How to Get a PhD in History

If you love history and want to spend your career learning and teaching about the past, and its impact on the present, a PhD in history may be the right choice for you. What do people do with a doctoral degree in history? Many history PhD recipients spend their careers teaching history at the secondary, undergraduate, or graduate level, often while publishing articles and books about their areas of specialization. But the PhD in history isn't just for future professors. Individuals with doctoral degrees in history and related disciplines also work outside the classroom--in museums, editing and publishing, archives, historic preservation, and consulting, among other fields.

Step 1. Know Your Options

History PhD Fields of Study

Historians and history PhD candidates typically concentrate in a specific region of the world, period of time, and/or aspect of civilization. The possibilities are virtually endless for today's history students, but these are a few common examples:

• Ancient historians focus on the earliest phases of written history in regions such as Europe, East Asia, and Africa.
• Public historians present historical knowledge to a general audience outside the world of academia.
• Art historians study works of art in their historical, stylistic, and cultural contexts.
• World historians take a global approach to historical study, comparing different cultures and looking for universal patterns.
• Cultural historians use anthropological techniques to examine the traditions, rituals, and identities of human societies.
• Political historians research and analyze political events, movements, and leaders.
• Military historians examine armed conflicts and how they have shaped international relations and the world we live in.
• Intellectual historians study intellectual ideologies and ideas.
• Historians of science explore the origins of scientific knowledge in various cultures.

Recently, a number of joint PhD programs have begun cropping up that combine history with a related discipline, such as law, gender studies, classics, and Middle Eastern studies, to name just a few.

PhD in History: Program Options

Some history departments confer both master's and PhD degrees in history. In these programs, candidates who wish to stay for the PhD in history are usually required to pass a qualifying examination and exhibit a certain level of foreign language mastery at the end of their first or second year. The submission of a graduate thesis may be required, as well.

Whether you hold a master's degree in history, or simply a bachelor's degree, a PhD in the discipline is well within your grasp. Before setting aside all the requisite materials and applying for schools, however, evaluate the following learning formats to see which one fits your educational wants and needs:

Campus-based programs give you the opportunity to work with professors and fellow graduate students face-to-face, mainly via small discussion groups or periodic one-on-one meetings. If teaching piques your interest, many campus programs allow you to teach undergraduate courses or lead simple seminars. In addition to personal interaction, campuses have a wide range of literary resources, as well as easy access to primary source material.

Many online programs allow you to work toward your PhD at your own pace, and from the comfort of your own home. Studying online is ideal for working professionals who need to keep their nine-to-fives and/or balance school and family commitments. Many online programs also provide students with access to extensive Web-based databases, as well as to forums where students and teachers in similar disciplines can exchange notes and ideas.

Step 2. Do Your Research

Naturally, if the word "research" makes you cringe, you shouldn't be considering a PhD in history in the first place. Chances are you genuinely enjoy the process of learning about the materials at your disposal and taking full advantage of the wisdom they have to offer. But the sheer volume of information about doctoral programs in history, both online and in print, can be overwhelming for even the most industrious researcher. Here's an idea of where to get started:

Online Directories

Web sites such as WorldWideLearn.com feature listings of campus-based doctorate programs in history as well as online programs that offer either a master's degree in history or courses you can take for credit. You can find accredited programs by location or subject, and you can easily request information from specific schools by filling out a convenient form. The site also has plenty of tips and advice to guide you through your search and the application process.

Professional Organizations

In the U.S., the two major historical professional organizations are the American Historical Association (AHA) and the Organization of American Historians (OAH). The AHA Web site offers a comprehensive database of accredited history departments and provides free resources for applicants, such as suggested questions to ask faculty members and current graduate students during the research process. It also boasts a wealth of information for students and professionals at every stage of their professional lives, including links to read or order the AHA's numerous publications, job listings, and guides to various careers within the history profession. The OAH also publishes a number of magazines and newsletters, many of which can be read online, that provide insight into the study and practice of history.

School Web Sites

Of course, you already know that the Web site of each school's history department should be your first stop for learning about course offerings, degree requirements, admissions criteria, and much more. But take some time to rummage around--think of it as a virtual archaeological dig--for additional details. For example, try clicking through to the individual Web page of each faculty member and current PhD candidate; many contain biographies, contact information, and links to published works. Some courses have their own pages as well, featuring materials such as reading lists, syllabi, discussion forums, and even outlines of specific lectures.

