university of york phd in history

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

PhD History

University of york, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Course type.

Our PhD programme is aimed at students who have already completed a Master’s degree in History or a related field.

The PhD requires a dissertation of up to 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study (or six years for part-time students), with a further one year allowable for writing up.

PhD by Distance Learning

The PhD by Distance Learning requires a dissertation of up to 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study (or six years for part-time students), with a further one year allowable for writing up. Students on this programme are required to attend a 5-day induction programme at the beginning of their first year and to visit York in their second and third years (or every other year for part-time students).

Research support

Alongside regular meetings with their supervisor, all research students have a Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP), consisting of at least one member of staff in addition to the supervisor, which meets twice a year and oversees more general professional development and career training.

Additionally, all students receive introductions to the University Library, the Borthwick Institute, and other libraries, archives and research facilities in York and elsewhere.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

We welcome applications from both home and international students who wish to pursue postgraduate study in History. Candidates should normally have, or be expected to obtain, a good honours degree or its equivalent in an appropriate subject at undergraduate level. Doctoral candidates are also expected to have completed or be pursuing a Master's course.

PGCE Secondary: History

University of roehampton, soas university of london, mphil in history, phd in history, ma history of art and architecture of the islamic middle east.

Graduate Admissions

The Graduate Program in History fosters intensive examination of historical questions using a variety of approaches. These include gender, transnational and comparative, economic, political, cultural and social history.

Long known for its strength in Canadian history, the program also has expertise in British, Caribbean, European, Latin American, U.S., and East Asian history, the history of Africa and the African diaspora and the history of the Greco-Roman world. Thematic fields include immigration, Indigenous and environmental history. The program offers courses and supervision in ancient, medieval, early modern and modern history. It also has strong links with many of York’s organized research units, such as the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas, the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, and the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean.

The faculty of York’s Graduate Program in History are leading scholars who have won major prizes for their research and publications. View the complete listing of  our faculty .

In the Graduate Program in History you will join a lively community of students and have the opportunity to participate in various student-led activities:  The Historian’s Craft , a series of talks by leading historians; the annual  New Frontiers in History  graduate history conference; the editorial committee of the journal  Left History ; as well as in regular social events organized by the Graduate History Student Association.

Quick Links

Stream and specializations.

• Program Details

Additional Admission Requirements

• Your Resources
• Program Page
• Request More Information

You'll have the opportunity to combine studies in different fields:

• Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America
• Ancient history
• United States
• Migration/Ethnicity
• Politics/Law and the state
• Sciences, health and environments
• Social and economic history
• Women, gender and sexualities
• Transnational, comparative and global history

Degrees Offered

Program length (full-time), program component(s).

• Major research paper

Minimum Required GPA

Deadline - fall (all applicants), english proficiency requirement.

Duolingo scores are accepted for Summer 2021, Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 entry only.

• Comprehensive examination(s)
• AND Dissertation

Number of Recommendation(s)

• 3 recommendation(s)

Other Requirements

• Include instructors’ names along with list of courses taken
• Statement of Interest
• Sample of your written work
• PhD: resumé or CV required

Ways to connect with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Program Supports

Have a program-related question.

Contact the graduate program assistant: yorku.ca/gradstudies/program-contacts/

Have an admission related question? Contact the Graduate Admissions Team

By phone: 416-872-9675

By email:   [email protected]

Upcoming graduate webinars/in-person events for Future Students: futurestudents.yorku.ca/events/graduate

York University Office of Admissions Bennett Centre for Student Services 99 Ian Macdonald Blvd Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 CANADA 

Connect with York University

Department of History of Art

University | A to Z | Departments

• History of Art
• Postgraduate Study

PhD in History of Art

• York Art History Collaborations
• Undergraduate Study
• Postgraduate funding
• Partnerships
• Meet our students!
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Student Activities
• For current students
• For incoming Visiting students
• Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Ethics for Art Historians
• Employability and Professional Development
• News and events
• Information for Chinese applicants
• Contact and find us

Potential Supervisors

About the phd programme.

The PhD requires a dissertation of not more than 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study, by part-time students after six years of study.

PhD by Distance Learning

As with our York-based PhD programme, our Distance Learning PhD requires a dissertation of not more than 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study, by part-time students after six years of study.

This programme is ideal for students with commitments which prevent them from being resident within reasonable travelling distance of York. While a minimum of two weeks of attendance per academic year is required (for registration, training, meetings with the thesis advisory panel and the annual PhD conference), this programme allows students to research overseas while still receiving support and training online and by video-conferencing.  Access to an internet connection and relevant library and/or archives is essential for this programme.

Current research students We have more than 70 research students in the Department of History of Art studying a wide variety of topics: Research students

We welcome students from all backgrounds, with a great range of intellectual interests: students who seek an academic career, and those who require a further professional qualification; applicants who wish to extend their art-historical interests while pursuing other kinds of employment; and those who are seeking to develop an academic interest in their retirement.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a good 2.1 or 1st-class undergraduate degree, or equivalent; applicants for the PhD should also have or be currently completing an MA degree, and we normally require an MA dissertation mark, where one is awarded, of at least 65 or equivalent (where 50 is a bare pass and 70 or above is a distinction).

