Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degree awarded to historians.
A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is the highest degree awarded to history students. The field is very competitive and schools with history Ph.D. programs compete every year to make it to the top of "U.S. News & World Report's" list of the top history graduate programs. Schools are ranked by anonymous participants who grade academic programs on a scale from one to five. This year, four universities tied for the top spot, with an average score of 4.8.
Princeton
The Princeton University Department of History offers a five-year history Ph.D. program called "Path to Ph.D." During the first two years at Princeton, students take all the required coursework in history and foreign languages. Depending on their field areas, students must take classes in either Spanish, French, or German. At the end of the second year, students must pass a general examination before dedicating the last three years to researching and writing their dissertations. This includes a take-home exam and a two-hour discussion with faculty members.
Princeton University Department of History
129 Dickinson Hall
Princeton, NJ 08544
609-258-4159
princeton.edu
Stanford
Before beginning the course, Stanford University history Ph.D. students must select a field of study. Some of the field options are history of science, medicine and technology, the United States, the Middle East and Latin America. Once they select the field of study, students are expected to complete all coursework within the first two years of the program. At the end of each year, the students' progress is reviewed for recommendation of advancement in the program. After the first two years, students spend the next two to four years researching and writing their dissertations.
Stanford University Department of History
450 Serra Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
650-723-4291
history.stanford.edu
University of California-Berkeley
History Ph.D. students at the University of California-Berkeley must chose two fields of study, and have four options, to complete their Ph.D. studies. They can either choose primary and secondary pre-approved fields, one primary pre-approved field and one secondary field with a restricted theme, a primary pre-approved field and a secondary topic of interest within that field or two fields with equal emphasis. Pre-approved history fields include African history, southeast Asian history and ancient Greek and Roman history. Students are expected to complete their general courses within three years. The remaining two years are divided between dissertation research and writing.
University of California-Berkeley Department of History
3229 Dwinelle Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-642-2378
history.berkeley.edu
Yale University
Yale University Department of History offers a five-year history Ph.D. program. During the first year, students are expected to complete most of their course work, including foreign language requirements based on their fields of study. During the second year, students participate in two graduate seminars and finish any remaining coursework. Dissertation discussions usually begin in the third year when students present prospective dissertation ideas to faculty members. They also take a general oral examination during the third year of study. The fourth and fifth years are dedicated to researching, writing, and presenting the student's dissertation. Students who do not present their dissertations before their seventh year will need to apply for extended registration in order to continue with the program.
Yale University Department of History
PO Box 208324
New Haven, CT 06520
203-432-1366
yale.edu
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