosophy, or history and philosophy of science, as well as a demonstrated background and interest in one or more sciences.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• academic record form
• personal statement
• curriculum vitae or resume
• writing sample
• three letters of recommendation
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, learning outcomes.

• Able to articulate an understanding of current literature on scientific developments and their relevance to society in scholarly writing.
• Able to communicate history and philosophy of science research results in presentations.
• Able to contribute to original history and philosophy of science research in scholarly writing.

Career Opportunities

A doctorate in history and philosophy of science provides strong preparation for academic careers at every level from community colleges to research universities, including research, teaching and administration, and science communication. The skills and knowledge obtained in this program are also valuable for government careers in federal and state agencies responsible for management and conservation, and for careers in industry and nongovernmental organizations.

Career examples include:

• food, agriculture and health care scientists in academic, private and industrial labs
• principal investigators and policymakers in government labs and nonprofit organizations
• professors or instructors in universities and colleges
• science teachers in elementary and high schools
• wildlife, animal and conservation scientists

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-1768

Home > Women Spies in World War II: Uncovering History

Women Spies in World War II: Uncovering History

Each year, the French Association for the Development of Women’s and Gender History awards the Mnemosyne Award to a master's thesis. Louise Francezon, a recent graduate in History from the Sciences Po School of Research , has just won the 2022 edition. She tells us more about her master’s thesis on the “virago”, analysed through the lens of the Second World War spy.

What led you towards research in history?

I always wanted to orient my career towards history, but without really considering research before my first years at university. It was during my undergraduate studies that I discovered the possibilities offered by this discipline and the intellectual stimulation research offers. Finding my way into research gave me the freedom to explore issues that interest me most , for example working on groups who were underrepresented in the historical narratives. 

As for my attraction to history as a discipline, I have always been curious about societies of the past. They allow us to access a wide range of experiences and new ways of thinking , ones we often would not have imagined. It is very stimulating!

What was your Master's thesis about?

I worked on women intelligence officers during World War II , studying in particular the contingents of two units: one was French, the Bureau central de renseignements et d'action (BCRA) [in English: Central Bureau of Intelligence and Action], the other was English, the Special Operations Executive (SOE). I looked at the gender issues these women raised by interfering in a traditionally male-reserved environment. Also, I reflected on the contemporary gender discourses about these women newly introduced into the army.

At this point, I noticed the significance of the word “virago” – or “masculine woman” – in the debates of the era, this figure emerged as a major issue. Therefore, I tried to re-read the history of these intelligence agents in the light of their potential masculinisation. My thesis focuses on the gender transfers that took place during these women’s military training or during their immersion in the military, but also in the discourses that sought to represent them.

Why did you choose this particular topic?

I wanted to work on women serving in the army during wartime in order to better understand the gender issues at stake in the military . During my undergraduate studies I had discovered the career of Noor Inayat Khan, a British agent engaged in the English intelligence services. It piqued my curiosity! By digging a little bit deeper, I quickly identified more names and wanted to study these women beyond a military history perspective. This topic also allowed me to (re)visibilize the work of these women intelligence agents.

Could you tell us more about the Mnemosyne award?

The Mnemosyne Award is given each year by the French Association for the Development of Women’s and Gender History, which brings together researchers who do tremendous work to promote these fields of historical research . For example, the association has developed a very interesting podcast called  Du genre dans l’histoire . It is also managing the  Genre et Histoire  research journal.

What’s next?

I am pursuing my research through a Ph.D. thesis. I started last September and still work on the relationship between women, gender and war, but this time through the history of women photographers in times of war.

LEARN MORE:

• The Master’s in History at the Sciences Po School of Research
• The Department of History at Sciences Po
• Sciences Po’s Gender Studies Programme - PRESAGE
• Mnemosyne Association for the Development of Women’s and Gender History (FR)
• Louise Francezon's Master's thesis (FR), carried out under the supervision of Elissa Mailänder, an Associate Professor at the Sciences Po Centre for History (CHSP)
• Louise Francezon's Ph.D. thesis project (FR), Women war photographers: female experiences and productions in times of conflict (1939-2014) , conducted under the direction of Fabrice Virgili within University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

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PhD studies

It is possible to continue studying with a PhD at Sciences Po Lyon after the 5th year.