Exceptions can be made for applicants with an unusual career profile, but who have substantial related experience.

English Language requirements

If your first language is not English you will need to show evidence that you meet our English Language requirements. Read the University's full listings of accepted tests and scores.

Registration

Research students may register full-time (three years) or part-time (six years).

Ordinarily, research students should live within reasonable travelling distance of their designated place of instruction, i.e. the university. However, when undertaking extensive fieldwork, the fieldwork location may be regarded as the designated place of instruction.

PhD applicants who wish to conduct the majority of their research overseas should apply to join our Distance Learning PhD programme.

All research students are encouraged to participate in the wide range of research activities the department offers. These include research seminars, conferences, activities organized by our departmental research schools , study days and reading groups.

Students in York also take full advantage of resources such as the Raymond Burton Humanities Research Library and Borthwick Institute for Archives.

• Read more about resources available to students

Funding A wide range of funding opportunities includes AHRC-funded studentships, departmental studentships, overseas scholarships, travel fellowships, and funding for students with specific research interests. Read more about available funding

Before applying

To start the application process please consult our staff webpages and contact a potential supervisor for your research. Preliminary enquiries are welcomed and should be made as early as possible. However, a scattershot approach - emailing all staff members regardless of the relationship between their research interests and yours - is unlikely to produce positive results. Candidates are advised to make their research proposals as specific and clear as possible.

If you need guidance please email [email protected] .

How to apply

You can apply for this course using our online application system. If you've not already done so, please read the application guidance first so that you understand the various steps in the application process.

Legal statements | Privacy | Cookies | Accessibility © University of York | Modify | Direct Edit

Welcome to the Department of History

Join one of the top ranked history departments in the world.

With courses that cover the globe from antiquity to the fall of communism, our undergraduate and graduate programs allow you to choose a specialization from a vast selection of areas. Innovative courses include such topics as the history of money, gladiators in Roman society, and the history of animals, technology and science. Our award-winning faculty’s research areas include Indigenous and Metis History, love and death in Renaissance Italy, the world of voyageurs, the histories of Modern Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

What makes us unique:

• Our department ranks among the best in the world.
• You’ll study with award-winning professors, including Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada and Royal Historical Society. 
• Our courses cover history from the ancient period to the recent past
• Our courses focus on the thematic areas of indigeneity, culture, gender, social, political, environmental and sexuality.
• Our focus on hands-on learning, such as the training offered in placements at museums, archives and galleries for our Public History Certificate, will translate into crucial in-demand skills.

The study of history imparts critical thinking, reading, research, writing, and communication skills, all of which makes us better citizens in a democratic society and a global community.

Quick Links

• Disruption Operations
• Melville-Nelles-Hoffmann Lecture in Environmental History
• Academic Advising
• LA&PS Colleges
• Peer Support
• Our Faculty
• YorkU Libraries
• Writing Centr e

Read our  Land Acknowledgment , which recognizes the unique and enduring relationship of Indigenous people and their traditional territory.

Studying history allows students to explore the question, "how did things come to be the way they are today?" Courses in History apply that question to a wide range of topics, from social inequality and movements for social change, to political developments and military conflict, to concerns about the environment over time. All teach the significance of context in exploring the causes and consequences of past events and developments. In this way, a degree in History will shape how you think for the rest of your life.

— Jennifer Bonnell Professor, History

Read more testimonials from our alumni

March 6, 2024 LA&PS Profs publish new book and magazine article about a remarkable piece of maritime history

November 14, 2023 New Book by Jennifer Bonnell – Stewards of Splendour: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia

June 20, 2022 Congratulations to Margaret Schotte on her SSHRC Insight Grant

June 2, 2022 Congratulations to Adrian Shubert and Antonio Cazorla on their book, "La Guerra Civil Española en 100 Objetos, Imágenes Y Lugares"

Upcoming Events

Connect with the department of history.

• Skip to Main
• Master's Programs

Ph.D. Programs

• Global & Online Programs
• Library and Information Science Dual - Degree Program
• Certificate Programs
• Application Resource Center
• Financial Aid
• Admissions Events
• Campus Tours
• Newly-Admitted Students
• Message from the GSAS Dean
• Academic Calendar
• Inter-University Doctoral Consortium
• Submitting Your Dissertation
• Fellowships and Awards
• Fellowships & Awards
• Alumni Features
• Public Humanities Initiative
• New Student Orientation
• GSAS Convocation
• The Master's College
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• OASA Room Reservations
• Graduate Student Council
• Graduate Student Clubs
• Student Resources
• Doctoral Alumni Association
• Senior Administration
• Dean's Office
• Policies and Procedures
• Directors of Graduate Studies & Program Directors
• Standing Committees
• History of GSAS
• Dean's Conference Room
• Administrative Resources
• Dean's Advisory Council
• Research in GSAS
• Give to GSAS
• NYU/Axinn Foundation Prize
• Event Calendar
• TELL GSAS Doctoral Research Days