Your School or Alma Mater

If you're in the throes of completing a master's in history and hope to pursue a PhD in history at another institution, stay in close communication with your advisors and professors throughout the research and application process. Not only can they provide advice and support, but they are likely to have valuable contacts within other history departments. If you plan to enter a PhD program with a bachelor's degree only, most colleges and universities offer counseling to alumni on both professional development and graduate study.

Step 3. Create a Short List

Now that you've surveyed the field, it's time to narrow it down by pinpointing the history PhD programs that best suit your needs. The following factors should be foremost in your mind as you assemble your short list:

Faculty

More so than at the undergraduate level, strong relationships between PhD students and their instructors are crucial. Before you commit several years of your life to a school, make sure you like what you're getting into. Most history departments let prospective students get a preview by sitting in on a graduate seminar or lecture. You can also begin a dialogue with prospective advisors via email well before you begin the application process.

Funding

Graduate students in history PhD programs receive funding from a variety of sources, including stipends, federal loans, teaching fellowships, and scholarships. In most cases, departments only make prospective students a specific offer upon acceptance. However, you can ask for basic information, such as how many years each program usually guarantees funding for its history PhD candidates. Don't feel shy about reaching out to current graduate students at the schools that interest you; their contact information may be listed on the history department's Web site. WorldWideLearn.com has extensive information about scholarships, loans, and other forms of financial aid.

Rankings

You should be aware of how the schools on your short list stack up, but keep in mind that individual fit is often more important than prestige. U.S. News & World Report ranks graduate programs offering the PhD in history based on peer assessments by noted academics in the field. Each department receives an overall score, and rankings by specialty (African history, African-American history, Asian history, cultural history, European history, Latin American history, modern U.S. history, U.S. colonial history, and women's history) are also available.

There are many other questions to consider, such as those listed below and in the American Historical Association's guide to the application process. The bottom line is that you should be vocal about what you're looking for and persistent about getting the information you need.

• What classes are offered?
• How many students are enrolled in the program?
• What is the school's reputation in your subfield of history?
• What kinds of jobs do recent graduates get?
• Does the department embrace a specific academic approach to the study of history?
• How many PhD students does each advisor work with?
• What makes the program unique?

Step 4. Apply

Once you've whittled down your short list to a handful of universities, the time has come to start sending out applications. The process and requirements vary from school to school, but at the very minimum you'll have to do the following:

Make Sure You Have the Right Credentials

If you don't already have a master's degree in history from an online or campus-based program, you need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A bachelor's degree in history is not always a prerequisite, although you should be prepared to explain the ways in which your undergraduate experience has prepared you for graduate study in history.

Network, Network, Network

It is good practice to contact potential advisors at each school before you submit your application. Identify professors who share your interests and area of specialization, and send them an email introducing yourself and describing your academic goals. Most historians embrace opportunities to supervise a dissertation on a topic that genuinely interests them, and they may advocate on your behalf to the admissions council. Avoid the form letter trap by working in a personal touch; for example, you might mention how much you enjoyed the professor's latest article in a scholarly journal such as the American Historical Review or the Journal of American History, or the paper they presented at a recent academic conference.

Take Standardized Tests

If you haven't already done it to qualify for a master's degree program, you need to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and submit your scores along with your application. International students must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language by passing the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Ask for Recommendation Letters

Many schools require three letters of recommendation from former or current teachers, ideally members of the history department faculty. Don't be afraid to approach prominent professors whose lecture-style courses you've taken but who don't know you well on a personal level. They may be willing to write letters of recommendation based on the work you submitted for their course. Even if you're on a first-name basis with your recommenders, it's always a good idea to provide them with a copy of your academic resume and one or two papers you're particularly proud of.

Submit a Stellar Writing Sample

If you already have a master's degree in history, this could be several chapters from your master's thesis or, better yet, a paper you submitted to an academic journal. Otherwise, choose a sizeable essay you wrote for a history class in or closely related to your desired area of specialization. If it's been filed away for several years, reread it and use your 20/20 hindsight to make any edits or updates.

No matter where you end up going, a PhD in history can place you in a long line of historians that includes Herodotus, Thucydides, Jules Michelet, Barbara Tuchman, Simon Schama, and many other eminent scholars. Above all, it could translate into a lifelong career in a field you're truly passionate about.

Sources

• Public History Resource Center, "Where to Study Public History"
• The American Historical Association, Careers for Students of History
• The American Historical Association, "History Doctoral Programs in the United States and Canada"
• The American Historical Association, "Graduate School from Start to Finish"
• The Committee on Graduate Education, The Education of Historians for the Twenty-first Century
• U.S. News and World Report, "Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools"