The Ph.D. in history prepares students to teach and conduct research in American history and to understand it within an expanded global perspective. Students are required to integrate the major field with two minor fields, designed to add temporal, methodological, or geographical diversity to the major field. This broader intercontinental perspective enables students to explore themes such as the interaction of political, economic, and cultural systems, questions of race and ethnicity, and the transnational dimensions of national experience. This global perspective is encouraged by providing a selection of courses that are cross-national, comparative, and integrative in content and format.

Students are encouraged to enlarge their perspective by understanding and analyzing national history in broader, international contexts. This goal is facilitated in two ways: first, a close integration of the minors into the major area; second, a selection of courses that are cross-national and integrative in format.

In a setting of relatively small classes, individualized research projects, and frequent contact with faculty, students are trained in the arts of scholarly research and writing. No less is the emphasis placed on fostering teaching skills. Through a required teaching seminar, hands-on teaching experience, and careful mentoring, students are prepared for teaching in a college or university environment.

A total of 48-84 credit hours of course work and dissertation credit, including a minimum of 36-54 credits of course work beyond the M.A. in history and a minimum of 12 credits of dissertation credit, are required to complete the Ph.D. in history. Upon entering the program, all students will develop a Plan of Study with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.

For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit a writing sample and a personal statement to be considered for admission.

The submission of GRE scores is optional.

The Ph.D. program admits only a few highly-qualified students each year. To enroll in the program, students must first obtain a M.A. in History, as well as a B.A. in History or a closely-related field.

Degree Program Requirements

Required: 48-84 credit hours

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required Core Courses (18-36 credits)
HIS 701	Colloquium in American History before 1865	3
HIS 702	Colloquium in American History after 1865	3
HIS 714	Varieties of Teaching	3
HIS 716	Graduate Colloquium in World History	3
HIS 750	PhD Readings Course 1	3-12
HIS 751	PhD Dissertation Proposal Course 1	3-12
Electives in U.S. Major Field (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) of electives in a major field 2		6
Electives in Minor Field (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) of electives in a minor field 2		6
Electives in Non-U.S. Minor Field (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) in a non-U.S. minor field 2		6
Research and Historiography (0-6 credits)
Complete up to 6 credits of additional research 3		0-6
Dissertation (12-24 credits)
HIS 799	Dissertation	12-24
Total Credit Hours		48-84

¹

Students may repeat HIS 750 and HIS 751 as needed up to a maximum of 12 credit each with approval of their advisory/dissertation committee and the Graduate Program Director.

²

As described in the Major Field and Minor Fields sections below.

³

If not taken at the M.A. level or equivalent.

Research and Historiography

If the Graduate Program Director should conclude that an admitted Ph.D. candidate did not perform at least 6 credits of substantive research during the M.A. degree program or earned an M.A. in an area of history other than U.S. history, then the student will be required to complete up to 6 credits of additional research. These additional research credits will ordinarily include HIS 703 M.A. Research Project I and HIS 709 Introductory Research Seminar .

Electives in U.S. Major Field

In addition to the core requirements, students must complete 6 credits of HIS graduate courses in their major field. HIS 692 Advanced Topics in History may not be counted for Ph.D. credit. Consult with the Graduate Program Director for course offerings.

Electives in Minor Fields

With the approval of the student's advisory/dissertation committee and the Graduate Program Director, doctoral students will choose and define two minor fields. Each minor field will consist of 6 credits of HIS graduate courses. Where appropriate, and with the permission of the Doctoral Advisory/Dissertation Committee and Graduate Program Director, students may take a maximum of one course (3 credits) at the 600-level or above outside the Department of History as part of their minor fields. All course work applied toward the minors must be approved by the Graduate Program Director and listed on the student's Plan of Study.

• Minor Field. The minor field must demonstrate temporal, methodological, or geographical diversity from the major field. Students may select a minor field from:
  • either of the two major fields (pre-1865 U.S. History or post-1865 U.S. History), or
  • the list of specified minor fields, or
  • a self-defined minor field with the permission of their main advisor, minor field advisors, and the Graduate Program Director.
• Non-U.S. Minor Field. Students may select the non-U.S. minor field from:
  • the list of specified minor fields, or
  • a self-defined minor field that demonstrates geographical diversity from the major field with the permission of their main advisor, minor field advisors, and the Graduate Program Director.

Minor Fields List

• Public History
• American South
• American Indian
• Russia/Soviet Union
• Modern European History
• Medieval European History
• Intellectual History
• Borderlands
• Historical Memory
• Modern Britain, Ireland, British Empire
• Modern Germany
• East/Southeast Asia
• Atlantic World
• Urban History
• Cold War
• Environment and Landscape
• African American History
• Race
• Human Rights and Social Justice
• Slavery
• Migration Studies
• Women, Gender, and Sexuality
• Transnational
• Social Movements

Faculty Mentor

A mentor must be named after 9 credits of course work. Normally, the mentor will be the graduate faculty member in the Department whose research and teaching interests most closely correspond to those of the student. Prospective mentors must agree to serve on the committee. Mentors will be responsible for the pedagogical, scholarly, and professional development of their students during their program of study, will chair their Doctoral Advisory/Dissertation Advisory Committee, and will direct the student’s dissertation.

Permission to Proceed and Grade Point Average (GPA)

All students in the Ph.D. program must obtain “permission to proceed” at the end of their first year of courses (normally 18 credits). This permission is granted by a collective decision of the Doctoral Advisory/Dissertation Committee and the departmental Graduate Committee.

Students must maintain a 3.5 GPA to proceed to the writing of the dissertation.

Required Milestones*

• Residency (Immersion)
• Plan of Study
• Foreign Language Requirement
• Comprehensive Exam (Written & Oral)
• Dissertation Proposal
• Admission to Candidacy
• Dissertation Defense
• Filing the Final Approved Dissertation

*

General information about milestones for doctoral programs is available in Section III of the Graduate Policies page in the University Catalog. For information about how milestones are accomplished for a specific program, please refer to the doctoral program's handbook.