A doctorate is the pinnacle of an arts and science education. Founded in 1886, the Graduate School of Arts and Science at NYU is among the oldest schools offering doctoral programs in the United States. Today NYU’s doctoral programs span the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, and students pursue cutting-edge research with the close supervision of NYU’s internationally recognized research faculty. New York City resources complement and enhance our vibrant intellectual communities. Use the links below to explore Doctor of Philosophy and dual advanced degrees at New York University.

Ph.D. Programs Dual Degree Programs

Graduate Admissions

The Graduate Program in History fosters intensive examination of historical questions using a variety of approaches. These include gender, transnational and comparative, economic, political, cultural and social history.

Long known for its strength in Canadian history, the program also has expertise in British, Caribbean, European, Latin American, U.S., and East Asian history, the history of Africa and the African diaspora and the history of the Greco-Roman world. Thematic fields include immigration, Indigenous and environmental history. The program offers courses and supervision in ancient, medieval, early modern and modern history. It also has strong links with many of York’s organized research units, such as the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas, the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, and the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean.

The faculty of York’s Graduate Program in History are leading scholars who have won major prizes for their research and publications. View the complete listing of  our faculty .

In the Graduate Program in History you will join a lively community of students and have the opportunity to participate in various student-led activities:  The Historian’s Craft , a series of talks by leading historians; the annual  New Frontiers in History  graduate history conference; the editorial committee of the journal  Left History ; as well as in regular social events organized by the Graduate History Student Association.

Stream and Specializations

You'll have the opportunity to combine studies in different fields:

• Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America
• Ancient history
• United States
• Migration/Ethnicity
• Politics/Law and the state
• Sciences, health and environments
• Social and economic history
• Women, gender and sexualities
• Transnational, comparative and global history

Degrees Offered

• Major research paper
• Comprehensive examination(s)
• AND Dissertation

Additional Admission Requirements

Number of recommendation(s).

• 3 recommendation(s)

Other Requirements

• Include instructors’ names along with list of courses taken
• Statement of Interest
• Sample of your written work
• PhD: resumé or CV required

York University respects your privacy and protects personal information in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Canada Anti-Spam Legislation. For more information, visit futurestudents.yorku.ca/privacy

* Voluntary declaration. Indigenous people are persons who identify themselves as First Nation (status or non-Status), Métis or Inuit.

• Steps to Apply
• Application Checklist (Check it once, check it twice)
• Already applied? Check your application status

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• 12 March 2024

Bring PhD assessment into the twenty-first century

You have full access to this article via your institution.

Innovation in PhD education has not reached how doctoral degrees are assessed. Credit: Dan Dunkley/Science Photo Library

Research and teaching in today’s universities are unrecognizable compared with what they were in the early nineteenth century, when Germany and later France gave the world the modern research doctorate. And yet significant aspects of the process of acquiring and assessing a doctorate have remained remarkably constant. A minimum of three years of independent study mentored by a single individual culminates in the production of the doctoral thesis — often a magisterial, book-length piece of work that is assessed in an oral examination by a few senior academic researchers. In an age in which there is much research-informed innovation in teaching and learning, the assessment of the doctoral thesis represents a curious throwback that is seemingly impervious to meaningful reform.

But reform is needed. Some doctoral candidates perceive the current assessment system to lack transparency, and examiners report concerns of falling standards ( G. Houston A Study of the PhD Examination: Process, Attributes and Outcomes . PhD thesis, Oxford Univ.; 2018 ). Making the qualification more structured would help — and, equally importantly, would bring the assessment of PhD education in line with education across the board. PhD candidates with experience of modern assessment methods will become better researchers, wherever they work. Indeed, most will not be working in universities: the majority of PhD holders find employment outside academia.

Collection: Career resources for PhD students

It’s not that PhD training is completely stuck in the nineteenth century. Today’s doctoral candidates can choose from a range of pathways. Professional doctorates, often used in engineering, are jointly supervised by an employer and an academic, and are aimed at solving industry-based problems. Another innovation is PhD by publication, in which, instead of a final thesis on one or more research questions, the criterion for an award is a minimum number of papers published or accepted for publication. In some countries, doctoral students are increasingly being trained in cohorts, with the aim of providing a less isolating experience than that offered by the conventional supervisor–student relationship. PhD candidates are also encouraged to acquire transferable skills — for example, in data analysis, public engagement, project management or business, economics and finance. The value of such training would be even greater if these skills were to be formally assessed alongside a dissertation rather than seen as optional.

