History Doctoral Programs in the United States and Canada

Syracuse Univ.

Department Web Site

Areas of Specialization:

citizenship/empire/nation, political and social thought, religion and society

Program Description

The department offers fields in European, American, and Non-Western History. In European history the fields offered are in ancient, early and late medieval, and Renaissance and Reformation. In modern European history, fields include early modern and modern European history, social and intellectual history, modern Britain, France, Germany, Russian and Women's history. Two general fields in American history, 1607-1865 and 1850 to present, as well as fields in African American, Women's, and Native American history. In non-Western history, two general Chinese, two Latin American fields, two African fields, and two South Asian fields are offered. The department also offers fields in Legal history, historiography, and Imperialism.

Special Programs or Resources

At the end of last year we completed a strategic plan for the future of our department. The core of that plan called for the move to a workshop model of graduate education. Henceforth, in addition to being trained in the traditional disciplines, Syracuse history graduate students will take part in at least one of three workshops. Please see the description of each of our workshops at our website. Syracuse University’s History Department is part of The Maxwell School, with its many opportunities for interdisciplinary study, including the recently endowed Moynihan Global Affairs Institute. Beginning in the fall of 2006 the History Department will offer a joint degree with the Newhouse School of Public Communications in Documentary Film and History. This program will allow students to pursue their interest in history while learning the skills of the documentarian.

Financial Aid

Financial aid in the form of teaching assistantships and research assistantships are available. In addition, the department has endowed gifts to support new graduate students, including some that fund new students and do not require teaching. The University also makes fellowships for new students available on a competitive basis.

Degree Requirements

The program of study leading to the Ph.D. consists of four elements:
1. completion of coursework
2. mastery of language or research tools
3. the completion of qualifying examinations in three fields
4. preparation of a dissertation, usually in the major fields
Students usually complete the degree within four to six years. A minimum of 48 credits of graduate coursework is required for the Ph.D. degree. The coursework develops basic analytical and research skills and grounds students in their areas of specialization. In addition, at least 24 credits must be devoted to dissertation work. All together, students must have a total of 72 credits to receive the Ph.D.
Tools of Research
Each candidate must demonstrate the mastery of two tools of research in all fields of study except in American history, whereby one tool is required. Most often this requirement is fulfilled by passing examinations in two foreign languages. Through consultation with the student's advisor and the department's graduate committee, another research tool may be substituted for a foreign language. Such tools might be statistics, library science, or computer programming.
Comprehensive Examinations
Candidates for the Ph.D. usually take comprehensive examinations at the end of their third year of graduate study. The major field examination is normally taken after the two specific field examinations have been passed.

University Information:

University Type: Private, not-for-profit

Carnegie Institution Ranking: Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive

Department Demographics:

First PhD conferred: 1883

History PhDs conferred to Date: 189

Relative Size Based on PhDs Conferred (2000–04): Medium [Explain]

Faculty Mix:
	Full Professor	8
	Associate Professor	4
	Assistant Professor	10
	Instructor/Lecturer
	Joint Appointment	1
	Emeritus Faculty	9
	Part-time faculty

Relative Size based on Number of Full-time Faculty: Small [Explain]

Number of Graduate Students in Program (Fall 2005): 59
(Graduate student counts include those enrolled in terminal Master's degree program)

Proportion of Full-Time Graduate Students: 37%

New Graduate Students Entering Program, Fall 2004: 14

Relative Size Based on Graduate Student Enrollment (2002–04): Medium [Explain]

 

Other Information

     Current Dissertations in Progress

     PhDs Conferred by Department