Sciences Po Lyon is responsible for the academic and administrative management of the PhD in political science bringing together Lyon 2 and Lyon 3 Universities, Jean-Monnet Saint-Étienne University and the École Nationale Supérieure.

International students can apply for a PhD in political science (or in any of the other disciplines taught at Sciences Po Lyon, notably economics, law, history, information and communication) and be supervised by a member of teaching staff from Sciences Po Lyon or any other of the institutes within the group.

They can also apply for doctoral contracts (a three-year funding for a PhD), which are awarded each year by the corresponding Doctoral School board.

Theses can be drafted in French or in a foreign language (notably English) in accordance with terms and conditions set forth by the Doctoral School. Jointly supervised theses are possible with foreign institutes. These are jointly managed on each site.

History of Science and Technology, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences.

The graduate program in the history of science and technology leads to the Ph.D. degree.  The object of the Ph.D. program is to provide the rigorous training necessary for a scholarly career in teaching and research; consequently, the focus of the student’s activity will be the research seminars of the department. Faculty from the Institute of the History of Medicine in the School of Medicine also participate in the program.

The Eisenhower Library and the Welch Medical Library contain about two million volumes, including the special collections of the Institute of the History of Medicine in Baltimore. These research facilities are supplemented by the rare book holdings at Evergreen House, the Pratt Library, and the Peabody Library.

Other important research collections are available to students. In Philadelphia, collections include the Science History Institute, the American Philosophical Society, and the Academy of Natural Sciences. The Hagley Museum and Library’s collections in the history of American science and technology are within easy distance of campus, as are the incomparable holdings of the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the National Library of Medicine, and other governmental agencies in Washington, D.C.

Financial Aid

The department has several graduate fellowships and teaching assistantships. Students may also be eligible for federal financial support through the National Science Foundation. Information on these and other fellowships can be obtained through the fellowship advisor at the student’s college, or from the Fellowship Office of the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Washington, D.C. 20025. In the recent past, doctoral candidates have also won support for their research in the United States and abroad through such sources as the Smithsonian Fellowships, the Fulbright-Hays grants, the Spencer Foundation, Consortium for History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Fellowship.

Admission Requirements

Application deadline is January 15. Applicants to the Ph.D. program in the History of Science and Technology should upload and submit all required application materials and supporting documents through the online application system.  For additional information on admission requirements, please visit our admissions website . 

For further information on our faculty and programs, please visit our website at: http://host.jhu.edu .

Program Requirements

Before candidates begin full-time research on their dissertations, they must prepare themselves adequately in the appropriate fields of knowledge, become skilled in the techniques of historical research, and be able to carry out a sustained piece of historical analysis and writing.

In the first year of the program students are introduced to the methods and techniques of research and complete a year-long survey course in the history of science or the history of medicine. Students in their second year of study present a research paper to the department. In the second and third years of study, students complete three “fields” or concentrations. One field must be within the Department, one outside the department generally in a historical discipline, and the third is negotiable depending on student interests and needs. Our students have also done historical fields with curators or research historians at the Smithsonian Institution. The third field can extend beyond historical subjects and may involve a scientific subject, for example. A field is intended to demonstrate a student's mastery of a specific body of knowledge, both for the student's own scholarly work and as a preparation for teaching. The fields are individually arranged and satisfied. Before being admitted for formal candidacy for the degree, the student must also demonstrate a reading knowledge of two foreign languages.  If a student’s native language, excluding English, is research related, the native language may fulfil a language requirement.  Students are expected to submit a dissertation prospectus by the end of the summer after their third year.  The final requirement for the Ph.D. degree is the completion of a dissertation that is an original contribution to historical knowledge and of a standard suitable for publication.

The History of Science and Technology is by its nature interdisciplinary, and students are encouraged to undertake study in related areas such as history, philosophy, and the natural and medical sciences.