And yet, most PhDs are still assessed after the production of a final dissertation, according to a format that, at its core, has not changed for at least half a century, as speakers and delegates noted at an event in London last month on PhD assessment, organized by the Society for Research in Higher Educatio n. Innovations in assessment that are common at other levels of education are struggling to find their way into the conventional doctoral programme.

Take the concept of learning objectives. Intended to aid consistency, fairness and transparency, learning objectives are a summary of what a student is expected to know and how they will be assessed, and are given at the start of a course of study. Part of the ambition is also to help tutors to keep track of their students’ learning and take remedial action before it is too late.

PhD training is no longer fit for purpose — it needs reform now

Formative assessment is another practice that has yet to find its way into PhD assessment consistently. Here, a tutor evaluates a student’s progress at the mid-point of a course and gives feedback or guidance on what students need to do to improve ahead of their final, or summative, assessment. It is not that these methods are absent from modern PhDs; a conscientious supervisor will not leave candidates to sink or swim until the last day. But at many institutions, such approaches are not required of PhD supervisors.

Part of the difficulty is that PhD training is carried out in research departments by people who do not need to have teaching qualifications or awareness of innovations based on education research. Supervisors shouldn’t just be experts in their field, they should also know how best to convey that subject knowledge — along with knowledge of research methods — to their students.

It is probably not possible for universities to require all doctoral supervisors to have teaching qualifications. But there are smaller changes that can be made. At a minimum, doctoral supervisors should take the time to engage with the research that exists in the field of PhD education, and how it can apply to their interactions with students.

There can be no one-size-fits-all solution to improving how a PhD is assessed, because different subjects often have bespoke needs and practices ( P. Denicolo Qual. Assur. Educ. 11 , 84–91; 2003 ). But supervisors and representatives of individual subject communities must continue to discuss what is most appropriate for their disciplines.

All things considered, there is benefit to adopting a more structured approach to PhD assessment. It is high time that PhD education caught up with changes that are now mainstream at most other levels of education. That must start with a closer partnership between education researchers, PhD supervisors and organizers of doctoral-training programmes in universities. This partnership will benefit everyone — PhD supervisors and doctoral students coming into the research workforce, whether in universities or elsewhere.

Education and training in research has entered many secondary schools, along with undergraduate teaching, which is a good thing. In the spirit of mutual learning, research doctoral supervisors, too, will benefit by going back to school.

Nature 627 , 244 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00718-0

Reprints and permissions

Related Articles

• Scientific community

‘Woah, this is affecting me’: why I’m fighting racial inequality in prostate-cancer research

Career Q&A 20 MAR 24

So … you’ve been hacked

Technology Feature 19 MAR 24

Four years on: the career costs for scientists battling long COVID

Career Feature 18 MAR 24

‘Global swimways’ on free-flowing rivers will protect key migratory fish species

Correspondence 19 MAR 24

How to stop ‘passing the harasser’: universities urged to join information-sharing scheme

News 18 MAR 24

Take these steps to accelerate the path to gender equity in health sciences

Nature Index 13 MAR 24

Larger or longer grants unlikely to push senior scientists towards high-risk, high-reward work

Nature Index 25 MAR 24

Is AI ready to mass-produce lay summaries of research articles?

Nature Index 20 MAR 24

Recruitment of Talent Positions at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University

Call for top experts and scholars in the field of science and technology.

Shenyang, Liaoning, China

Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University

Assistant Professor in Plant Biology

The Plant Science Program in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Te...

Saudi Arabia (SA)

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Warmly Welcomes Talents Abroad

“Qiushi” Distinguished Scholar, Zhejiang University, including Professor and Physician

No. 3, Qingchun East Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang (CN)

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Postdoctoral Associate

Our laboratory at the Washington University in St. Louis is seeking a postdoctoral experimental biologist to study urogenital diseases and cancer.

Saint Louis, Missouri

Washington University School of Medicine Department of Medicine

Recruitment of Global Talent at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOZ, CAS)

The Institute of Zoology (IOZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is seeking global talents around the world.

Beijing, China

Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOZ, CAS)

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

• 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 2023, a number of excellent students selected for admission were named  Neubauer Family Distinguished Doctoral Fellows and received additional fellowship support over for five years.

Autumn 2023 Admissions Deadline:  December 5, 2023 at 11:55 PM CST

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 twenty-five 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.

This Website Uses Cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

Binghamton University Professor recognized by NYS Legislature for ‘Women’s History Month’

WASHINGTON (WBNG) -- Binghamton University Professor Dr. Anne Biley was honored as part of the New York State Legislative Women’s Caucus “Women’s History Month” celebration.

In a news release, Democratic Assemblywoman Donna Lauprdo of the 123rd District highlighted that this year, the theme was “Women Who Advocate for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.” Lupardo chose Dr. Bailey for the recognition. Every member of the Women’s Caucus chose a member.

Dr. Bailey serves as the director of the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom & Equity on Binghamton University’s campus. The center seeks to find solutions to issues regarding and dealing with civil rights.

