The Education of Historians in the United States

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments and Sources

1. Introduction: As Seen by the Chairman

2. Do We Need More College Teachers?

The Growth of Doctoral Training in History. Future Need for Ph.D.s in History. Variations in Supply and Demand. Summary.

3. Graduate Students in History

Ability and Preparation. Academic and Social Origins. Financing Graduate Study. Career Plans. Recruiting. Summary.

4. History in the Colleges

The Importance of Teaching Ability. Scholarly Qualifications of Teachers. Working Conditions. What History Is Taught? Methods of Teaching. History Majors. Summary.

5. The Master’s Degree

Admission, Screening, and Basic Requirements. The Master’s Thesis. Other Variations. The Uses of the Master’s Degree. Proposed Reforms: For Secondary School Teachers. Proposed Reforms: For College Teachers. Summary.

6. Ph.D.-Training Institutions

Which Institutions Offer the Ph.D. in History? Faculties and Fields. Undergraduate Education. Teaching Conditions. Research and Teaching. Library Resources. Summary.

7. Doctoral Study in History

What Is Studied: Field Requirements. Forms of Study. Examinations. Summary.

8. Major Criticisms of Ph.D. Training

Preparation for College Teaching. Breadth and Specialization. Training for Research Scholarship. Protracted Ph.D. Study. Summary.

9. Experiments with Teacher Training and Tightened Programs

Teacher Preparation. Reducing the Ph.D. “Stretch-out.” Summary.

10. Recommendations

Attracting and Admitting Graduate Students. Undergraduate Preparation. The Master’s Degree. Shortening Ph.D. Training. Striking a Balance. Preparation for Teaching. Discovering Teaching Capacity. Fostering and Rewarding Good Teaching.

Appendixes

Index

 

Tables

2-1. Increase in History Doctoral Production, 1881–1952

2-2. Recent Production of Ph.D.s in History, 1953–1960

2-3. Recent Production of Ph.D.s in History and Comparable Disciplines, 1953–1959

2-4. Total Ph.D. Production in Selected Social Sciences, 1926–1957

2-5. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degrees in History, 1948–1959

2-6. Predicted Quantitative Trends in Graduate Education in History, 1959–1970, Based upon Increases in Live Births

2-7. Regional Variations in Production of 1,482 Ph.D.s, 1955–1960

2-8. Regional Distribution of Ph.D. Candidates in History in 80 Universities, 1958–1959

2-9. Ph.D.s in History by Geographical Areas of Specialization, 1873–1959

2-10. Anticipated Faculty Appointments and Ph.D. Candidates in Various Fields of History, 1958–1959

3-1. Inadequacies of Undergraduate Preparation for Graduate Study in History Reported by 182 History Ph.D.s of 1958

3-2. Leading Baccalaureate Sources of History Ph.D.s, 1936–1956

3-3. Social Origins of Graduate Students, 1958–1959

3-4. Financial Conditions of Graduate Students, 1958–1959

3-5. Stipends Held by Graduate Students in Selected Disciplines, 1958–1959

3-6. Career Aims of 2,754 Graduate Students, 1958–1959

3-7. Persons Influencing Decision to Undertake Graduate Study in History by 182 Recent Ph.D.s

4-1. Good and Poor Teachers: Appraisals by 182 Recent History Ph.D.s

4-2. Appointment of History Teachers with Less than the Ph.D. in 502 Colleges, 1958–1959

4-3. Teaching Loads of 1,007 History Teachers in 126 Better Colleges, First Term of 1958–1959

4-4. Average Sizes of History Classes at Various Levels in 126 Colleges, 1956–1957 and 1958–1959

4-5. Enrollment Changes in History Courses in 126 Four-year Colleges, 1948–1958

4-6. Changes in History Courses Offered by 502 Four-year Colleges, 1948–1958

4-7. History Courses Most Often Offered among 502 Colleges and 51 Junior Colleges, 1956–1958 (2 Years)

4-8. Variations in History Offerings by Types of Four-year Colleges (Sample of 376 Institutions)

4-9. Comparison of Selected Forms of History Instruction by Types of Colleges, 1958–1959

5-1. Thesis Requirements in Colleges and Universities Offering the Master’s Degree in History, 1958–1959

5-2. Relative Strength of Master’s Training in 77 Universities and 87 Colleges 1958–1959

6-1. Growth of Doctoral Programs in History by Selected Five-year Periods, 1881–1945

6-2. Production of 3,133 Ph.D.s by 79 Universities Awarding the Doctorate in History, 1948–1958 (11 Years)

6-3. 41 Universities That Were First Choices for Graduate Study by One or More of 202 Woodrow Wilson Fellows in History, 1960, plus 15 Other Universities Chosen by Fellows in 1958 or 1959

6-4. Size of History Faculties in 80 Institutions Offering the Ph.D. in History, 1958–1959

6-5. Scholarly Publication by 1,121 Members of Ph.D.-training History Faculties in 77 Institutions, 1958–1959

6-6. Foreign Travel and Study of 674 Specialists in History of Foreign Areas, 77 Ph.D.-training Institutions, 1958–1959

6-7. Ph.D.s in Various Fields of History Awarded by 29 Institutions in the East, 1955–1959 (5 Years)

6-8. Ph.D.s in Various Fields of History Awarded by 17 Institutions in the South, 1955–1959 (5 Years)

6-9. Ph.D.s in Various Fields of History Awarded by 17 Institutions in the Midwest, 1955–1959 (5 Years)

6-10. Ph.D.s in Various Fields of History Awarded by 11 Institutions in the West, 1955–1959 (5 Years)

6-11. Percentages of 77 Ph.D.-training Institutions Offering Courses in Various Fields of History at Three Levels

6-12. Types of Courses Reported at Least Three Times as Added or Dropped, 1948–1958, in 77 Ph.D.-training History Departments

6-13. Notable Enrollment Increases and Decreases, 1945–1958, in Various Types of Courses in 77 Ph.D.-training History Departments

6-14. History Majors, 1956 and 1958, in 71 Institutions Offering Ph.D. Training in History

6-15. Various Forms of History Instruction Offered by 77 Ph.D.-training Institutions, 1958–1959

6-16. Teaching Loads of 1,121 Members of History Faculties in 77 Ph.D.-training Universities, First Term, 1955–1959

6-17. Average Sizes of History Classes at Various Levels in 77 Ph.D.-training Institutions, 1956–1957 and 1958–1959

6-18. Factors Reported by History Ph.D.s of 1958 as Causes of Neglect of Ph.D. Candidates by Graduate Faculty

6-19. Strength of Library Resources of 85 Universities Offering Ph.D. Training in History, 1960

7-1. Number of Books Recent History Ph.D.s Believe They Were Expected to Read in Various Fields of History

7-2. Average Lengths of Doctoral Dissertations of 1957–1958 in Various Disciplines

8-1. Criticisms of Graduate Schools by About 2,780 History Graduate Students, 1958–1959

8-2. Evaluations by 152 History Ph.D.s of 1958 of Their Doctoral Training as Preparation for College Teaching Positions

8-3. Reasons Why 182 History Ph.D.s of 1958 Undertook Graduate Study

8-4. Frequency of Recommendations for More Specific Teacher Training from 126 Selected Four-year Colleges

8-5. Time Lapse between Start of Graduate Study and Award of Degree to 182 Ph.D.s in History of 1958

8-6. Ages of 181 Ph.D.s of 1958 upon Award of the Degree

8-7. Comparison of Faculty Guidance Received by Graduate Students in History and Other Disciplines (Sample of 2,764 Students), 1958–1959