In November 2023, Dr. Bailey spoke with 12 News about The Underground Railroad and its role in the Southern Tier. Specifically, she helped create the “Freedom Trail” in Binghamton which seeks to educate people about The Underground Railroad’s significance locally.

“On behalf of the Harriet Tubman Center of Binghamton University, I am also pleased that many more people around the state will learn about the Underground Railroad network as a result of the downtown Binghamton Freedom Trail.”

Dr. Bailey holds a degree a PhD and MA from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Harvard University.

Bailey also said it was an honor to be nominated and recognized by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who is the state’s first woman governor.

Copyright 2024 WBNG. All rights reserved.

Crews respond to 2nd Alarm fire in Castle Creek

59-year-old woman stabbed inside her garage by 2 small boys, police say

3-month-old becomes organ donor after family dies in crash at bus stop

Police presence on Frederick Street in Binghamton

Free suicide prevention training, ‘SafeTALK,’ offered in Cortland County

Latest news.

Kylie Strom: Union-Endicott graduate, and pro soccer star

1st woman Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania has official portrait unveiled

SUNY Oneonta alumni prepares for the Boston Marathon

Elmira College: Breaking barriers in education

History Department

• Graduate Studies

PhD in History

The Ph.D. in history program is distinctively collaborative. As a doctoral student, you will work closely with advisors and other faculty on focused research and prepare for the comprehensive exams.

Program Overview

The program of study leading to the Ph.D. consists of four elements: the completion of coursework, the completion of language examination(s), the completion of qualifying oral examinations in three fields and the preparation of a dissertation.

Students entering the program from an undergraduate degree can finish  the program in seven years. Most graduates pursue careers in academia,  while others choose to apply their knowledge to career fields like law  or public service. 

Core Requirements

A Ph.D. in history requires the following:

• 48 course credits (12 course credits may be outside the department). The coursework develops basic analytical and research skills and grounds students in their areas of specialization.
• 24 dissertation credits must be devoted to research and writing of the dissertation.
• All together, students must have a total of 72 credits to receive the Ph.D.

Comprehensive Examinations

Candidates for the Ph.D. who entered with an undergraduate degree are required to take oral comprehensive examinations at the end of their third year of graduate study. Candidates who entered with approved and transferred credits from a master's degree program are required to take oral comprehensive examinations at the end of their second year of graduate study. Comprehensive examinations are approximately two hours in length and are taken in the major field and both minor fields.

Dissertation

The oral dissertation defense is conducted by a six-member examining committee, including an outside chair from another department/school. The chair must be a tenured faculty member of the University (ESF and Law faculty members cannot be chosen). The advisor and student jointly choose the remaining two members. The doctoral proposal must be approved by the student’s advisor and two other faculty members. The student is eligible to take the oral examination after the advisor and all dissertation committee members have approved the dissertation for defense. The examination, which is open to all faculty members, graduate students and the general public, consists of a defense of the dissertation and examination in the field of specialization in which it falls.

Foreign Language

Each student fulfills requirements in one foreign language prior to taking the master’s examination or submitting of a thesis.

Meet Our Graduate Students

See All Graduate Students

Nitya Chagti

Philip Erenrich

Semaj Campbell

Tianyu Cheng

Mohammad Ebad Athar

Maxwell history dissertations.

Visit the collection

I am Maxwell.

My study in the history Ph.D. program was an amazing journey into unknown realms. It was the cornerstone of my academic career and one of the most memorable times I had.

Jing Liu '19 (Modern Northeast Asian History) Shaingai Academy of Sciences

• Department of History >
• Graduate >

PhD in History

It is in the doctoral program that our students truly become historians in their own right. Through deep reading, thoughtful conversation, and original research, we guide our students into the historical profession. 

The Department of History offers the PhD in fields that align with our four areas of research focus: Early Modern Societies , Race, Empire, and Nation , The Twentieth Century World , and Medicine, Disability and Science . 

PhD Funding Opportunities

• Academic year stipends of $23,000  for all full-time, funded PhD students on 10-month academic teaching assistant, research assistant or graduate assistant appointments.
• UB’s stipend levels are competitive among public Association of American Universities (AAU) member institutions.
• Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program : To be eligible for a Schomburg Fellowship, candidates must contribute to the diversity of the student body, and can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to receive Schomburg Fellowships.
• Presidential Fellowships :  To be eligible for Presidential Fellowships, candidates must meet the criteria listed on the Presidential Fellowship page. Both domestic and international students are eligible, if they meet these criteria. For any questions regarding funding for academic year 2024–2025, contact the director of graduate studies or department chair.

If you wish to be considered for a Presidential Fellowship and/or a Schomburg Fellowship , please include in your Statement of Purpose a brief explanation of why you believe you may be eligible.

Typical PhD Funding Package

Typical PhD Funding Packages include a full tuition scholarship and stipend, along with health insurance coverage.

With rare exceptions, the Department offers a minimum 5 years of support to all full-time PhD students, usually through Teaching Assistantships, plus a full tuition scholarship.

Teaching Assistants are required to teach, usually as assistants to History Department Professors in American History Surveys or in History General Education courses. Teaching assistants typically attend lectures and lead two recitation sections per semester.

Dissertation Fellowships: Advanced PhD students may compete each year for additional support designated to travel and living expenses to conduct dissertation research. The History Department may fund up to $3000 for dissertation research. Funding is dependent upon availability. Students may apply for Dissertation Fellowships more than once.. 

Further opportunities for funding are often available for advanced PhD students, including the opportunity to teach their own undergraduate courses as paid adjunct or teaching associates. In this way, our very best students frequently receive 6 or possibly 7 years of total support.

Please contact us for more information about  department specific grants and fellowships . Please see the Graduate school’s list of  scholarships and grants  for additional funding opportunities

Program Requirements

Historical Inquiry (History 501) is required of all PhD students and must be taken during the fall semester of the first year of doctoral study. The course offers an introduction to the theory and philosophy of history and is intended to acquaint students with various problems in historical analysis and understanding.

Core Courses: All doctoral students must take at least two of the following core seminars:

• History 502 and 503 (United States History I and II)
• History 504 and 505 (European History I and II)
• History 507 (East Asian History)
• History 559 (Colonial Latin America)
• History 560 ( Caribbean History)

Research Seminars: Students must take at least two 600-level research seminars.

Distribution requirement: All PhD students must take at least one course outside of the student’s major field that covers an area outside the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Language Requirement

All doctoral students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of at least one language other than English. In some fields, two languages are required. Students are expected to take their major language exams before their third semester. All language examinations must be passed before a student can take his or her Qualifying Examinations.

Qualifying Examinations

Before being admitted to candidacy, all doctoral students must successfully complete a series of written examinations in three fields: a major field, a field of specialization within the major field, and a minor field. These examinations are usually taken during the third year of study.

• The major field is the broadest level at which a student will carry out research and teach. 
• The field of specialization reflects the prospective area of dissertation research; it is, as the title suggests, more focused and specialized than the major field. 
• The minor field is meant to complement the major field, typically by adding theoretical or methodological competencies, or by supplementing the major field with knowledge of another geographical area or discipline. It may be selected from among the major fields the department offers (for instance, a student whose major field is Early Modern Europe might prepare a minor field in Modern Europe or the Atlantic World); from another department (for instance, English Literature or Art History); or from among the methodological specializations available in the department such as world history, the history of medicine, women’s history, or urban history. The minor field should not substantially overlap with the major field or be an additional area of specialization within it. 

Following the written portion of these examinations, students must pass an oral examination, where the student with elaborate on their written responses and answer additional questions from their examination committee. 

Students’ examination fields are to be approved in advance by their major advisers and by the Director of Graduate Studies, typically by the end of the student’s third semester in the program.

Dissertation Prospectus

All doctoral students who satisfactorily complete their examinations must prepare and defend a dissertation prospectus that describes their proposed project, including a detailed research plan. The prospectus must also place the project within an historiographical framework. 

Dissertation

The culmination of the PhD is the preparation and defense of the dissertation, a substantial work of original research. Students typically spend several years performing primary research and writing their original contribution to the field of history. The completed dissertation must be read and approved by the student’s committee and successfully defended. The dissertation defense consists of an oral examination conducted by the student’s dissertation committee.

For specific information regarding academic planning, doctoral students should consult the PhD Handbook and their advisors. 

Applying to the PhD in History

• View Calendar

The Ph.D. Program in History

at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York

• Fellowship Opportunity – Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) Graduate Fellows Program

Call for Applications: Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

Fellows Program 2024-2025

The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) is seeking Research Analysts for its Fellowship Program.

OIRE is an administrative unit within the Provost’s Office at the GC. It provides leadership in the areas of institutional effectiveness, data analytics, student learning assessment, program evaluation, and regional accreditation. The OIRE Fellows Program provides vital support to the office. They seek applicants with experience, skills, and/or strong interest in working in the areas of data analytics, research, assessment, and/or higher education administration.

All full-time doctoral students in good academic standing are eligible to apply. Students holding one of the GC’s multi-year fellowships and tuition fellowships are also welcome to apply. Effective with the Fall 2023 semester, this OIRE graduate fellowship requires fellows to work a total of 450 non-teaching hours during the academic year (15 hours/week).

Compensation for the fellowship will be a minimum of $27,374 for the academic year. Fellows will be appointed to the Graduate Center payroll as Graduate Assistant Bs (GAB) at their own current rate and receive a Provost’s Award in the amount of $14,159 that will pay through the Office of Financial Aid. The GAB title provides eligibility to purchase the low-cost NYSHIP health insurance as well as in-state tuition remission for fellows who are within their first 10 registered semesters of doctoral study. Fellows who are past their 10 registered semesters of doctoral study will be eligible to receive in-state tuition remission at the Level 3 rate as per the new PSC- CUNY contract (this benefit provides for this tuition remission for a maximum of 4 semesters past the student’s 10th registered semester).

Responsibilities

· Provide timely and accurate information to support transparent, evidence-based planning and decision-making at various levels at the GC

· Retrieve data from various data sources (including IR Data Warehouse, other CUNY data systems, and external data sources), conduct analysis and assessment, and report findings

· Create data visualizations for reports and presentations

· Develop and maintain Tableau dashboards and other data tools

· Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in complex data sets using statistical techniques

· Conduct research on external data for best practices in higher education and benchmarking

· Assist in analyzing and reporting survey results

· Respond promptly to requests from various departments and offices

· Conduct quality control checks and document data processing and methodology

· Develop and update the office website as needed

· Communicate with multiple stakeholders to ensure smooth progress of projects

· Assist with administrative tasks and other projects in the office as necessary

Requirements

· Experience working with large and complex databases (expertise in SQL is highly preferred)

· Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables etc.).

· Advanced knowledge of data visualization (experience with Tableau is highly preferred)

· Proficiency in data analytics and experiences with statistical software programs (SPSS, R, or Stata)

· Experience in interpreting and evaluating research results

· Keen attention to details in analysis, data quality, and documentation

· Proven record in being highly self-motivated and able to work well independently

· Proven ability to be flexible and adaptable in learning and using new technologies

· Ability to communicate data to various audiences

· Experience conducting academic or other research

· Knowledge of higher education and institutional research

How to Apply: To apply, please submit your application to institutionalresearch@gc.cuny.edu . Include a CV (no more than 4 pages), and a brief cover letter (no more than 1 page) describing your interest, skills, and relevant experience for the position. Please indicate in your subject line “OIRE Fellows Program”.

Applications for the OIRE Fellows Program must be received by Friday, April 12, 2024 , to be considered. Interviews will take place in April (via zoom).

Equal Opportunity Employment

The Graduate Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)/Americans with Disability Act (ADA) employer.

It is the policy of The City University of New York—applicable to all colleges and units— to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and provide benefits to employees and to admit and provide services for students without discriminating on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, partnership status, disability, genetic information, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, pregnancy, status as a victim of domestic violence/stalking/sex offenses, unemployment status, caregiver or familial status, prior record of arrest or conviction, or any other legally prohibited basis in accordance with federal, state and city laws. This policy is set forth in CUNY’s Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

Need help with the Commons?

Email us at [email protected] so we can respond to your questions and requests. Please email from your CUNY email address if possible. Or visit our help site for more information:

• Terms of Service
• Accessibility
• Creative Commons (CC) license unless otherwise noted

Universal Navigation

Universal navigation2.

• RSVP - Graduate Orientation 2023-2024
• RSVP - Graduate Program Retreat 2023

Search form

PhD Program

In this section.

Follow the links below to learn more about the doctoral (PhD) program at the Department of History:

• Program Requirements
• Tuition and Funding
• Scholarships and Awards
• PhD Program by Year
• Dissertations
• Prospective Students
• Tuition & Funding
• Scholarships & Awards
• Curriculum & Course Information
• Request new password

• Leadership Crisis
• Editor's Pick

Colleagues Rally to Harvard Sociology Prof.’s Defense Following Plagiarism Allegations

Harvard Says It Wants to Boost Interdisciplinary Research. Its Professors Have Questions.

Harvard to Bring Back Introductory History Course for Fall Semester

Cambridge Teachers, Students Call for End to MCAS Graduation Requirement

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Named 2024 Radcliffe Medal Recipient

The Harvard History department will resurrect an introductory undergraduate History course this fall after almost two decades.

The department previously offered a year-long European history survey course that was mandatory for concentrators, but discontinued the class in 2006. Since then, there has not been an introductory history course specifically designed for new or prospective concentrators.

Though the new course — History 10: “A History of the Present,” co-taught by professors Jill Lepore, Maya R. Jasanoff ’96, and Kirsten A. Weld — shares the same course number as the previous iteration, it boasts a completely new format, methodology, and goal.

“The idea that we would require everyone to do a European history survey just seems like a thing very much of an earlier generation,” Jasanoff said in an interview. “So that went away.”

History Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies Carla Heelan wrote in a statement that the reintroduction of History 10 became a top priority following an annual internal review which found that the department needed a new gateway course.

Each professor will focus on a particular theme in the course. Weld, a historian of Latin America, will teach memory; Jasanoff, an expert in the British Empire, will teach about ancestry and genealogy; and Lepore, who specializes in American history, will teach about rights.

Heelan wrote that the department wanted a class that could appeal to both concentrators and non-concentrators.

She added that the course focuses on teaching students how to think like a historian — a trait that requires a “great deal of empathy” and is “an increasingly valuable tool” across subjects and fields.

In preparation for the course, Jasanoff said that she, Weld, and Lepore looked at other universities around the country for inspiration, but felt that other introductory history courses too closely resembled high school history classes.

Their course, she said, takes a different approach.

To create dynamism and interactivity in the classroom, Jasanoff said, Monday lectures will feature a “question box” where the professors will answer student-submitted questions. On Wednesdays, they will “riff” on recent headlines for a portion of the lecture, she added.

At the end of each course module, Jasanoff added, two of the professors will comment on how they might approach the subject that the third professor taught, and students will be invited to share any approaches they came up with as well.

“One of the fundamental things about history as well is there’s no right answer, and there’s no single answer,” Jasanoff said.

There will be no exams, and the assignments will consist of essays culminating in an end-of-semester portfolio. With these assignments, Jasanoff said “we want to teach students what it is to think historically.”

“I want it to be thought provoking. I want it to be engaging,” Jasanoff added. “I want it to raise more questions than answers. I want it to be dynamic.”

Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.

• Entertainment
• Sports Sports Betting Podcasts Better Planet Vault Mightier Autos Newsletters Unconventional Vantage Experts Voices
• Subscribe for $1
• Sports Betting
• Better Planet
• Newsletters
• Unconventional

CCTV Captures Dogs Teaming Up To Steal Owner's Food

Those who enjoy Brianna Madia's books are accustomed to reading about how noble and well-behaved her four dogs are. They provided her with emotional support while she lived alone in a Utah desert.

That is, until, a social media video captured the one of the four well-known canines digging through an old garbage bin in Madia's home, in what appeared to be a diligent search for bits of leftover food .

The viral video, which has been viewed more than 355,000 times since it was shared to Instagram on March 3, captured Madia's oldest pet Bucket sifting through the kitchen bin for scraps. To Madia's surprise, her other three dogs were filmed sitting out the kitchen heist by doing little other than giving their sibling Bucket some disappointed side-eyes, and keeping watch for the return of their owner.

"My fiancé recently put these cameras in the house," Madia, a New York Times bestselling author, told Newsweek .

"Now, I have four dogs so the occasional mess or garbage endeavor isn't that shocking, but what we never knew is that Bucket was always the one and only perpetrator!"

"We thought it was so funny that the other dogs' body language seemed to be saying, 'We want nothing to do with this!' Haha! But there is a reason why we call Bucket 'the queen.' She's 13 years old and has a long history of always getting what she wants," she added.

Madia's beloved pets featured heavily in her second book, Never Leave the Dogs Behind, which followed her debut memoir Nowhere for Very Long .

In her second book, Madia reflects on the difficulties of traveling , nomadic living and van life, which she has long documented on her Instagram account @briannamadia where she has over 300,000 followers.

What Do the Comments Say?

"Enjoy this highly intelligent, extremely poor behavior from Bucket who, when asked for comment about the situation, told me to go f*** myself," Madia had captioned the Instagram post.

Instagrammers have laughed along with Madia in the comments section of the post.

"That's classic," one user wrote.

Another user added: "This is awesome."

"The other dog said, 'I'm not involved'," a third user joked.

A different user commented: "Just fills my heart with joy."

Madia's other three dogs are called Dagwood, Birdie and Banjo.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer

Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek Life and Trends Reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending stories and human-interest features on a variety of topics ranging from relationships, pets, and personal finances to health, work, travel, and family dynamics. She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively.

Melissa joined Newsweek in 2023 from Global's LBC and had previously worked at financial news publication WatersTechnology, tmrw Magazine, The Times and The Sunday Times, Greater London-based radio broadcaster Insanity Radio, and alongside other journalists or producers for research purposes. Since joining Newsweek, Melissa has been especially focused on covering under-reported women's health and social issues, and has spent a large part of her time researching the physical and mental impact of both the contraceptive pill and abusive relationships.

Prior to that, Melissa had been specialized in reporting on financial technology and data news, political news, and current affairs. She has covered data management news from industry giants like Bloomberg and Symphony, alongside the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K economy's 2022-pound sterling crash, multiple National Health Service (NHS) strikes, and the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran.

A show that she produced and presented at the Greater London-based community radio station, Insanity Radio, was awarded 'Best Topical News Show' and the runner up award for 'Best New Radio Show' on the network.

She is a graduate in MA History from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Languages: English, Persian.

You can get in touch with Melissa by emailing [email protected].

You can follow her on X or Instagram at @melissafleura.

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

• Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
• Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
• Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
• Comment on articles
• Newsweek app updates on-the-go

Top stories

Israel Warns Iran Is Stepping Up War on Four More Fronts Beyond Gaza

Letitia James Fires Back After Donald Trump's Bond Reduction

Matt Gaetz Ethics Complaint Allegations—What We Know

Biden Accuser Tara Reade Is 'Angry' She's Being Ignored by Republicans